Carbon-Based Anatomyby Cynic

Cynic do not release new music very often, but when they do, they absolutely make it count. "Carbon-Based Anatomy", Cynic's first EP that only consists of new material, is without question the best EP of 2011. After 2008's masterful "Traced In Air", there was little question that Cynic had become a very different band after 15 years of dormancy. "Carbon-Based Anatomy" continues Cynic's flirtation with less metal and more traditional tribal and singer-songwriter elements. This EP tells a story over it's brief 23 minutes. There are three proper songs and three more ambient interlude type tracks, but all are necessary to appreciate what Cynic are doing on "Carbon-Based Anatomy". The highlight of the album is probably the gorgeous 6 minute song "Box Up My Bones" which builds slowly over the first two minutes until it absolutely bursts with an exuberance and passion that is rarely seen in a Cynic song. "Elves Beam Out" and the title track are both truly excellent in their own right, and the album concept should prove interesting to anybody remotely curious about existential concepts and eastern religions. I love "Carbon-Based Anatomy" and I think just about every other fan of music would find a lot to like in it too.