Composer/Musician Reacts to Cynic - The Space For This (REACTION!!!)
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- čas přidán 21. 10. 2020
- Bryan reacts to and talks about his thoughts on Cynic - The Space For This
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The only thing wrong with this album is that it's too short.
There's such a thing as potency. Some albums warrant years of listening on repeat despite being short in length.
2020 has taken away not only Sean Reinert (the drummer), but Sean Malone (the bassist) now too. RIP, you've inspired many.
RIP Sean . Really kicked off a shitty year between he, Neal Peart, and Kobes deaths so close.
This band definitely needs the context that they've inspired loads of material you cover.
😔
Which is why I would have preferred a song from their debut album Focus (e.g. How could I or Veil of Maya). Love this one, but Focus influenced so much bands to come. WAY ahead of its time.
Cynic is so ahead of their time. Their first album was in 93 but it doesn't sound dated, even bands like Obscura still take influence from them and they made a cover version of How Could I
Obscura is fucking awesome and so is Cynic.
I'm so hyped for Obscura's next album.
WTF? Obscura covered How Could I?
'Scuz me, gonna go find that right now.
@@paulstoliker3303 czcams.com/video/O-EtEsbpM1Y/video.html
Enjoy
R.i.p. Sean Reinert and Sean Malone, hope you guys are jamming somewhere into the cosmos
This band. Oh man historically growing up as a metalhead in the 90s early 2000s I can safely say that SO MANY of us went from being straight up, die heart metalhead walking cliches, to getting into Death - Human and then into Cynic and then an entire new world of progressive and fusion music opens up and you give up all of your misconceptions about music. Yes this band imho *is that much of an influence* for so many metalheads.
EDIT: To expand, this album (Traced on air) was honestly mostly fan service: it was released more than 20 years after their first record. So in the context of today or even its 2008 release this song sounds just ok and I expect your reaction.
But within the context of this kind of music done in 1993 during the heyday of Death Metal, you had a boom of bands like Cannival Corpse, Morbid Angel, etc. Focusing on the super brutal aspects and here comes a band that just flat out throws jazz fusion at you, within the same Death Metal context. Bands like this and other early Death Metal acts really took many musical directions and became extremely well rounded musicians overall yet you mostly hear about the aforementioned "Big ticket" death metal bands because to this day, they're still basically exploring the same "brutal and technical" stuff without any actual evolution.
Cynic showed very early on it was ok for extreme music to take equally extreme chances and change course.
Exactly. Human to Focus. This record though isn’t great though, and man I love Masvidal and Reinert.
Sadly when they were a younger band they received alot of hate from the mid 90s metal scene
Basically, reinert and masvidal were a huge influence on Human and Chuck Schuldiner's writing moving forward. Cosmic Sea was a thing of beauty.
So Bryan...if you're looking for Cynic songs that are more cohesive (if somewhat simpler...it WAS 1993) then their debut Focus is for you. Especially How Could I...still my favorite Cynic song, and the two solos are so much fun, esp. the last one to close the song.
Calling ANY of Cynic's music fan service is not honest, at all. Judgmental, yes, but sorely misinformed and ignorant as to how their music is manifested.
One thing so special about them is that they've had a tremendous influence on metal evolution, especially prog/tech death. Starting in the late 80s in the Florida scene, there's even bands named after their songs.
And if you would've picked any of the other songs I'm sure you'd have gone on about the bassist a couple of more minutes, at least :)
And - there's the connection to the even more influential band Death 😊
That context is something that I'm typically missing with reactions. Knowing where a piece of work sits in history would greatly change my perspective of a piece, for better or worse.
@@CriticalReactions You could always do a quick check with google before the reaction. Some reactors do but I'm not sure if it's for better or worse...
@@CriticalReactions yes that is i why i said to u react to cynic how could i wacken version
@@CriticalReactions Yeah. Their 1993 album, Focus, was way ahead of it's time (Though Athiest was putting out similar music at the same time), and people really didn't start to "get it" until many years later. This song that you reacted to was written after they reformed (They broke up in 1994, reformed in 2006, put out a new album in 2008, which this song is on). Checking out a song from their 1993 album, Focus, would sort of put into perspective how and why death metal has evolved in the way that it has. I suggest the song "How Could I?"
Their later albums have used less death vocals. This is their first album after their reunion, and they changed a bit over the many years after.
I know you will probably move on but I will be very happy if you do another CYNIC, maybe HOW COULD I
YES PLEASE
i absolutely love this song.
How Could I and Veil Of Maia would be two good songs
The first time I listened to Cynic, I appreciated it but didn't love it. Same with the second time. But the third time I heard them I was an instant superfan
It's always that Third time lol
agreed , he should record 2 more cynic pieces XD
The singer/guitarist Paul and drummer Sean (rip) both played in DEATH the original quintessential pioneers of Death Metal then went on to form Cynic
black metal? more like death prog meets allan Holdsworth
More like Mahavishnu Orchestra (maybe not in this particular track) and a bunch of jazz fusion bands with bit of Holdsworth that just pure Holdsworth.
This is definitely my favorite album by them. I know a lot of people prefer Focus cuz it's the first one and it's a little more heavier & "extreme".
But, I think this an ideal blend of both their heavier & softer elements.
Speaking of... the Carbon-Based Anatomy EP, Kindly Bent To Free Us and the Humanoid single are all devoid of harsh vocals & lean towards the "softer" side. So, maybe you might enjoy something from those more?
Kindly is a bit more Prog Rock than Prog Metal though, for the most part. Just a heads up.
This song must be heard as a part of the whole album (traced in the air), and than it will reveal is beauty.......this album is much more than the single songs in it, imho a modern masterpiece.
But you as a composer should know that to judge a prog song after one listen is wrong/extremely complicated, because (even if you are a musician) you are going to miss so many aspects, which will instead reveal themselves when you get used to listen to them. But I understand that such reaction videos can be only like that, so I am still glad that you are reviewing and getting in some bands which only "few" people know.
I can only suggest you to take 35 minutes of your time and go through the album.
One of them life-changing Albums.
And the the "Re-traced" album is just as amazing and beautiful
Traced In Air is probably one of my favourite albums of all time. Almost cut me when you said "just one tier above 'wouldn't turn it off if it came on'." but I can also understand why.
Surprised not to hear too many comments about the vocal effects. Cynic's vocoder usage is quite legendary. I think they largely ditched it on their last two releases, but Paul's been known to bust it out on guest vocal appearances like he did on Persefone's "Living Waves", which would be another great tune to react to!
Yeah, somehow wouldn't turn it off seems to clash with intriging...
And for Ascension Codes, the vocoder came back with a vengeance. Paul sounds extra robotic and his vocals are really blurred in the mix. Of course, knowing all the context and the direction the album took, it is intentional and well done, but it is surprising to hear it so prevalent after two albums with very little vocal effects on his part
since you "couldnt find things to talk about" which I perfectly understand, I think you should do another video on Cynic, probably something from their first album Focus which is very influencal in death metal genre as mentioned by others. Focus album is definitely more complex and unique in ways.
I love Cynic. 'Integral birth' is my favorite song personally, though they have many good songs.
Paul Masvidal's other work is pretty interesting as well, and worth checking if you want something more unique, only rock instead of metal. So you might also want to check out 'Æon Spoke' sometimes if you like this.
omg! I am really glad that you did a video on Cynic! cheers
Mate. I think you're cup of tea would be later stuff as a first listen. I am 43, grew up on death metal and bands like death and that, but cynic is something I have only recently since lockdown started to understand and I honestly cannot spend a day without listening to them. Can't go off the first listen ever with these. Listen to the last album or their live gig in Japan 2015 which is phenomenal. This era you have just listened to was them transitioning after reforming. Kindly bent to free us is possibly some of the most amazing composition and soul put into music. This band has changed my life and almost 28 years after first hearing of them too. I just wasn't ready. I have to say I appreciate your honest reaction, but am saddened because you seem saddened that you don't have more to say. Literally just wanna drag you round mine and bang out some cynic now so you can see what all he fuss is about. Namaste
Humanoid is Cynic's latest single, I recommend it.
"Drummer is killing it here"
Drummer is dead :(
I would most definitely recommend checking out Exivious - Deeply Woven, now. Jazz fusion with some elements of metal, maybe. Founded by former Cynic members.
Btw agree on the cohesion or sth just missing here (for me anyways) but the song I recommended doesn't have that issue. The style is certainly different, if similar in a few ways.
Yes! Exivious!
great to see you getting around to these guys. along with Atheist they were early pioneers of progressive death metal, fusing prog rock with elements from classic old school death metal.
this song is from their later work, when they reunited and began writing again. if you do revisit these guys I recommend going back to their debut album, Portal. my personal favourite song from them is "I'm but a wave to..."
Cynic were a big influence on later bands like The Faceless and Veil of Maya, who took the style in a more recognisably metal direction. one band who would go on to incorporate a lot of recognisably Cynic-like ideas are The Contortionist, whose later work I would highly recommend if you haven't gotten around to it.
also still hoping for that Quantum Hack Code vid one day ;3
Never really gave Cynic a shot, but this track is awesome. Gonna have to check out some more
Really no trace of black metal on this (or its must-listen predecessor), but yeah, no band like Cynic. Not the easiest group to get into, but they put out some really amazing compositions.
Interesting, definitely gonna look into these guys!
Cynic is easily one of my favorite bands of all time and this song I plan to get a tattoo of. The thing with Cynic is all their albums are VERY different from each other. Their 1993 debut, "Focus", introduced the world to jazz fusion prog death metal and was universally panned until about the mid 2000s where it saw a resurgence and then they released this album, "Traced In Air", and changed the world of metal forever AGAIN. I definitely recommend listening to Veil Of Maya from "Focus" and "Evolutionary Sleeper" from "Traced In Air". "Carbon Based Anatomy" is also a different type of sound. Tymon, the second guitarist and responsible for the growls and the more metal aspects of TiA, left after TiA so CBA and on is a more prog rock sound. Definitely a dense band that requires more than one listen to really digest.
RIP Sean. Easily one of the best drummers of all time. Taken from us too soon.
OMG!
I've been so in love for this song and album for so long!!!
I find for me personally these kind of songs and prog in general needs more than one listen to appreciate.
King of Those Who Know is my personal favorite of theirs. Cool atmospheric clean stuff, some heavier parts, and leaves on a pretty positive note...the solos are really good too. Technical but emotional.
I feel like you should have started with True Hallucination Speaks as it's off of their prog rock/metal album Kindly Bent to Free Us. Paul Masvidal completely abandons growling after Traced in Air, which Space for This is from.
Awesome to listen to this song with you again! If you revisit this band again i would check out something off their last album kindly bent to free us I think it would be more up your alley (noting that cynic die hards will be suggesting something from Focus).
wow the least you've had to say about any song I've seen you check out lol
this one is alright, definitely better than the steven wilson song from yesterday .
keep rocking brother 🤟
Glad you reacted the original version, they released a remastered version of this album and the sound is great but THEY TAKED OUT THE GROWLS 😭
I love both the songs you’ve reviewed from them, but please, please do Carbon Based Anatomy!
Man, I love Cynic so much. lol "Space for This" is probably my favorite from them.
Cynic are a pretty spiritual group, and their songs mirror that kind of feeling. I think that their songs aren't necessarily meant to blow anyone away as a full package, but rather sit back, relax, and let it sort of guide you through some complex, spiritual, jazzy metal. If you're looking for "oomf" with Cynic, I don't think you'll find anything like that.
Songs from their first album, "Focus," are more death metal, and may provide a bit more of that "oomf" you might be looking for, but I prefer their other stuff more personally (though, some people feel "Focus" is their best album. I think "Traced in Air" is).
If you'd like to explore more though, I recommend Carbon-Based Anatomy, Integral Birth, Humanoid, King of Those Who Know, and Kindly Bent to Free Us.
this is so so good i know what i'm listening tonight ty:
I got brought back to this as Cynic recently (2021) released a new album... Which I didn't really like for the most part, even though there were a couple of songs that I enjoyed. Nothing gets close to Their 'Kindly Bent to Free Us' album. Was this your shortest video??
Looks like my shortest might be Bring Me The Horizon - Ludens at just 9:10. It was my second ever video though and I was mostly emulating other reaction channels at the time. There's a little bit of my thoughts at the end but nothing in the way of being an analysis yet.
Never thought I would see my favorite band in my recommend, awesome.
Don’t forget that these guys wrote the book on prog metal, which at the time was in its infancy. Not knocking down Fates Warning and DT
Helll yeah brother!
Black metal in Cynic? What a revelation! Or someone (you) needs a review on extreme metal subgenres? ヅ
ou yeah, i have already forgot Cynic realm. Amazing band, their album of 1993 is one the best albums in 90' IMO. I used to play at home very often a song "Integral" which is an acoustic version of "Integral Birth".
this dudes are killing. Remember when i listened to Focus for the first time.
Another good songs to check from them is Uroboric Forms, How Could I or Cosmos.
Hey, this song is sort or album opener. If you want to hear something short that really makes sense, try Evolutionary Sleeper from this album, and even that is not the strongest song in that album.
You should seriously react to the band Cleric, they are beyond description, something like avant-grade jazzy doom grind-I’d recommend the song Allotriophagy or Resumption (although both are pretty long and intense rides; alternately you can check out the shorter song The Boon (just make sure to start from the --- interlude as it’s ordered on the album!)
Space for This is great, but "King of those who Know" is the ultimate...
Focus is the album to check out imo. : )
Yes! more Cynic for sure!
saw them open for opeth back in 2008...and remember thinking they should be the headline act haha. big opeth fan btw.
Hey Brian. If you enjoyed this check out Arcturus, anything off 'Aspera Hiems Symphonia' (more Black Metal) or 'The Sham Mirror' (more post/electronic). Also, The Kovenant, anything off 'Nexus Polaris'. Cheers
I'm sure this has been covered by other commenters, but Cynic is frequently credited as the father of technical death metal with their first album, Focus. They then took like a 15 year hiatus, and released their followup album, Traced in Air, which is where this song is from.
One thing with Traced in Air is that it's very, very short (I think like ~30 min in total), and is best listened to from beginning to end in one sitting. I recommend giving it a try that way. Even this song has a great lead-in from the intro track, and the whole album flows together from song to song really well.
It's too bad you didn't like it, but I think this is among the best prog metal albums out there. Highly recommend listening from start to end.
Just wanted to come hear and give shout out to a Russian athmospheric black metal band called Путь (which means Pathway). They released a new album today which is great, but the particular reason I wanted to recommend them is because they have a freakin' accordion player in the band! So if you thought sax in Rivers of Nihil was exotic, then this is really on another level.
if you dont like the growls that much they have a remixed version of traced in air without the growls, if you do another one from cynic please do something off kindly bent to free us its such an overlooked album and is possibly my favorite album out of all their work
Well hello there, from one CZcamsr to another... I'm absolutely staggered to realise that you've never looked at/listened to any Devin Townsend on your channel. I think you're missing a trick, as he is without doubt one of the most creative extraordinary musicians of the modern era, noted for working in the prog metal genre but transcending genres in almost everything he does. A true artist. If you can take the time and clear your schedule for 25 minutes, Singularity from his album Empath is one of the greatest things EVER committed to record. Ever.
Hey, thanks for checking out the channel. I just watched a couple of your videos and really like what you're going we well so ya got yourself a new sub!
As for Townsend, I looked at Deadhead (Live) but it was blocked for some reason. He's certainly a personality and has a wide vocal range but I haven't had the time to explore anything beyond that song. I'll have to make some time to check out Singularity though. That's some high praise you give it.
@@CriticalReactions cheers dude, I’ve subbed back! I’ve watched your vids for a while but only just got round to subbing. Anyway, I’m probably piling too much hyperbole onto Devin Townsend, but even if you don’t do a vid, try to listen to some deeper cuts, he is truly the one artist from doing my channel that stands above all others.
Painted in Exile - Distanced by Dissonance or other good tracks: Skylines, Revitalized! Check it out bro!
7:30 no no no...no duality there...it's all a veil of maya
Cynic are awesome but they have a strange history. They started in the late 80s and released their first album in '93 called Focus. That album was a watershed in the genre of progressive death metal and is still considered one of the genre's finest and most influential. Along with Death and Atheist they're generally considered the founders of the genre. They're also often credited with inventing "jazz metal," which I don't really think is an accurate term but it came from how they expanded metal's harmonic vocabulary with guitar chords that are probably more influenced by jazz. It's certainly true the band were influenced by a lot of non-metal music, though. Then they broke up and didn't reunite until 2008 when they released Traced in Air, which this track is from. Traced in Air's a great prog metal album too, but obviously by the time it came out the genre had already exploded. They released one more album in 2014 and their drummer, Sean Reinert sadly passed away this year.
The whole band is ridiculously talented and they've all played as guests for several bands including on Deaths' Human album and the band Gordion Knot. I can understand your "meh" reaction from two fronts: First, Cynic are generally an acquired taste. I didn't like them much either when I first heard Focus, but over time it's grown into one of my favorite metal albums ever. Second, it's often hard to appreciate originality and innovation after hearing the legions of imitators who've been influenced by them, and Cynic were so influential there are bands named after their songs (Veil of Maya).
One of my favorite bands of all time ... and arguably one of the best drummers in prog metal. Song is better in the context of that album
One of the best best records of this millenia this far!
What you need to do with songs like this is you have to listen to them like 5-10 times, even better, do the same for the whole album. I'm quite sure you'll be hooked. This is very layered and with repeated listens you'll find a lot's of interesting hooks.
@@jarnovilen5259 First time I heard it I knew it was good, but yeah overtime you find it's truly one of those masterpieces of modern metal. I cant stand paul masvidal's hippy bullshit but goddamn he is a creative genius.
Cynic has an EP called Retraced. It's a reimagining of four songs from this album, including this song. This may be a controversial opinion, but I think they are better than the originals.
EDIT
Seriously. Check this version out.
czcams.com/video/yEuynDxGvl4/video.html
A Cynic live reaction bro?? maybe "Adam's murmur" or "The lion's roar" from Live Japan Tour 2015 😉
You should check the FOCUS album. That's the classic one.
Amazing band. Please do Slugdge- salt thrower
Be'lakor- neither shape nor shadow
Gojira-wolf down the earth
I like this. And, yes, you'll have a list as long as you arm, but consider Boards of Canada and maybe "The Devil is in the Details" because it's like nothing else.
PLEASE do Integral Birth by Cynic. What a band...
How could I would be perfect
I love this album but from this same album, Adams Murmur or Evolutionary Sleeper imo are better songs to analyze than this one.
I second that Adams Murmur would have been a better choice. my favourite from Traced...
This song is from one off my favorite albuns ever! Love Cynic!
Sean Reinert and Sean Malone passed away. Complete tragedy. These guys were one of the most powerful rhythm sections in the world. Cynic is about to drop a new album, this music needs to live on…
Cynic is really one of the best and unpopular opinion here but check out anything off The Portal Tapes ♡.♡
Between the Buried and Me, Steven Wilson and The Contortionist all walk into a bar. Wilson says to the rest, "I think our music is really derivative." Tommy Rogers tuts and says, "I think you're being a Cynic", and Wilson replies, "my point exactly!"
RIP Sean Reinert! You legend, you.......
More cynic, please. Try Evolutionary Sleeper or True Hallucination Speak!
Amazing song choice but if need a another band look no further to Death albums
Symbolic
Human
Individual thought pattern
You need to listen to something off of their first album.
king of those who know... gave it a chance.
many of the bands you covered yet wouldnt even exist without this band. maybe try another song.
Been listening to Cynic since the 90’s. unreal band!
You need to listen to Away From You by Boris and Merzbow
i don´t really blame you for not liking them, they are my favorite band but at first the songs didn´t stuck with me, anyways, cheers from Chile Bryan :)
Dude, you really have to review "veil of maya" or "how could I" They're way better songs
Cynic are pioneers dude.
Check the whole focus album and remember that they were the guys that lunched it
Cynic!! hell ya
you should really consider using a different pair of headphones for listening/reviewing music
It's on the list of things to get but money has been tight this year. As it is these headphones were a hand-me-down.
Brian looks like John Friaciante.
Cynic - Adam’s Murmur
Love Cynic's instrumentations but always get put off by the vocals
Please react to black midi - bmbmbm
Im surprised you didnt appreciate the drums?
Kinda giving off a BTBAM vibe a bit.
Death - the entire human album
the old CYNIC (the first album) is the best there is......
classic prog meets black metal? wtf
Man, its WAAAAAY better without that lamp!
You're saying you prefer the lit backdrop rather than the darkened backdrop that I'm currently using?
@@CriticalReactions I misunderstood the question because I don’t speak Aghlian, but I wanted to say that sunlight is much nicer and cozier than the light from this lamp :)
Gotcha. I'm still playing around with my backdrop to find what I like the most that I can reasonably work with. It's a back and forth between style/aesthetic and ease to setup/breakdown.
Hey, I think you need to learn some theory and tips about a right lightning. Should be helpful :))
P. S. Many thanks for this video!
BLACK METAL? what the hell you're talkint about it?
Another great band in this vein is Atheist...
I see many videos where you talk about prog songs and i just think that prog just isint for you
There is a strong possibility for that.
@@CriticalReactions out of curiosity I ask what type of music then strikes?
I feel you on the “meh” - but I’m going to come back to this one. This is the only band I’ve heard in this genre that doesn’t have vocals that immediately repulse me. The guitar work was great - but there were some other bits that, while not bad, were kind of boring. I actually enjoyed this guys cleans quite a bit.
Sorry to hear so many people suggested basically the wrong song from them. No one in their right mind would suggest anything outside of their album "Focus" to someone who hasn't listened to Cynic before. This is not what they are entirely about, nor the band at their prime or 100% potential. Because of this you are probable never going to experience that album. Oh well, your loss I guess.