Focus - Cynic

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Technical death metallers Cynic's landmark 1993 release "Focus" is widely regarded as a defining example of the genre, and rightly so. In a bold effort, drummer Sean Reinart plays no blast beats, instead taking his drumming style from popular jazz to create a unique mish-mash of two different genres. With such a solid line-up featuring two ex-Death members, the expectations are high. But while Focus is a landmark release, there is no doubt that it has its flaws. For one, some of the synth effects are very poor, and the vocals feel like a cheap imitation of Jeff Walker's work with Carcass. Fretless bass played by Sean Malone, sounds far too prominent, and sometimes, with so much going on, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Regardless, the sheer magic that's made when two genres collide and intertwine so beautifully is enough to warrant a purchase for any death metal fan who wants to hear something new.

Must Downloads - "Veil of Maya", "Sentiment", "Uroboric Forms"