Although highly regarded in their time CYNIC was noted more for their individual members contributions to other acts. Tony Choy contributed bass parts to the ATHEIST album 'Unquestionable Presence' before joining Dutch thrashers PESTILENCE for their 'Testimony Of The Ancients' album and following world tour. Guitarist Paul Masvidal and drummer Sean Reinert played on DEATH's 1992 album 'Human' then opted to join DEATH's 1992 American and European tour on a temporary basis. Masvidal also contributed heavily to MASTER's 'And On The Seventh Day God Created Master' album. Guitarist Jason Gobel guests on MONSTROSITY's 'Imperial Doom' album and also filled in for live shows.

CYNIC was initiated in November of 1987 by guitarist Paul Masvidal and drummer Sean Reinert, this pair uniting with bassist Mark Van Erp and vocalist Jack Kelly. An opening 1988 demo was laid down, after which Kelly decamped. Jason Gobel was pulled in as substitute and Masvidal assumed the lead vocal role for the second, four song demo session 'Reflections Of A Dying World'. CYNIC set about live work across Florida but Van Erp would exit, later to enroll in MONSTROSITY, and was replaced by Tony Choy for a third, self titled demo.

CYNIC recorded a late 1991 three track demo for Roadrunner Records. The band duly secured a deal but that April both Masvidal and Reinert took time out of their schedule to session on DEATH's 'Human' opus. Strangely CYNIC was gaining a reputation without having even recorded an album as a plethora of sessions came their way. Tony Choy filled in for the late Roger Patterson on ATHEIST's 'Unquestionable Presence' record and guested on PESTILENCE's 'Testimony Of The Ancients'. Masvidal contributed his skills to MASTER's 'On The Eighth Day, God Created Master' whilst Jason Gobel was sought out by MONSTROSITY, cutting lead breaks on their 'Imperial Doom' album.

CYNIC had projected studio time with producer Scott Burns for October of 1992. Unfortunately Hurricane David put paid to these plans, wiping out the band's rehearsal facility at Jason Gobel's house. With their equipment wrecked the band postponed recording until March of 1993. That May a demo of the song 'Uroboric Forms' figured on the Roadrunner compilation 'At Death's Door II'. Tony Choy broke away to join ATHEIST on a full time basis. CYNIC briefly drafted Chris Kringel as new bass man before settling on Sean Malone.

Following the 'Focus' album release in September of 2003 Masvidal reunited with DEATH on a permanent basis. 'Focus' had seen Tony Teegarden aiding with backing vocals and it would be he that stepped up to take the role of frontman for a European tour partnered with PESTILENCE. These shows also found bassist Chris Kringel temporarily taking Malone's place. CYNIC would tour across North America in the Summer of 1994 as support to CANNIBAL CORPSE, pulling in Dana Cosley of DEMONOMACY to handle vocals and keyboards. Upon completion of these reports suggested new material was being crafted utilising the VIOGRESSION credited vocalist Brian DeNeffe. During this period bassist Sean Malone left the fold. Shortly after, CYNIC disbanded, with Paul Masvidal, Jason Gobel and Sean Reinert going on to forge the Gotchic flavoured PORTAL with singer Aruna Abrams and bassist Chris Kringel.

Reinert joined GORDIAN KNOT but by 2000 was involved with AGHORA. Malone also contributes to the debut AGHORA album. The 2003 GORDIAN KNOT album 'Emergent' featured Masvidal, Gobel and Reinert as guests. Tony Teegarden would found ADRIFT in league with Jack Owen of CANNIBAL CORPSE.

In early 2007 it was revealed PESTILENCE guitarist Patrick Mameli had forged a new Death Metal act billed C-187 in alliance with M.A.N, ex-TRANSPORT LEAGUE and MNEMIC vocalist Tony Jelencovich plus the CYNIC duo of bassist Tony Choy and drummer Sean Reinert. Signing to Dutch imprint Mascot Records, C-187 cut debut album tracks that February at Space Lab Studios in Düsseldorf in Germany.

Early 2008 found Sean Reinert and Paul Masvidal spending time at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida working on a mix for three new demo tracks with producer Jason Suecof, 'Integral Birth', 'Evolutionary Sleeper' and 'Adam's Murmur'. In June a reunited CYNIC entered a Glendale, California studio with producer Warren Riker to begin recording a brand new album for a release via French label Season of Mist Records. The new look band involved Sean Malone back on bass, Paul Masvidal, Sean Reinart and Dutchman Tymon Kruidenier on vocals and guitar.

'Traced In Air' saw release on 28th October 2008. A collectors box edition was limited to 1000 copies. The band paired up with MESHUGGAH for North American touring in February 2009. In April the band packaged with DAATH and DRAGONFORCE for a slew of US tour dates.