Cynic is an American progressive metal band formed in Miami, Florida in 1987. The band has been primarily based in California since the late 1990s (or 1996), marking a significant shift in their geographic and creative roots. Paul Masvidal originally served solely as the band's guitarist, but later took over as lead vocalist and chief songwriter. Cynic incorporates elements of progressive rock, alternative, and metal.

Their first album, Focus, was released in 1993. Cynic disbanded in 1994, reunited in 2006, and released their second album in 2008. Traced in Air was released through French label Season of Mist, followed up by an EP titled Re-Traced in 2010 and an EP titled Carbon-Based Anatomy in 2011. Their third studio album, Kindly Bent to Free Us, was released in 2014.

In December 2017, after two years of uncertainty surrounding his involvement, founding drummer Sean Reinert confirmed his split from Cynic. Reinert later died unexpectedly, at the age of 48, in January 2020. Longtime Cynic bass player Sean Malone died at the age of 50 eleven months later. The band's fourth album, Ascension Codes, was released in December 2021.