"On the basis of Traced In Air, more so than it's predecessor 'Focus', Cynic should be understood not so much alongside any metal bands, but along with such radical harmonic progressives in the last 45 years of pop and jazz as Milton Nascimento, the Beach Boys or Pat Metheny." - The New York Times: 2008 Critics Choice
..."and ultimately, the album does Cynic's legacy justice precisely because it challenges the listener to comprehend, by opening more doors than it closes and posing more questions than obvious answers -- and what could be more "progressive" than that?." - Billboard
"Traced In Air's cleaner sound owes more to prog gods Mahavishnu Orchestra and King Crimson than to death metal proper." - Revolver
"Traced In Air reveals that fusion metal was more than novel tangent: it's a viable direction that has the potential to revitalize both genres." - Time Out New York
"....this sophomore release sounds like the doctoral thesis of a summa cum laude student: Beautiful. Grade A+." - The Aquarian Weekly: BUZZ
"...the welter of detail is about one-quarter mathematically busy, earning it's designation as "progressive" music, and three-quarters flamboyantly, outrageously beautiful." - The San Diego Union - Tribune
Top Albums Of 2008: "The restraint, complexity and vocal melodies heard on Traced In Air rivaling Discipline-era King Crimson and exuding the otherworldliness of Allan Holdsworth, yielding the most exciting prog album in years...bookended by "Nunc Fluens" and "Nunc Stans," which translate to "moving present" and "timeless present" respectively, it's rather fitting, considering how moving and ultimately timeless this marvelous album is" - Decibel
"...there is nothing like this out there. Period. Focus was groundbreaking for a reason. Traced In Air once again proves that original music can still be written. Best album of 2008? Hell, try one of the best albums of the decade. Get this." - Guitar World - Metal Kult
"How do you follow a timeless classic? Wait 15 years and make another one! Traced In Air is a sublime, otherworldly monument to artistry, inspiration and music itself!" - Metal Hammer
"I'd not be surprised to find more than a handful of reviewers rating Traced In Air as high as 9.5 or 10. Traced In Air is most worthy of being considered one of the years best albums." - Blabbermouth
"The music seems to breathe, exciting our lungs during it's heaviest moments, then halting our exhale as it transitions into twinkling starry atmospheres until -- suddenly the boundary is erased. The band's two most distinctive elements had previously been wrestling in a heated love-affair and are now eloped in a startling symbiosis." - Metal Sucks
Albums to remember of 2008: "Ruthlessly original, while still keeping the tradition of prog masterminds like King Crimson and Pink Floyd, Cynic is sure to only increase their cult cred with this CD." - The Kosmopolitan Online
Voted 1 Album of 2008 - "Traced In Air comes off as a single, coherent piece and should be heard and experienced as such. Listen to it in its entirety and not out of sequence, because this is as close to perfection as you get." - Ultimate Guitar
"Traced In Air is a masterpiece through and through, and for once, we get a reunion album that is worth a damn and better yet, a collection of songs that will hold up for generations to come. Simply monumental." - Blistering.com
“Traced in Air's legitimacy is difficult to question...altogether brief, 35-minute length should rest assured that it is easily offset by the sheer density of strange and beautiful musical nuances layered within, and the time required to absorb them all.” - All Music Guide
"Traced In Air is absolutely the best possible thing anyone could have expected from Cynic. After all these years, to hear a band not only still in-tune with what worked but so open and responsive to what might make it work better, it's quite astonishing." - Music Emissions
"Traced In Air is it's own beast, a beast that will delight plenty of music - not just metal - fans and is easily one of the year's best efforts. Cynic have done it again!" - Archaic Magazine
"Concise and expansive all at once, the eight track album encompasses everything that makes Cynic so unique....while retaining a warmth and beauty it's predecessor lacked. Welcome back gentlemen." - Prefixmag
"Progressive rock needs a band like Cynic now more than ever because despite a flurry of activity in the genre and the nostalgic feel of the album, it sounds as revolutionary as anything I've heard." - No Filler Music
"Cynic have shown the world what it truly means to be a progressive metal band. All the songs on the album pick you up off your feet and carry you where you can be lost in the music, only to thrown into a tornado of organized chaos which leaves you breathless just set you back down on your feet a few moments later." - WKNC
"Without losing virtuosity or complexity, Cynic have become even more accurate, accessible and also a bit more genius." - Zilo Magazine
"Traced In Air is destined for eternal greatness." - Exclaim.ca
"The long anticipated follow up only reinforces their place in progressive music history." - Dangerdog.com
"Well Cynic's return damn well is welcome, needed, and an absolute must-have." - Smother Magazine
"Prog fans have been waiting for this one, wondering if it could possibly live up to Focus, Traced In Air answers that with a resounding yes." - About.com
“....consistent from top to bottom...Traced In Air is guaranteed to be on the top of many best of year lists." - SMN NEWS
‘How do you follow a timeless classic?’ writes Dom Lawson from magazine Metal Hammer, referring to Cynic’s debut album "Focus“ from 1993. ‘Wait 15 years and make another one! “Traced In Air“ is a sublime, otherworldly monument to artistry, inspiration and music itself.‘
Cynic is back! Fifteen years after the band’s seminal debut “Focus“, the band returns with what can be termed a perfectly timed follow-up: The new album is “Traced in Air“ and defies easy categorization, pushing the boundaries once again of the progressive metal genre. Even proponents of the band’s previous output were somewhat shocked upon initial listenings to “Focus” in early 1993. Nobody could possibly have predicted the incredible strides the band would make in a year’s time. Their musical merits had already been well-documented by this time, not only in the earlier CYNIC material which showcased their instrumental prowess, but also within their contributions to other projects. It was particularly on the breakthrough fourth album from Death - “Human” - when the greater world learned of Reinert and Masvidal in particular, as their participation allowed late bandleader Chuck Schuldiner to realize a new technical benchmark in extreme music, something that only helped to fuel the demand for a full-length CYNIC album.
The legacy that they had left behind with only eight recorded songs from their first and only album, was truly amazing, rightly earning them undeniable cult-status. So when the legendary US band announced their reunion tour in 2007 to perform the music that made them famous, the outpouring of support from dedicated fans as well as the press was a catalyst for founding member and songwriter, Paul Masvidal, to take a creative leap-of-faith. After the reunion tour, Masvidal began what would become a relentless nine-month-journey dedicated to re-visiting his roots and re-discovering his musical vision as one of progressive rock’s most innovative guitar players and fearlessly original composers. With Cynic co-founder and musical heavyweight, drummer Sean Reinert, the pair forged the resulting album, “Traced in Air”...
hey guys, the yesterday's gig was really, realy great, once again I just stayed with my mouth open, this was exactly how I imagined it would be. thanks!
We put our iPhone on random, 4000+ songs and hundreds of people at our 4th party, and "The Space For This" hits the speakers and everyone is blown away!!!
Hey guy's, check out my pics of me and my bro Tim with Paul, and Sean at Sokol Auditorium, Omaha,NE These pics were from earlier this year. This show was by far the best show in the midwest. I have video of the show on YouTube. It would be even better if Cynic played Kansas City,MO. Maybe at The Riot Room. KC,MO loves the new cd, keep it up!
Thanks for the great gig in Budapest. I wrote a short review about the concert: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=476405131&blogId=498175380
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