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Cynic - Focus



8.7 | 776 votes |
Release date: 14 September 1993
Style: Progressive death metal

Owners:

888 have it
90 want it
2 trade it


01. Veil Of Maya
02. Celestial Voyage
03. The Eagle Nature
04. Sentiment
05. I'm But A Wave To...
06. Uroboric Forms
07. Textures
08. How Could I
09. Veil Of Maya [2004 remix] [The Expanded Edition bonus]
10. I'm But A Wave To... [2004 remix] [The Expanded Edition bonus]
11. How Could I [2004 remix] [The Expanded Edition bonus]
12. Cosmos [Portal] [The Expanded Edition bonus]
13. The Circle's Gone [Portal] [The Expanded Edition bonus]
14. Endless Endeavors [Portal] [The Expanded Edition bonus]

Top 20 albums of 1993: 4
Top 200 albums of all time: 158

Additional info
Produced by Cynic and Scott Burns.
Engineered and mixed by Scott Burns.
Recorded and mixed at Morrisound Recording, Tampa, FL.
Cover art: "Angelic Manifestation" by Robert Venosal

Re-issued in '04 by Roadrunner Records. The album was remastered, has 6 bonus tracks, including three '04 remixes, and three Portal songs, a deluxe booklet containing new artwork, new liner notes, previously unseen pictures and a personal message from Paul Masvidal.
Produced for reissue by Tom Burleigh, Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert.
Mastered by Kevin Bartley at Capitol Mastering, Hollywood, CA.

Staff review by
Herzebeth
Rating:
9.7
This album really impressed me in the minute I pushed play on my Stereo; Cynic the King without Crown, Cynic is like H.P Lovecraft or Vincent van Gogh, artists that public worshiped only after they died. Cynic released only one Full Length and a lot of Demos, nowadays people is hungry to get their material, fortunately I got Focus, so let's talk about this awesome album.

Read more ››
published 12.01.2006 | Comments (52)

In memory of Sean Reinert and Marcel Hubregtse
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 19.01.2018 at 01:43

So superior to anything they did afterwards it isn't even funny anymore.

You're so right, Marcel. Happy to have enjoyed that Hellfest'07 with you!

Darkside Momo's picks | More picks ››

Found in 97 lists
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Comments

Comments: 19   Visited by: 1386 users
17.06.2011 - 00:12
Mattybu
I love this album. Cynic are just geniuses in my books.
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30.10.2011 - 20:48
Rating: 10
musicalkaratekid
A timeless album. The melodic elements throughout the album tie in brilliantly with the fercity of the death metal influences. I cannot wait for their new album\m/
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05.03.2012 - 22:10
I should listen to the whole album. I checked out Veil of Maya and it was awesome!
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10.01.2013 - 22:29
Illog1cal
Account deleted
Written by musicalkaratekid on 30.10.2011 at 20:48

A timeless album. The melodic elements throughout the album tie in brilliantly with the fercity of the death metal influences. I cannot wait for their new album\m/

I don't find this to be ferocious at all, the vocals and down-tuned guitar seem pointless.
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11.01.2013 - 01:11
Rating: 10
musicalkaratekid
Written by [user id=130590] on 10.01.2013 at 22:29

Written by musicalkaratekid on 30.10.2011 at 20:48

A timeless album. The melodic elements throughout the album tie in brilliantly with the fercity of the death metal influences. I cannot wait for their new album\m/

I don't find this to be ferocious at all, the vocals and down-tuned guitar seem pointless.

Well I say ferocious in comparison to the lighter elements of the album.
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18.04.2014 - 01:47
Rating: 10
PsychoticNK
Among my top 3 favorite metal albums, such a flawless mix of psychedelic aesthetics and sci-fi oriented prog metal.
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15.07.2014 - 17:57
Rating: 10
One of the greatest albums ever - listening to it feels like floating in an ocean of pure beauty. Unique and nearly impossible to imitate, there will most likely never be another of its kind.
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06.08.2014 - 17:25
Rating: 9
NocturnalStalker
Metal Addict
A brilliant records. No words can do it justice so, if you somehow haven't had an opportunity to listen to this jewel of metal, please, do it.
My favourite tracks: Veil of Maya, I'm But a Wave to..., Uroboric Forms, Textures, How Could I.
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"And we are not who we think we are
We are who we're afraid to be"
- Lux Occulta "The Opening of Eleventh Sephirah"
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18.01.2018 - 23:25
VIG
Account deleted
Veil of Maya is a very catchy track
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19.01.2018 - 01:43
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Elite
So superior to anything they did afterwrds it isn't even funny anymore.
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Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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25.03.2018 - 23:58
Rating: 9
Redel
Moderator
Good stuff. I didnt come across them any earlier than now, funny.
Remarkably progressive approach, in particular regarding the time.
My highlights are Veil of Maya, Celestial voyage, Textures, and How could I.
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25.01.2020 - 22:17
Rulatore
RIP the Legend
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15.09.2021 - 04:26
Rating: 10
sgtrobo
Straight masterpiece
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15.09.2021 - 12:14
gavdann
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 19.01.2018 at 01:43

So superior to anything they did afterwrds it isn't even funny anymore.

This says it all.

(not that they've done much afterwards)
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25.01.2022 - 16:21
Rating: 10
qlacs
"The Quaker"
Can't believe how much comfort I'm finding in this record these days.
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29.03.2022 - 15:04
Rating: 9
nonZero
I was obsessed with this album the first time I listened to it. I loved how it takes influence from different genres and creates something that feels almost mystical to listen to without straying from the death metal sound we know.

9.0/10 for me
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06.07.2022 - 18:56
Alakazam
spendin' cheese
HowwwwwccccooUUUUlllllllddddaiiiIIIIIIII

*followed by emotional orgasm.

Holy fuck when that part came on upon spinning this back last time when it was hearing the news of the second Sean in the same year...



*exhales
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I may not have the largest collection but I certainly have the absolute best

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25.11.2022 - 18:58
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Progressive music icon Cynic is pleased to announce two very special live performances set for 2023, for which the band will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Focus by performing the seminal album in its entirety! In addition, Cynic will also be paying homage to late members Sean Reinert and Sean Malone as these are the band's first live performances since the members' passings. More anniversary and memorial tribute shows will be announced in the near future!


The band will first appear on the 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise, which sets sail from Miami, FL on January 30 through February 3. Later in the year, CYNIC will then perform at the illustrious ProgPower USA festival on September 6 in Atlanta, GA!
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I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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20.09.2023 - 09:55
Rating: 7
24emd
Theory Snob
Hey, not bad at all. For me its not far ahead of their other albums, but definitely ahead. Nice dynamic shifts, quite effective.
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"I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense." - Proverbs 30:2
"Music? Well, it's just entertainment, folks!" - Devin Townsend

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