Cynic is an American progressive metal band from Miami, Florida. Formed in 1987, the group originally consisted of vocalist Esteban "Steve" Rincon, guitarists Paul Masvidal and Russell Mofsky, bassist Mark van Erp, and drummer Sean Reinert. As of May 2025, the group's current lineup features Masvidal on guitar and vocals, Brandon Giffin on bass (from 2011 to 2014, and since 2022), guitarist Mike Gilbert (since 2024) and drummer Michel Bélanger (since 2025).
History
1987–1994 Cynic was formed in November 1987 by guitarist Paul Masvidal and drummer Sean Reinert, who had previously worked together in a band called Seaweed. The original lineup also included vocalist Esteban "Steve" Rincon, second guitarist Russell Mofsky and bassist Mark van Erp. Rincon and Mofsky left after just a few months, with Jack Kelly brought in on vocals for the band's first demo during early 1988. Shortly after the demo's release, Kelly left and Masvidal took over vocal duties, with Jason Gobel brought in as second guitarist. The new lineup recorded a second demo, Reflections of a Dying World, before van Erp was replaced by Tony Choy a few months later.
In 1991, Cynic signed with Roadrunner Records and began writing for their full-length debut album. Recording was delayed due to Masvidal and Reinert working with the band Death, then by Hurricane Andrew which destroyed Gobel's home and the band's rehearsal space. By the time the band regrouped in early 1993, Sean Malone had replaced Choy, who had chosen to focus on working with Atheist. Gobel also claimed that Choy "wanted to do things differently". After the release of Focus in September 1993, Cynic played a run of shows in Europe with stand-in bassist Chris Kringel, as Malone was unavailable due to teaching commitments, although he did return for North American shows the next year. Tony Teegarden also performed at the 1993 shows, contributing harsh vocals and keyboards, with Dana Cosley taking over for the 1994 shows.
Cynic disbanded after the last show of the Focus tour in July 1994, with Masvidal, Gobel, Kringel and Reinert briefly continuing to work together under the name Portal. This band's only release, a self-titled demo from 1995, was later reissued in 2012 under the Cynic name as a compilation entitled The Portal Tapes.
2006–2015 In September 2006, it was announced that Cynic had reformed for a string of 2007 festival appearances, with mainstays Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert joined by former touring members Chris Kringel and Tony Teegarden, plus new guitarist Santiago Dobles. By the following March, Dobles had been dismissed from the band, which commented that "due to the commitment required for the reunion, it was mutually agreed that another guitar player would be better suited". Former member Jason Gobel was invited to rejoin, but had to turn down the offer due to "family and work commitments". Dobles was replaced in April by David "Mavis" Senescu. In June, the band announced Teegarden's departure due to financial reasons, with his harsh vocals covered by backing tracks.
In early 2008, Cynic announced a new record deal with Season of Mist, as well as the return of Sean Malone on bass and the addition of Tymon Kruidenier on guitar and harsh vocals. Malone was only able to commit to recording, however, so Robin Zielhorst took over for subsequent touring after the release of Traced in Air. This new lineup released the EP Re-Traced in 2010, before the band parted ways with Kruidenier and Zielhorst that December due to the "logistical challenges of maintaining a band that is half based in the Netherlands and the other half in the United States". Masvidal and Reinert recorded Carbon-Based Anatomy in the summer of 2011 with Malone on bass.
Kruidenier and Zielhorst were replaced in Cynic's touring lineup by Max Phelps and Brandon Giffin, respectively, who were announced in October 2011. The studio lineup of Masvidal, Reinert and Malone started recording a third album in late 2012, which was released as Kindly Bent to Free Us in February 2014. Following the album's release, Malone returned to playing live with Cynic for the first time in 20 years, starting at Graspop Metal Meeting in June 2014. The following September, Reinert claimed that Cynic had broken up again, citing "artistic and personal differences". Masvidal quickly responded by assuring that the band would continue "one way or another".
Since 2015 A week after Sean Reinert claimed that Cynic had broken up, Paul Masvidal and Sean Malone enlisted Matt Lynch to take over on drums starting with a festival performance in October 2015. The band remained relatively inactive for the next two years, before Masvidal and Reinert "reached a settlement" in December 2017 which allowed the former to continue using the band's name without the latter. The following month, the band released its first song without Reinert, "Humanoid". Reinert died a couple of years later, in January 2020. Less than a year later, in December 2020, Malone also died. In September 2021, the band released a recording of "Integral" featuring the bassist.
In November 2021, Cynic released its fourth album Ascension Codes, which featured Masdival and Lynch alongside session keyboardist Dave Mackay (in place of a bassist). The band returned to performing live in January 2023, with Masvidal and Lynch joined by returning guitarist Max Phelps and bassist Brandon Giffin, plus new keyboardist Zeke Kaplan. Mike Gilbert replaced Phelps in January 2024. For a tour that March, Obscura frontman Steffen Kummerer also joined the band, providing harsh vocals. Lynch also left Cynic after ten years in May 2025, with Michel Bélanger of Gorguts taking his place.
Members Current Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributionsPaul Masvidalall Cynic releasesBrandon GiffinbassAudiotree from Nothing (2024)Mike Gilbert2024–presentguitarnone to dateMichel Bélanger2025–presentdrums
Former Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributionsSean Reinert all Cynic releases from the 1988 demo to Kindly Bent to Free Us (2014)Mark van Erp1987–1989bassEsteban "Steve" Rincon1987–1988vocalsnoneRussell MofskyguitarJack Kelly1988vocals1988 demoJason Gobel1988–1994Tony Choy1989–1993bassSean Malone all Cynic releases from Focus (1993) to "Integral" (2021), except Re-Traced (2010)Chris Kringelbassnone Tony TeegardenSantiago Dobles2006–2007guitarnoneDavid "Mavis" Senescu2007–2008Tymon Kruidenier2008–2010Robin ZielhorstbassRe-Traced (2010)Max PhelpsAudiotree from Nothing (2024)Matt Lynch2015–2025Zeke Kaplan2022–2024keyboardsnone
Touring Image Name Years active Instruments DetailsDana Cosley1994Cosley took over from Tony Teegarden on keyboards and vocals for the 1994 Focus North American tour.Steffen Kummerer2024harsh vocalsKummerer joined Cynic's touring lineup for a string of Focus 30th anniversary European shows in March 2024.
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesNovember 1987–early 1988Steve Rincon — vocals Paul Masvidal — guitar Russell Mofsky — guitar Mark van Erp — bass Sean Reinert — drumsEarly–mid 1988Jack Kelly — vocals Paul Masvidal — guitar Mark van Erp — bass Sean Reinert — drumsuntitled 1988 demoMid 1988–early 1989Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar Jason Gobel — guitar Mark van Erp — bass Sean Reinert — drumsReflections of a Dying World (1989)Early 1989–early 1993Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar Jason Gobel — guitar Tony Choy — bass Sean Reinert — drumsuntitled 1990 demo untitled 1991 demoEarly–fall 1993Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar, keyboards Jason Gobel — guitar, keyboards Sean Malone — bass, Chapman stick Sean Reinert — drums, percussion, keyboardsFocus (1993)Fall/late 1993Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar, keyboards Jason Gobel — guitar, keyboards Chris Kringel — bass Sean Reinert — drums, percussion, keyboards Tony Teegarden — keyboards, vocals rowspan="2" Spring/summer 1994Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar, keyboards Jason Gobel — guitar, keyboards Sean Malone — bass, Chapman stick Sean Reinert — drums, percussion, keyboards Dana Cosley — keyboards, vocals Band inactive fall 1994–summer 2006September 2006–March 2007Paul Masvidal — lead vocals, guitar, keyboards Santiago Dobles — guitar Chris Kringel — bass Sean Reinert — drums, percussion, keyboards Tony Teegarden — keyboards, vocalsrowspan="3" April–June 2007Paul Masvidal — lead vocals, guitar, keyboards Mavis Senescu — guitar, keyboards Chris Kringel — bass Sean Reinert — drums, percussion, keyboards Tony Teegarden — keyboards, vocalsJune 2007–early 2008Paul Masvidal — lead vocals, guitar, keyboards Mavis Senescu — guitar, keyboards Chris Kringel — bass Sean Reinert — drums, percussion, keyboardsEarly–summer 2008Paul Masvidal — lead vocals, guitar, keyboards Tymon Kruidenier — guitar, keyboards, vocals Sean Malone — bass, Chapman stick Sean Reinert — drums, percussion, keyboardsTraced in Air (2008)Summer 2008–December 2010Paul Masvidal — lead vocals, guitar, keyboards Tymon Kruidenier — guitar, keyboards, vocals Robin Zielhorst — bass Sean Reinert — drums, percussion, keyboardsRe-Traced (2010)Summer 2011Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar, keyboards Sean Malone — bass, Chapman stick Sean Reinert — drums, percussion, keyboardsCarbon-Based Anatomy (2011)October 2011–early 2014Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar, keyboards Max Phelps — guitar, harsh vocals Sean Malone — bass, Chapman stick Brandon Giffin — bass Sean Reinert — drums, percussion, keyboardsKindly Bent to Free Us (2014)Summer 2014–September 2015Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar, keyboards Max Phelps — guitar, harsh vocals Sean Malone — bass, Chapman stick Sean Reinert — drums, percussion, keyboardsSeptember 2015–December 2020Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar, keyboards Sean Malone — bass, Chapman stick Matt Lynch — drums, percussion"Humanoid" (2018) "Integral" (2021)December 2020–November 2022Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar, keyboards Matt Lynch — drums, percussionAscension Codes (2021)November 2022–January 2024Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar, keyboards Max Phelps — guitar, harsh vocals Brandon Giffin — bass Matt Lynch — drums, percussion Zeke Kaplan — keyboardsAudiotree from Nothing (2024)January 2024–May 2025Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar, keyboards Mike Gilbert — guitar Brandon Giffin — bass Matt Lynch — drums, percussionrowspan="2" March 2024Paul Masvidal — vocals, guitar, keyboards Mike Gilbert — guitar Brandon Giffin — bass Matt Lynch — drums, percussion Steffen Kummerer — harsh vocals May 2025–presentPaul Masvidal — vocals, guitar, keyboards Mike Gilbert — guitar Brandon Giffin — bass Michel Bélanger — drums, percussionnone to date
References
External links Cynic official website