Cynic - Focus

Cynic. Focus. 1993. 4.5 stars.

While there were plenty of accolades going out to last year’s Traced in Air, I find Focus to be a better and more fascinating summation of Cynic’s innovative style. Combining progressive rock, death metal, jazz fusion and psychedelic rock, Cynic made a huge impression on the metal scene of the early 90s and sent a collective shiver down the spines of aspiring artists looking to expand the genre.

It’s difficult to put Cynic’s eclectic compositions down in words because each track is so packed with intensive poly-rhythms, winding riffs and warped vocals that you get lost in its colorful, psychoactive current. Everything on this disc is virtuosic and testamentary to the mind-melting power of progressive metal. Of course, the sheer technicality of this record is not too daunting, as the band arranges their sound with great attention to atmosphere and pacing, leaving the listener with many peaks and valleys to get carried through. Its actually quite amazing how they manage to balance heavy and angular guitar assaults with tranquil and melodic passages.

While there are certainly some strange elements to Focus, namely the spacey, futuristic vocal effects and science fiction atmosphere, they help contribute to its adventurous character. Even though some of these factors may initially seem campy, they eventually melt in with the intense musicianship. A classic release that redefined progressive metal.

Cynic - Celestial Voyage

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