Sean Reinert (DEATH / CYNIC)

[Ravenpride]

28 Min ·

RIP Sean Reinert (CYNIC / DEATH). Phenomenal drummer.

R.I.P

[Ravenpride]

Former DEATH And CYNIC Drummer SEAN REINERT Dead At 48

Sean Reinert, longtime drummer for progressive/technical metal pioneers CYNIC, has died. He was apparently found unresponsive at his California home Friday night (January 24). No cause of death has yet been revealed. He was only 48 years old.

Reinert was a founding member of CYNIC, along with guitarist/vocalist Paul Masvidal, and he remained in the group until September 2015.

In 1991, Reinert and Masvidal joined the legendary Florida band DEATH to record the "Human" album. After touring with DEATH, they returned to CYNIC.

1993 saw the release of CYNIC's debut album, "Focus", which is regarded as a landmark LP in the field of technical/progressive metal. After CYNIC's initial split, Reinert and Masvidal relocated to Los Angeles, where they continued working with music by writing and performing for television shows and motion pictures.


In 1999, Reinert helped Masvidal form ÆON SPOKE, which was described as an "ethereal rock" band. In 2007, CYNIC reformed for a tour and recorded a new album, "Traced In Air", which was released in 2008 and followed by more touring. After "Traced In Air", CYNIC issued two conceptual EPs, "Re-Traced" (2010) and "Carbon-Based Anatomy" (2011). Sean's final recorded appearance with CYNIC was "Kindly Bent To Free Us", which came out in February 2014 via Season Of Mist.

Reinert played his last shows with CYNIC in September 2015 in Japan. He later said that the "performances were not up to par" and blamed the band's lack of preparation on "the accumulation of differences in musical directions and business practices."

After his exit from CYNIC, Sean was involved with the Los Angeles progressive rock group PERFECT BEINGS, whose latest album, "Vier", was released in January 2018 via InsideOut Music.

RIP to an absolute monster and genius on the drums. I’m speechless and have no details.

Chris

[Ravenpride]

Cynic
9 Std. ·
From Sean Malone:

I was luckier than most. Complete musical trust—especially between a bassist and a drummer—is a rare and precious thing. Rare, because it’s not something you find by looking for it. Precious, because some may go an entire lifetime without ever having experienced it. But I was luckier than most. Sean offered his trust during every rehearsal, every recording, and every performance we ever did, and it’s likely that I’ll never experience the same again. The truth is that we’re all lucky—lucky to have been alive while Sean Reinert was making music.

[Ravenpride]

9 Std. ·
There is death metal BEFORE Sean and then there's EVERYTHING after HUMAN. We all know his contributions to drumming in the metal community. Sean was even directly responsible in part for GRUESOME's existence. What I want you all to know is who Sean Reinert was as a person. He was my best friend on earth...my greatest cheerleader and the person who's gotten me through the worst things in life. Everyone who's ever met him and hung out with him has experienced Sean...he was always genuine and kind. He also absolutely loved drums and NEVER lost that almost child like enthusiasm for it...and that would help keep it alive in me. For years he thought that people had forgotten about him and the was old news. I remember us going to our first Namm show together back in 2007. Driving there I'm like "dude, everyone's gonna shit when they meet you!" Which he thought was ludicrous! Not 3 min after we arrived at the Hilton after party I remember Jason Bittner running up to him "Dude if I had a dollar for every time I've TRIED to play your stuff?!!" It made me so happy to see his face! Yet he NEVER lost humility and practiced constantly. So please listen to some classic Reinert jams, tell stories of how he's affected your life and let's celebrate the beautiful HUMAN and of course musician that Sean Reinert was. On behalf of Robin who's known Sean since their teens, Daniel and Matt whom have known him for years and myself...thank you Sean Reinert, we will ALWAYS love you brother.

Gus Rios

12 Std. ·
We send our condolences to the family and friends of Sean Reinert, one of the biggest game changers and best musicians in the metal universe.

[Ravenpride]

OMG I just heard of the passing of one of my favorite drummers and a MASSIVE influence on my drumming, Sean Reinert. Sean’s performance on the Death “Human” album is possibly the greatest metal drumming performance EVER. RIP Sean!

I’ll never forget seeing Cynic in 1994 in Des Moines IA on tour with Cannibal Corpse & Sinister, Joey Jordison and I were standing behind Sean Reinert’s drum kit for their whole set, with our jaws on the floor. Such a groundbreaking drummer. RIP Sean Reinert
@DeathOfficial

Damn! RIP Sean Reinert. A true innovator, way ahead of his time.

[Ravenpride]

Absolutely shocked to hear of the passing of Sean Reinert. I watched him play every single night when Cynic supported DT in 2009 and was always in complete awe. He was an outstanding drummer and a really nice guy. Way too young to leave us...RIP my friend 😞

The world lost a true legend and a beautiful soul. Sean Reinert's innovative, dynamic, soulful playing on "Human" and "Focus" completely changed the game of metal drumming. As a teenager, I went out and bought my first splash cymbal after hearing Sean use his splashes so beautifully. No one played like him and to many, including myself, Sean is the ultimate reference when it comes to creativity and swing in metal drumming. As a person, Sean was jovial, kind-hearted, thoughtful and always ready to crack a joke or tell a hilarious story. Through his heartfelt laughs during the many game/movie nights my wife and I shared together with him and his husband Tom, or his big hugs when it was time to head home to take care of his cats, Sean's warm presence filled the room in the best possible way. It's so hard to fathom that he's gone... We spoke just a few weeks ago and he sounded as happy as ever. My heart goes out to Tom as well as Sean's family, friends, bandmates and fans. We will miss you so much, Sean... Rest in peace, brother, and thank you for everything. 💔

I'm trying to really find all the words to sum the last week or so up, just as we were starting to mend from Neil, this happens.....I can't explain just how much Sean meant to all of us in the metal community, and the drumming community alone - this guy was definitely NOT "just a metal drummer". read all the posts about him and you will know. Neil influenced all of us to be play more fills and be experimental, and Sean took it to the Nth degree with everyone he played with, and he became a "Neil Peart" type influence for the metal world. Go back and look at my first Modern Drummer feature - two of my Top 10 drumming albums are his - Death "Human", and Cynic's "Focus". Absolute stellar performances, unplayable by most of us mere mortals..........I'm still trying. But on top of all this Sean was an awesome, awesome guy - just a laugh riot to hang out with.

There's a contingent of people over the last decade who have become the "Sickdrummer Magazine family/clique/gang" at NAMM, - Anton Hefele, Ian Macdonald, Derek Roddy, Gus Rios, Forrest Robinson, Brian Zink,myself, Tim Yeung, Matt Thompson, and a rotating cast of characters depending on the year - but there was always ONE GUY we were hoping was "coming to the show this year", and that was Sean Landon Reinert - he was just that respected and loved by us, and by the drumming world

I was lucky enough to become friends with him back in probably 2005/6, and we always stayed in contact, and saw each other when the tour or NAMM permitted, or if I was just in CA for other business, we always made it a point to hang if possible - the last time I saw him was when he came to see me play in Flotsam and Jetsam at the Whiskey in LA. We had just drove in all night from AZ,no sleep, I was TMing too, and just exhausted by time I took the stage - the only thing that was keeping me going was the fact of "dude, Sean is watching, you BETTER bring it!" I did to my best ability, and he told me so after the show......"dude you kicked ass" - I still think he was just being nice!! RIP Sean - I hope you're up there trading 7's with "The Professor" right now - or at least drinking some of his Macallan!! We all love and miss you already!!!!