Re-Traced EP, 2010

"Cynic are a bunch of genii, there is no doubt about that. Their two full length albums are both groundbreaking and outstanding metal releases. Cynic are also very versatile musicians, and "Re-Traced", which contains mainly reintepretations of tracks from the 2008 success "Traced in Air" plus one original song called "Wheels within Wheels".

"Space", which is a reinterpretation of "The Space for This", is an almost athmospheric piece of progressive rock, whose atmospheric mood at times remind me of Depeche Mode. On "Evolutionary", which is a reinterpretiation of "Evolutionary Sleeper", Cynic experiment primarily with alternative rock (in a way "Evolutionary" seems to be inspired by 90s alternative rock which was inspired by 80s U2). "King", a reinterpretation of "King of those who Know", is more of a modern jazz fusion affair (there is some impressive fretless bass work and lots of jazz chords in this version) which also draws on 90s alternative noise rock and also has Reinert emulate the typical drum beat of Prodigy-inspired techno (I'm sure there's a specific name for the genre I'm thinking og, but I'm not well versed in the world of electronica music). "Integral", a reinterpretation of "Integral Birth" is largely an acourstic version, performed on acoustic guitars, the only non-acoustic element being athmospheric keyboards towards the end.

I must say that, while these versions are very interesting, and very much the proof that 1) Cynic are very versatile musicians and 2) Cynic's music itself is versatile and genre transgressing, I do prefer the original more metallic versions on "Traced in Air". Still, the reinterpretations are very interesting.

The "Wheels within Wheels" is the only metal track on the album, albeit softer and perhaps less dynamic than the tracks on "Traced in Air" - genre-wise it resides somewhere in the transition zone between progressive rock and progressive metal. Nonetheless, it is unmistakably an instance of Cynic's unique brand of progressive metal, and it's actually a very good track, I think.

I think that hardcore Cynic fans might like this EP, and fans of progressive rock and progressive metal a long with more experimental metal fans will probably also appreciate it, but metal purists will probably be disappointed.

(review originally posted on metalmusicarchives.com)"