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24 Apr 2021

Cynik Scald
Aged Spirit Album Review

www.concertmonkey.be
NoPo
J'aime bien les jeux de mots tirés par les cheveux, surtout longs (les cheveux, comme chez beaucoup de métalleux), mais là... le coiffeur doit habiter très loin!
Vous prenez le nom du groupe et vous le coupez (comme les cheveux) en 2 + 1 :
-'Cy' pour Cyprus, soit Chypre où les musiciens sont installés,
-'nik' ou plutôt 'Niké' pas dans le sens de la profondeur mais pour la déesse grecque de la victoire,
- 'Scald' nomme un poète viking et un groupe métal moscovite des années 90 et récemment reformé.
Ah ouais quand même! Ajoutez à cela que les membres viennent tous d'un pays différent et qu'ils chantent aussi bien en russe qu'en anglais voir les 2 ensemble... Le 5 majeur :
* Ivan, né en Russie mais viking de coeur (qu'il dit le gars!) - Fondateur, chanteur principal, auteur-compositeur,
* “Death”, biker inconnu du Nevada (c'est lui qui le dit!) - Claviers, harmonica et choeurs,
* Kazuchiza “Kaz”, un japonais à la guitare,
* Azra, un turc à la guitare,
* Jean, un bassiste frenchy.
Vous suivez toujours? Moi, ça me fait penser aux 7 mercenaires ou 8 salopards (prévu des remplaçants eux!)... mais le batteur... il est où le batteur?
Un grand timide? Zallez pas me dire qu'il se cache dans une boîte?Le groupe commence à composer en 2018 et diffuse l'album 'Aged Spirit' pour (joyeux) Noël 2019 ou presque , enregistré par Slavic Selin et masterisé par Thomas Plec Johansson :
1. Cynik
2. Angel
3. Storm
4. My God
5. Asgard
6. Last dragon
7. When The Sun Goes Down
8. Silent Rainbow
9. Can Dance Without you
puis 3 nouveaux titres filent en single :
'Lullaby' en Novembre, 'City of Nemesis' en Janvier et 'Darkness and light' en Mars (Attacks!).Le logo, flamboyant, se compose des 2 mots de leur nom, fusionnés en une espèce de oiseau/vaisseau spatial à l'emblème de Queensryche (qui, lui même, s'inspire d'un faucon).
On repassera pour les couleurs, la jaquette, réalisée par Anatoly Volkov, n'accepte que le noir et blanc!
Une photo d'un homme, cadrée entre menton velu et torse chemisé, met en évidence un poing musclé desserrant une cravate brillante et laissant entrevoir une espèce de cote de maille (sous costume).Outre le visuel, l'album surprend par ses variations dans un joyeux bazar bizarre et farfelu.
Une voix gutturale entonne 'Cynik' en russe mais la surprise vient surtout de l'alternance du groove wha wha des couplets et du refrain à l'armure viking.'Angel' combine 2 voix, la précédente dominante et une seconde voix plus claire et mélodieuse. Le résultat pétille sur un chorus tendance choeurs de l'armée rouge avec quelques pointes d'aigus cartoonesques.
Le fond musical s'accroche à un rythme bancal de qualité.'Storm' invite, dans une tempête en mer, Urban Breed (chanteur de Serious Black et Project Arcadia, et ancien chanteur de Bloodbound et Tad Morose) en contrepoint du grain de Ivan.
Le morceau, paru en single (octobre 2020), bat le pavillon pirates 'Jolly Roger'. Il n'hésite pas à glisser un passage de "Drunken Sailor" dans les énormes vagues.
Le rythme et les riffs saccadent comme les attaques des lames déferlantes.Une fois n'est pas coutume, 'My God' démarre par un riff d'abord aérien puis 6 pieds sous terre... soutenu par un chant guttural mais t'es content quand même (si tu râles).
La batterie s'emporte mieux à la double-pédale. Puis les 2 voix paradent jouant parfois en double séduction et parfois se renvoyant la balle. Un sacré set de complicité!Juillet 2020 voyait la sortie d'Asgard' pour les vacances... sans David et Jonathan, ouf! La guitare, pleine d'effets, dérape dans les virages.
Une alarme prévient du danger en provenance des écrasantes basse/batterie alertes. L'ambiance électrisante laisse le riff au clavier avant un solo central croisé.
Le chorus viking dégoupille des ohohoh virils qui cherchent leur place dans le monde (sic).'Last dragon' ou 'Drakon' nous balade dans un paysage glacé d'une grande beauté et sibérien (mais ça fait quelque-chose!).
Les claviers gonflent en violons et enveloppent la magnifique voix chaude de crooner qui roule les 'r' des mots sur des montagnes russes.'When the sun goes down' sonne l'heure de l'harmonica et de la balade en moto, "Death" et Ivan en sont friands.
Le morceau bluesy prolonge le bruit du moteur (head), intégré comme un instrument. La voix gratte autant que la barbe des bikers.
Les textes? Une vraie allégorie-lles sur Harley! ça sent l'apéro au bord de l'eau...Un clavier au son de flûte traversière ajoute une couleur claire au 'Silent Rainbow'. La guitare prend une teinte rouille et le chant maintient son style gris-noir abrasif.
Mélange surprenant où Cynik Scald arrive à construire une superbe mélodie accrocheuse grâce à une seconde voix aérienne. Une basse roulante et un clavier harmonieux finissent d'épaissir le liant.'Can Dance Without you' mélange 2 langues avec des cuivres et une voix qui aurait pu être celle de Ugo Dirkschneider.
Le rythme heurté voir syncopé peut faire penser à Goran Bregović. Un ballet déroutant tout autant que captivant!Pour la suite récente :
'Lullaby' déroule une chanson d'amour protectrice d'inspiration épique,
'City of Nemesis' va chercher la profondeur d'un mélodeath luxueux,
'Darkness and light' passe à la vitesse du speed métal symphonique.
On dirait du métal sortant de la fonderie avec de jolies formes aléatoires pas encore polies et ce côté brut a bien du charme.
Eclectisme, simplicité, amitiés, muli-nationalités, un truc ludique qui se lâche et ne se prend pas la tête!

22 Jan 2021

A conversation with 
Cynik Scald

Describing themselves as a “multicultural metal band that is making powerful, heavy music with sincere, soulful, and deeply touching lyrics,” I think there is just a bit more going on here. They are based in Cyprus, yet hail from five other different parts of the globe. Singing in English and Russian, mixing several musical styles, Cynik Scald brings a lot to the table. With their latest release Aged Spirit, perhaps they ARE the table. I’ve been enjoying their music immensely and recently had the opportunity to ask them a few questions. We wish them all the best. 1. Ivan (Russia) Founder, lead vocalist, songwriter, and composer. 2. “Death” (Nevada, USA) Keyboards, harmonica, backing vocals 3. Kazuchiza “Kaz” (Japan) guitar 4. Azra (Turkey) guitar 5. Jean (France) bass
 1. Greetings from Metalheads Forever and Colorado! How are you? 
 Hey, brothers! Cheers from Russia, Nevada, Cyprus, Tokio, and Stambul! We are really great today! This 2020 year was absolutely outstanding for our band. We recorded 3 new songs, got many new fans. We made the collaboration with one of the most famous power-heavy metal vocalists, Urban Breed in the English version of “Storm”. We are really proud and satisfied with this collab. We started work on our video-channel, made 4 lyric videos, and preparing many new songs for our fans this 2021 year. Also, we are going to make an official music video as soon as the lock down will be taken out. The most important issue for us in 2020 was that our Lullaby was added into 2(!) editorial playlists (Epic and Melodic and New Metal Tracks). We got incredible unexpected success with the latest song “Lullaby”.
2. So… five band members from five countries. Obvious question. How did you get together and how did Cyprus become your home base? 
Ivan: Hmm… This is a long story. Many years ago I met “Death” somewhere in Nevada, we traveled on the bikes together for a while. Later, when I launched the Cynik Scald project I invited Death (keyboard) and found Azra – a very talented guitarist and Jeane (bass), which is my old friend since I lived in Paris… Kaz (guitar) found us a few months ago. At the moment I live in Cyprus, a Mediterranian island. Sometimes we meet in Cyprus for a couple of months to record some songs. Here we got an amazing recording studio and almost all our songs are mixing here. Plec at Panic Room Studio is always doing mastering for us. 
 3. I’ve been listening to Aged Spirit a lot. It’s a masterful melding of genres and languages. What is/was your process for writing and recording? 
 Ivan –Thank you for the appreciation of this album. Some songs from it are autobiographical (Angel, My God). This album must be recorded many years ago. It contains many songs from my young age. For example Storm (in Russian) is the first song in my life, it’s been composed when I was 18yo. In the name of the album, I put this sense, because most of the songs were aged for many years, still keeping their own spirit. The process of writing is always very spontaneous. For me, the most important and appreciated in music is the melody, even in Metal. I’m usually carrying the idea of a new song in my mind and one day just play it to show to my band. About lyrics, I write it sometimes just on the day of vocal recording between a couple of beers. 
 4. Ivan is of Russian descent. Thus, a fair percentage of your lyrics are in Russian. Will we be hearing any other languages in future offerings? 
Ivan: Who knows, maybe Kaz one day will surprise us… At the moment only one song-writer we have, I speak Russian and English.
5. The song “Storm” is about a pirate ship battling a fierce storm at sea. You have versions in Russian AND English. I don’t know which one I like better. Tell us how this song came to be. Also, kudos for including the classic “Drunken Sailor” into the mix. 😊 
 Thanks… The Storm is a song not about the ordinary battle. The ship was “Queen Anne’s Revenge” – legendary frigate of the most famous pirate “Black Beard”. The battle is epic and the song is a bit pretentious. This song is on behalf of the ship, which is also unusual. 
 6. Coming from five different countries/cultures, undoubtedly, you all bring something to the table. What is each member’s most unique asset? 
 Undoubtedly, each person brings their individuality to the creative process. The most valuable thing is that special mood and drive that arise during the recording. Most of the time we live our lives in different countries. What unites us is the love of Metal music.
7. As a guitarist, (not great, but fair) I am always curious about guitarists in bands. Describe the interplay between Kazuchiza and Azra
 Each of them has its own unique energy, at the same time they are like two parts of one whole, ideally understand each other and complement each other perfectly. I am happy to have both of them in the band. To be honest, I’m looking for one more Metalcore guitarist in the band…
8. Finally, what is your favorite meal from each of your countries? Ivan: I like “borsh”, Kaz prefers tuna and salmon nigiri, Azra likes Turkish coffee … Jeane loves to eat) Death – we didn’t see he was eating, only drinking, prefers scotch…
We thank you for your time and wish you all the best. Any parting words for our readers? 
 The times we live in now are not the easiest ones. you must remember that in any case, there is a potential for change within you. You need to choose the right path. The right way is to keep pursuing your dream despite the obstacles.

3 Jan 2020

Entrevista 396 com a Banda Cipriota Cynik Scald

Aged Spirit

A Band´,a nos lança seu primeiro álbum intitulado como Aged Spirit.A Própria banda se apresentará para vocês.
TC 1: Apresente a banda pra nós ? 
 Cynik Scald: Antes de mais nada, queremos agradecer ao Felipe por boas perguntas. Cynik Scald e sim, há uma razão para soletrar assim, embora gramaticalmente incorreta é um projeto internacional de estúdio virtual e os músicos vivem em diferentes partes do mundo. 
“Scald” nos vocais é um russo morando em Chipre, “Kaz” nas guitarras é japaneês, 
“Death” nos teclados, gaita, americano, 
Jean no baixo é europeu. 
 TC 2: Falem sobre o trabalho de composição em Aged Spirit ? 
 Cynik Scald: Todas as músicas foram compostas inicialmente por Scald durante os últimos 20 anos e é por isso que o nome do álbum é Aged Spirit, mas foram organizadas de forma significativa pelos outros membros da banda para que pareçam atualizados. 
 TC 3: Porque as músicas são em russo ? 
 Cynik Scald: Algumas músicas são em russo porque, como dissemos, Scald, que as compôs inicialmente, é russo nativo. 
 TC 4: A Banda fez shows ou turnês em 2019 ? 
 Cynik Scald: Desde que este seja um projeto de estúdio, a banda não prevê nenhuma turnê a partir de agora.
TC 5:Qual foi a recepção para este álbum ? 
 Cynik Scald: O álbum foi lançado apenas em 27 de dezembro, por isso é muito cedo para dizer sobre qualquer resultado dos fãs ainda. De qualquer forma, ele é tratado como uma música pesada de boa qualidade agora. 
 TC 6: Como surgiu o convite para a banda Forsage ? Cynik Scald: Em uma música, chamada Storm, queríamos um pouco de heavy metal clássico com vocais altos. Então, nós contatamos nossos bons velhos amigos da banda Forsage ou Forsage de Moscou e seu vocalista Serge Sergeiev concordou em nos ajudar com essa música. 
 TC 7: Porque a banda tem este nome? 
 Cynik Scald: O nome da banda vem do antigo apelido de Scald que é o principal compositor e vocalista., Que vale para um velho bardo escandinavo. Cynik corresponde à nossa atitude em relação à vida que também é o mesmo que o nome da primeira música do álbum, mas a grafia também é assim porque “Cy” vale para Chipre e nik faz parte do sobrenome real de Scald. 
 TC 8:O que a Cynik Scald tem de diferente de suas bandas anteriores? 
 Cynik Scald: Scald estava fazendo mais coisas da velha escola anteriormente, enquanto Kaz é um cara mais jovem e gosta mais de músicas mais agressivas no estilo metalcore com afinações. Então, o estilo do álbum é uma mistura de tudo (até o tango como em “Can Dance Without You ” 
TC 9:Porque algumas músicas são em russo e outras são em inglês ? 
 Cynik Scald: Scald é russo nativo, então, às vezes, é mais sincero expressar seus sentimentos e pensamentos em russo e às vezes em inglês.
TC 10:Existe alguma cena metal no Chipre ? 
 Cynik Scald: A cena do metal em Chipre é muito local. Existem bandas legais, mas nenhuma delas é famosa em todo o mundo. Cynik Scald é um projeto internacional e não se sente parte da cena metal de Chipre. 
 TC 11: Qual a ideia da capa do álbum ? 
 Cynik Scald: A idéia é que estamos usando máscaras demais e, muitas vezes, nos tornamos alguém que não somos realmente nós. Mas o verdadeiro você está sempre dentro e um dia o mundo o verá de verdade, se desejar. Você pode parecer uma pessoa corporativa de fora, mas ser um verdadeiro guerreiro viking na realidade. 
 TC 12: A Banda escolheu algum single pra este álbum e o porque desta escolha ? 
 Cynik Scald: No álbum, há algumas músicas clássicas de heavy metal e outras mais modernas. Achamos que aqueles que os vinculam são  Storm ou Asgard 
 TC 13: A Banda conhece e gosta do metal brasileiro ? Cynik Scald: Não vamos inventar nada de novo aqui. Respeitamos profundamente tudo o que a família Cavalera está fazendo na música pesada brasileira. No outro estilo de metal, Angra também é incrível. Sua versão de Wuthering Heights é uma obra-prima. 
 TC 14:Mandem uma mensagem aos fãs,a entrevista acabou 
 Cynik Scald: Ouça boa música, seja qual for o estilo. Não seja tacanho!

PRESS

about us
"When The Sun Goes Down"
„The first thing 
you hear is a motorbike  with the engine running,  an immediate connection to Pappo's lifestyle. 
As the song progresses, 
Iorio and Tano Marciello join the references. 

"When the sun goes down" by Cynik Scald is a hard rock fusion that even allows a blues section on the bridge. 

A song to listen to while you travel to the nearest motor-meeting!

 - Rock Fueguino
"Asgard"
„Cypriot Metalcore/Melodic Death Metal band Cynik Scald  is taking from the Scandinavian heritage as the main mode of the music.  
the track starts with dynamic guitar tunes with heavy synthesizer sounds like a man who is running in the endless road, fighting, trying to discover his own myth. There is a high variety of guitar sounds supported by very strong breakdowns. 

The sense of Viking is more presented in the vocals and in the chorus, especially in the second half of the track. "
Rock Era magazine
– Rana Atef
„Asgard" 
The track blasts right in with a high octane Metal sound to really get things going with high intensity from the get go. 
There's a Killer Be Killed vibe as the track twists and turns with different variations of Metal. The vocals are aggressive but there are still melodies that keep things interesting. The chorus has a bit of an In Flames feel to it. The guitar solo later in the track takes things to an even higher level before continuing on with the chorus to close things out. 
Cynik Scald takes a sledgehammer to the Metal scene with their newest single. ”