Well, this is probably going to ruin my chances of interviewing anyone from Cynic, but “I calls it likes I sees it” – and what I sees is not what I wants. Although, I did speak with Paul Masvidal outside of their last show – does that partially count?

I happen to consider myself a Cynic fan – perhaps not as much as many of you out there – but it just so happens that I like Traced In Air and Focus. Some of you old-school fans came down pretty harsh on Cynic when Traced In Air came out (kind of like when Metallica released the Black Album), but I considered it a pretty good album for not having put out an album in 15 years. I recognize that Traced isn’t quite as “Death-y” as Focus, but I don’t care. For a band with only two albums over the past 17 years (not counting Re-Traced), it’s pretty incredible that they’ve basically achieved “legendary” status in the metal community.

With that said – Cynic only have 2 friggin’ albums! Why the hell are they re-hashing the last album that took 15 years to put out and calling it a new album?! Ok, EP, or whatever. It’s a record with 5 songs that are re-mixed or re-played or re-something in a manner that makes them sound like a techno-experi-ambi-rock version of Traced In Air.

Now, I didn’t want to open up a can of haterade, but Cynic, baby, come on – help a guy out. Traced In Air came out two years ago and this is what you’ve been working on? Ok, so maybe you wanted to chill out for a bit and put out an album that was different – okay, but don’t use the music and songs from your last album! After you release like 5 albums then it’s time to start visiting old material, but come on, you only have 2 albums! Don’t agree with me? Well, what if their next album was Re-Focus? Then what? Oh, suddenly it doesn’t sound so clever.

Give us some material that affirms people’s beliefs and makes you tell people, “We’re fucking Cynic. This is why 99% of new metal bands list us an influence.” Then you can be like Ozzy and start farting around with re-mixes and still be idolized.

-DS