American progressive metal band Cynic's 2010 EP Re-Traced  available on 12" vinyl for the first time ever, including a memorial tribute track to the late Sean Malone.

Cynic was formed in Miami, Florida by Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert in 1987, blending elements of progressive rock, alternative, and metal. Their debut album Focus was released in 1993, after which they disbanded in 1994. Since the mid-90s, the band has been based in California. Their comeback in 2006 led to the release of the sophomore album Traced in Air (2008), with the first four songs on Re-Traced being reinterpretations from that album. Svart Records, in cooperation with Cynic, now presents Re-Traced reborn on a 12” vinyl, featuring three alternative versions of the songs plus liner notes and an interview by Martin Popoff.

Paul Masvidal comments the reissue: 

“Seeing Re-Traced pressed on a legit 12” vinyl is an exciting first, especially with the inclusion of bonus tracks like Sean Malone’s beautiful, never-before-released bass rendition of Wheels Within Wheels and his magical performance on Integral, which I initially released digitally as a memorial tribute to him. The electronic renditions of Traced in Air tracks like Space, Evolutionary and King take the songs into entirely new realms. It’s also synchronistic that I’m now playing these songs in my solo acoustic ambient shows, finally bringing them into a live format. Altogether, it feels quite special to see these two records reborn.”

Adrien Begrand, PopMatters: “Rather than a simple remix of Traced in Air tracks, Re-Traced is a deconstruction, a reimagining of the original songs. It’s an ambitious project, showing the band’s versatility and willingness to evolve.”

Chris Dick, Decibel Magazine: “Re-Traced shows a different side of Cynic. By stripping down the complexity of their compositions, they reveal the emotional core of their music, making it an essential piece of their catalog.”

Scott Alisoglu, Blabbermouth: “Cynic’s Re-Traced EP finds the group pushing the boundaries of what progressive metal can be, transforming songs from Traced in Air into haunting, atmospheric soundscapes.”

Re-Traced is available on Svart exclusive Natural/Gold Smoke vinyl, limited turquoise vinyl, and classic black vinyl on February 14th, 2025.