Interview with Cynthesis

Jasun: I'm very pleased to hear you enjoyed "DeEvoltuion" as we're very proud of the material. I'm a huge fan of Pink Floyd, Old Rainbow and Porcupine Tree. I wanted to bring more of those influences into my writing for Cynthesis. With my brother not being able to be part of the writing process I knew the approach to Cynthesis would be very different from ZH. This pushed me in the direction of building my own home recording studio. I was now going to be the person who writes all the music and creating it while tracking it at my house. ZH would be Troy and I coming up with material in the rehearsal room. So this was a very different process which creates a different sound and a new band.

The songs are trippy, emotional with a sense of melancholy
with flourishes of the trademark Zero Hour technical prowess, but sonically quite different from your previous work. Did you
intentionally want to distance yourself from what Zero Hour fans have come to expect?

Jasun: I wanted Cynthesis to be known as Cynthesis not a mini Zero Hour. Cynthesis is a real band not a project. I was very much ready to do something different as Cynthesis is the kind of material I want to hear and play. Many Zero Hour fans have welcome Cynthesis with open arms as the material is very deep.

According to the bands biography, DeEvolution tells the
story of an elite group of leaders from a heavily industrialized city who find, brainwash and then exploit an indigenous tribes shaman, believing he would be the perfect supreme leader. By propping him up as possessing all the answers to societies ills the elites use him in order to gain and keep more control over the masses. They plan to influence the masses on several fronts: Religion, Media, Consumerism, and Government. Did you set out to write a character driven story ala Operation Mindcrime.

Erik: The plan was to write a character driven story for sure.
Although, not really influenced by Mindcrime but rather the history of
political power structurers, social engineering etc. In the end, how leaders come into being and the forces that surround them.

With current events such as the “Occupy Wall Street”
protests, war, global famine, unemployment, and terrorism, it almost seems that the album’s storyline is very prophetic. Is DeEvolution’s concept a story to stand on it’s own metaphorically or is it your personal statement of current chaotic state of the world?

Jasun: We actually saw each for the first time in over 5 years at the Heaven and Hell show. I noticed someone coming up on our row and I said to Troy "That's Erik". He came towards us and we yelled "Hey man". We gave each other a big hug and started chatting it up. It was great to see him and I asked him if he'd be the singer for Cynthesis and he said absolutely.

You have stated that Cythesis’ second album will be titled
‘ReEvolution” and it will be an extension of the concepts started on “DeEvolution”. Have the songs already been completed and recorded for the second album?

Erik: ReEvolution is Part 2 of DeEvolution. We basically just have to
track the vocals for the last two songs.

What is the current status of Zero Hour? Do you plan on revisiting the band somewhere down the road?

Jasun: There's no status to share about Zero Hour at this time. Even a year from now if you were to ask me I'd probably have the same answer. Troy wants to enjoy playing music and his head isn't in the game to write for Zero Hour.

After his surgery, how is Troy doing now? Are there any
current plans for Cynthesis to do any live events in 2012?

Jasun: Troy is getting stronger but he will never be 100 percent. His muscle is still weak and has to limit his playing. Cynthesis would like to do some festivals and shows to support "ReEvolution" when released. The guys are all on board to do this but it has to make sense.

What is going on with your instrumental side project
“Abnormal Thought Patterns”?

Jasun: Abnormal Thought Patterns will release an EP later this month. The street date for the release is November 29th off CynNormal Lab Recordings. We're very excited to have this come out and here's where you can check out a clip of the EP. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIOmX4tFFT4

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this
interview. In conclusion, is there anything you would like to say to the readers of The Metal Pit?

Jasun: Thank you so much for the great interview and hope to do it again when ReEvolution comes out. Please check Abnormal Thought Patterns as that will be on sale Nov. 29th. Here's our FB pages to keep you updated. Thanks to all our listener's for the support

Interview with CYNTHESIS guitarist Jasun Tipton and vocalist Erik Rosvold

THE METAL PIT: I originally reviewed Devolution this past July, and I have to say it is one of the year’s best metal debuts. For fans of your previous band Zero Hour that may not be familiar with Cynthesis, how does it differ stylistically from Zero Hour?