Live Review: Cynic / Obscura - The Underworld, London
14th March 2023
Support: Cryptosis
Words: Sam Jones
Photos: Jacob Schwar
The London Underworld show headlined by Cynic, their first England show in who knows how long, is sold out. However, the venue doesn’t immediately fill up as people slowly stream in and go to the bar, the merch stand, the sidelines and, myself included, the main pit itself. It also reminds me why I don’t drink much at these shows (£4.40 for just a pint of coke!). The atmosphere is jovial, lighthearted, people are here to have a great time, and soon Cryptosis take to the stage in darkness.
The amps are booming with sound, the floor vibrates and Cryptosis come to the fray, an instrumental guitar piece playing over their arrival. Whoever is working the mix on Cryptosis’ performance deserves praise, for it’s not even a minute in before the band are already pulling the crowd in with a guitar sound that’s fantastically crisp yet bold. The drums too bind us closer with the band since their bass drums ring in our ears and through the floorboards; all in all it’s a support band that’s well chosen for this tour. Early into the set, Cryptosis have their audience eating out of their palms. Fists and horns are soon in the air. Smoke machines are let loose, heads are banging.
It may not be eight in the evening but that’s not stopping Cryptosis from giving it their all. Owing to the band’s technical nature, guitar solos are in frequent appearance here but that’s not a bad thing since they’re not needlessly overblown and aid to amplify the band’s science-fiction aesthetic that’s made them the prominent act as of late. It’s refreshing to hear a band who knows how to really play, and then not shy away from that fact throughout their live shows. It’s great to see even their bassist gets his time to shine, as he takes centre stage numerous times throughout their set. I haven’t seen many support bands where the pit has been opened by a single person, such is the power Cryptosis exert but there it was. Leaving the stage to a roar of applause and a forest of horns, that was as sublime an opening band’s performance could have been for this tour.
The venue has well and truly filled up now, with bar staff running to and fro to satiate the thirsty crowd, and it’s from there I could hear Obscura playing their opening song of the set. I finally managed to grab a sideline view of Obscura but it isn’t easy, the Underworld is rammed for the first headlining band of the evening, however their sound is impeccable. Like Cynic, they’ve got a full hour to work with which means they can dabble in one or two of their more progressive pieces; the band are renowned for their musicianship just as much as their ferocity and we get a good helping of each here. It’s a joy to hear the bass so amplified here, amongst the most notable facets of their sound, as it forms the foundation to many of Obscura’s more adventurous pieces where the riff intensity drops completely and we’re audience to a much more methodical experience.
Cryptosis brought the wall of energy but Obscura showcase the more complex writing evident in this side of progressive, technical death metal. Miraculously, I made my way into the central pit and was greeted by the full brunt of their crushing assault; though slower than their support act, Obscura’s riffs are massive and, in accordance with said strength, a massive pit opens up to a maelstrom of bodies and limbs. But Obscura’s playing is super tight; many tracks possess songwriting that can’t be easily improvised, it requires great practise and both guitarists, bassist and drummer all play off each other as if it’s second nature to them. Obscura leave the stage to great fanfare, reminding their audience who is yet to come.
Thirteen years. That is how long it’s been since Cynic last played an English show. After a veritable queue to get down the stairs into the central pit, the crowd looks like it’s barely moved since Obscura finished their set, such is the hype regarding Cynic’s appearance on stage.
The room is sweltering when Cynic finally take to the stage, as the lights dim purple and the crowd is eager for the band, at long last. Launching right into the very beginning of their landmark record Focus, the band receive a copious dose of applause as their 1993 masterpiece is laid out in front of us. Cynic may not have the aggressive intensity of the last two acts, but they’ve got stage presence for sure. Paul Masdival, fellow guitarist and bassist, each playing headstockless guitars, make for a unique performance. Focus was always going to be a more ethereal album to play live and I’ve never seen more concrete proof of such. But Cynic are a force to be reckoned with and not merely because of their progressive power they’re famed for, it’s the serenity inbetween the chaos that truly fleshes out their style.
Again, whoever is mixing tonight’s sound needs a raise, for this sounds as good live as I’ve always known it to be on record. I don’t need to wonder what song is next, for the clarity they play with makes each new piece abundantly clear. Yet, whilst Cynic indeed play mindmelting pieces, it must be said they take great care and attention to their playing. They know full well it’s a sold out show, but that doesn’t stop them from taking painstaking care of their own playing. Musicianship is a matter of perfection and you can visually tell Masdival takes pride in his performance, having refined not only his own segments but Cynic’s on the whole too. But, the final track off Focus, “How Could I?” (As Masdival points to the crowd indicating “I”) gets the audience moving one final time.
What a night it has been, we’ve heard the entirety of Focus played live; a dream set I’ve always shaken off as unlikely ever to happen yet, that’s what London was blessed with. All three bands who played were on form, each one providing something different to the other. Cynic don’t play here often but if the crowd was anything to by, they dearly need to. The Underworld was crammed to maximum capacity and all for one of Progressive Death Metal’s most legendary forefathers. A fantastic night for all.
Photo credits: Jacob Schwar
