Tim Batkin is drummer in reactivated NWOBHM outfit Cynic. This British is not to be confused with the reunited progressive metallers Cynic, featuring Sean Reinert on drums.



Tim Batkin's biography, in his own words:

I began playing the drums aged thirteen, albeit in an Air Cadet Band, playing Snare Drum. Eventually, becoming Lead Drummer (the person who does the lead solo`s). This was an excellent apprenticeship, as the band had a military Scots pipe band instructor, who was insistent on rudiments being learned. Many evenings were spent on Double Stroke Rolls, Paradiddles, Flams, and Triplets etc.



I got my first drum kit at sixteen years of age, a Maxwin by Pearl, and joined my first group, a hard rock band called Cynic, at eighteen.



I played for Cynic for ten years, playing large concert halls and pubs, and recording, and in that time appeared twice on Radio, released the now highly sought after single – Suicide - and numerous other studio recordings, including the Do or Die EP, and Right Between the Eyes CD.



After Cynic I joined the Rush tribute band Tom Sawyer, and played at the annual European Rush convention two years running, playing the music and drum solos of Neil Peart who had been a major influence on my playing since I was nineteen. In 2003 playing with the EurCon house band, of Stewart Gilray and Neil Orgee, I played the NEC while RUSH were playing in the evening on the R30 Tour.



In September 2001 a book was published entitled "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" see www.nwobhm.com where Cynic was applauded as, "A band which should be placed on the highest hierarchy of collectibles as the genre defining act of the early Eighties". The original Suicide single is now one of the top 50 most valuable collectable singles. This was followed by Martin Poppoff`s, (author of RUSH Grace Under Pressure) book, “The New Wave of British Heavy Metal Singles”. In turn this lead to Cynic reforming and appearing on BBC News on the 12.00, 6.00, and 10.00 PM news slots, followed by a further two BBC Radio sessions – one a live appearance.



Cynic regularly plays on Internet radio stations from Florida through syndication to Hawaii, Canada, and UK, most notably with Grinder`s “Old School Metal Show” on www.nwobhm.net



In 2006 Cynic, (Shaun Grant, Dom Heptinstall, Tim Batkin, and Garry Curtiss) booked into Rockfield Recording Studio to record their latest album. This was a lifelong ambition for Shaun and myself, and we were so ably supported by studio sound engineer, Matt Butler, former AIR Studios Montserrat engineer, who has worked with Rush, Pink Floyd, Mick Jagger, Dire Straits, Gary Moore, Sir Paul McCartney, Black Sabbath, to name a very small few.



The combination of Rockfield and Matt, have created, in our minds, the biggest sound we have ever had – and a really heavy album. This will be released shortly.