Kindly Bent to Free Us
by Cynic
User Score
2.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 24
  3. Negative: 16 out of 24
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Scooter4849
    Apr 23, 2014
    6
    With this new Cynic release, they falter a bit. One, the recording. The vocals and guitars are very limp and weak, and the drums and bass are way too overbearing. Played fantastically though. Melodically and structurally, the songs fairly accessible to an extent, while not suffering too much overall. What really hurts this the most is the complete lack of metal, going for more of sweet,With this new Cynic release, they falter a bit. One, the recording. The vocals and guitars are very limp and weak, and the drums and bass are way too overbearing. Played fantastically though. Melodically and structurally, the songs fairly accessible to an extent, while not suffering too much overall. What really hurts this the most is the complete lack of metal, going for more of sweet, almost poppy sound. Easy going alternative rock fused with progressive metal. All these changes leave me feeling underwhelmed.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Pitchfork
    Mar 10, 2014
    40
    Kindly Bent to Free Us works as a sort of retroactive insult: It resurrects many of the misgivings people have always had about Cynic--the overindulgent vocals, for instance, or the ponderous new-age musings--and runs wild with them.
    Read full review
  2. Sputnikmusic
    Feb 20, 2014
    50
    While Kindly Bent To Free Us carries Cynic’s trademark sound, it simultaneously sounds like it could’ve been written by a number of groups.
    Read full review
  3. Sputnikmusic
    Feb 20, 2014
    40
    This isn't a slight dip in quality, it's an avalanche.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »