Cynic are one of the most visionary and influential bands in the history of progressive metal — a Florida group who fused the technical extremity of death metal with the harmonic sophistication of jazz fusion, and in doing so created something genuinely new. From the landmark debut “Focus” to their ethereal later work, they built a sound of rare beauty and complexity. Few bands have ever sounded quite like them — and few have inspired more.

The short version

Formed in Miami, Florida in 1987, Cynic play jazz-fusion-infused progressive metal — virtuosic, otherworldly and unlike anything around them. Their 1993 debut “Focus” became a landmark of the genre, and after a long hiatus they returned with the acclaimed “Traced in Air” (2008) and a run of increasingly progressive albums. Led by guitarist and vocalist Paul Masvidal, they remain one of the most original and revered bands in modern metal.

Miami: metal meets jazz

Cynic were founded in Miami in 1987 by guitarist Paul Masvidal and drummer Sean Reinert, emerging from Florida’s fertile death-metal scene — both would also play on Death’s seminal album “Human” in 1991. But where their peers chased pure aggression, Cynic looked toward jazz and fusion, gradually transforming their sound into something far more sophisticated. With guitarist Jason Gobel and bassist Sean Malone completing the line-up, they finally recorded their debut in 1993, after Hurricane Andrew destroyed their rehearsal space and delayed everything by months. The result would change the genre.

Jazz-fusion-infused prog metal

Cynic’s music was a fusion no one had quite attempted: the speed and heaviness of technical death metal, joined to the lush harmonies and fluid improvisation of jazz fusion, and topped with Paul Masvidal’s distinctive, vocoder-treated “robotic” vocals. Sean Reinert’s drumming brought a jazz virtuoso’s touch to extreme metal, while Sean Malone’s fretless bass and Chapman Stick added depth and colour — together, one of the finest rhythm sections the genre has known. Their lyrics turned toward consciousness and spirituality, and their sound grew ever more ethereal over time, drawing comparisons not to other metal bands but to the likes of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Pat Metheny.

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From Focus to Ascension Codes

“Focus” (1993) was a revelation — a groundbreaking blend of death metal, jazz and prog that became a cult landmark, even as the band broke up soon after. Fifteen years later they returned, transformed, with “Traced in Air” (2008), a more melodic and ethereal album that won them a whole new audience. The trio of Masvidal, Reinert and Malone went further into progressive territory on “Kindly Bent to Free Us” (2014), before tragedy reshaped the band; “Ascension Codes” (2021) saw Masvidal carry Cynic forward, alone among the originals, into beautiful and uncharted territory.

Album by album

Four albums of visionary, jazz-infused progressive metal. Tap any title for its guide.

The players and afterwards

Cynic’s defining line-up was the trio of guitarist and vocalist Paul Masvidal, drummer Sean Reinert and bassist Sean Malone, with guitarist Jason Gobel completing the band on “Focus”. Masvidal and Reinert, friends since their days in Death, were the heart of the group from the beginning. In 2020, the band suffered a devastating double loss: both Sean Reinert and Sean Malone died within the same year, robbing the genre of one of its greatest rhythm sections. Paul Masvidal, the sole remaining original member, has carried Cynic on in their memory — their extraordinary music, and the bond behind it, undimmed.

Where to start

Begin with “Focus” (1993) — their landmark debut and one of the most important albums in all of progressive metal, the essential Cynic record. From there, “Traced in Air” (2008) is the perfect introduction to their warmer, more melodic later sound, while “Kindly Bent to Free Us” (2014) shows the trio at their most purely progressive. Three albums that map a singular musical journey.

Why they still matter

Cynic matter as true pioneers — a band who dissolved the boundaries between metal and jazz, extremity and beauty, and created a sound that has influenced countless musicians across technical death metal and progressive music alike. “Focus” remains a genuine landmark, and their later work only deepened their legacy. Their story carries real sorrow, but the music endures as a testament to three extraordinary players and a vision unlike any other. For anyone exploring the further reaches of progressive metal, they are essential listening.

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