When an outfit as progressive and experimental as Cynic seeks to further their boundaries; there’s always that danger of the material winding up being too esoteric. Such is the case with the tribal icaros (healing songs) and such that are interspersed throughout “Carbon-Based Anatomy“.

While rich with a world music slant and wholly colorful, repeated listens can find them to be a bit tiresome once the initial shock value wears off. It’s not that the band haven’t lovingly approached the source material though, rather that it can be at odds with their stronger traits.

Those traits of course being the ability to make engagingly spacey melodic progressive metal. Few bands are as capable as Cynic at crafting a vivid soundscape that is this flush with color and density. In fact the hypnotic bass-led drone of this EP’s title track ranks up there with some of the bands finest work.

But following up such a moving piece of music with the ethnically rhythmic interlude “Bija!” quickly stalls the momentum. Sure it fits in with the bands more direct embrace of organic tones. But it is also where “Carbon-Based Anatomy” can become frustrating. The material all subtly ties together, but that doesn’t mean it flows consistently.

Instead the listener is often left to endure a start and stop momentum that will either be make or break based on personal taste. To be sure “Carbon-Based Anatomy” is a beautiful piece of music – one where heartfelt expressionism meshses flawlessly with admirably cultured pursuits. But it is ultimately hindered by what feels like an albums worth of interludes and segues being packed into an EP’s worth of tracks.

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  ( 8 votes, 3.63 stars )
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