The year 1993 was a turning point for violent and pyrotechnic metal, marking the release of one of the most complex and original musical works ever conceived in modern music; I am referring to the album "Focus", the first and only creation from the Cynic project (if we exclude the various demos), a band comprised of some of the best musicians (technically speaking), featuring Paul Masvidal on vocals, Jason Gobel on guitars, Sean Malone on bass, and Sean Reinert on drums. Starting from a typical American Death metal base, the Californian band decided to create an album in which a wide variety of genres coexisted harmoniously, moving not only through death but also progressive influenced by Watchtower and Rush, not shying away from semi-acoustic parts close to jazz and fusion. Another peculiar feature of the album, which caused quite a stir, was the use of filtered vocal parts that complemented the peculiar, yet beautiful screaming of guitarist/vocalist Masvidal.

The album, divided into only 8 musical episodes, is mostly developed on absolutely extraordinary bass lines and drumming: it is indeed Malone and Reinert who orchestrate the rhythms and melodies of the album, which are consistently tight and heavy. The record begins with "Veil Of Maya", a song introduced with clean voice and filtered parts, which, supported by the various instruments, take us on a musical journey to the edge of the imaginable; violent and intense parts are alternated with more intimate and delicate ones, almost sweet, always played with enviable class. "Celestial Voyage", just as the title suggests, turns out to be a celestial journey in music: overlapping voices, accompanied by rocky riffs and a powerful and heavy rhythm and acoustic parts, will keep you company for 3 minutes and 36 seconds of pure madness. That leads us to "The Eagle Nature", a song closer to death, if it weren't for the omnipresent filtered vocal parts, which presents itself as a more violent track in the first part, then subsides briefly in the central moments, leading us back to an unprecedented explosion of passion. We thus arrive at the song that most diverges from deathster standards but rather represents the group's progressive spirit: "Sentiment", in which the total absence of the characteristic growl and the wealth of tempo changes, along with the presence of odd times and various instrumental evolutions accompanied by some female vocalizations, make this song one of the most successful in the entire album.

The next two songs represent the best duo: the first, "I'm But A Wave To...", presents itself as a song that also wants to explore territories close to dark in its intro, then accelerates and becomes a pure piece of death, accompanied as usual by parts closer to prog metal; the second track is the one that I am most passionate about: "Uroboric Forms", starts very fast, a crescendo of passion will overwhelm the listener. The song, fantastically led by Reinert's double bass drum and Malone's explosive bass, is certainly the most successful episode of all; excellent the central part, with a praise to the group, which manages to create twilight and gloomy atmospheres. The following "Texture", turns out to be one of the most intricate instrumentals ever written, in which all the band's elements put their exceptional instrumental preparation at the service of the melody (on the border between prog and fusion). The concluding "How Could I", returns instead to more properly death/prog territories, closing the album in the best way, presenting itself as a tight and fast track, of unprecedented violence.

The album is over, but I would like to say a few more words, first of all about the recording quality, which is truly excellent for this type of album, and then I would like to emphasize the thrilling performance given by the musicians, with a note of praise for the Malone/Reinert duo, who, as usual, can move as few other musicians can. Essential for anyone who loves music played with technique and heart.

Tracklist Lyrics and Videos

01   Veil of Maya (05:23)

In Maya's grip illusion transforms verity
Perceiving thus a delusive world of duality

Veil of Maya
Balance every joy with a grief
Dual scales of Maya
Earth's unending law of polarity

Ahamkara...veil of Maya

Illusion works impenetrable
Weaving webs innumerable
Her gay pictures never fail
Crowd each other veil on veil
Charmer who will be believed
By man who thirsts to be deceived
Maya subjects you

Veil of Maya
Chops and divides God's dream thoughts
The great divider
As we be subject to likes and disgust

Ahamkara...veil of Maya

Maya subjects you
Charmer who will be believed
By man who thirsts to be deceived

Veil of Maya
Balance every joy with a grief
Dual states of Maya
Earth's unending law of polarity

Veil of Maya
Chops and divides God's dream thoughts
The great divider
As we be subject to likes and disgust

Ahamkara...veil of Maya

02   Celestial Voyage (03:40)

As I peered into my mortal cup of mind
A moleten liquid of penance splashed my eyes

Unseen truth, a divine surgery
Reveals view, windows of faith
The breeze to a raft of happiness
Guiding cue, calmness in a mental lake

A celestial voyage
To reach the shores and bathe
In pools of divine nectar

My raft filled with delusive waste water
Shall be drained by holes of wisdom
A celestial voyage
To reach the shores and bathe
In pools of divine nectar

A celestial voyage
To feel the bliss of liquid
Healing nectar inside

03   The Eagle Nature (03:30)

Learning, discerning, how to arrange
Thinking the haze will just not clear
Viewing, computing, our minds will stage
A vehicle inside we feel the eagle nature

Everchanging river flows high and low
Panoramic vision is undefined

For unfocused consciousness, the eagle nature
Precaution for a stream of risk, the eagle nature
It sees changes clear

A crystal goblet so fragile and dear
Needs fill one step at a time

Noting the fall of a sparrow
Attending the slightest scratch of flesh
Earthly ambitions weigh their share
The vastness of life, it doesn't care

A crystal goblet so fragile and dear
Needs fill one step at a time

Earthly ambitions wigh their share
The vastness of life does not care

04   Sentiment (04:23)

Cosmic mother awaken us in
Thine impartial love for all
Bless us that we be free from
The sway of greed and delusion
Inspire us to build a new world
One in which famine, disease and ignorance
Will be only memories of a dismal past

[CHORUS]
Creative mother arouse us to know
That we be not lost in the sands
Open our eyes

Creative mother arouse us to know
Inspire us to build a new world
Since forever we've yearned to
Quench what's never fulfilling
Lost endeavors found in a stilled
Mind if we be willing

[CHORUS]

05   I'm but a Wave to... (05:30)

As one I'll meet the mortal memories
Reliving seeking silence
And know that I as just a shell outside
Have sacred joys inside me

No fear, nor fight, comforting silent side
So free, through flight, comforting silence

[CHORUS]
So I call on
Sri cosmic sea, all is within you
As in a dream, I'm but a wave to...

Infinity within thy consciousness
An ever expanding sphere
Immortal spark ignites
Spreads by the air of bliss
Embracing warmth that heals

No fear, nor fight, comforting silence
So free, through flight, comforting silent side

[CHORUS]

06   Uroboric Forms (03:32)

Self is the universe, not separate
The state before the fall into self consciousness

Nothing is himeself, everything is world

[CHORUS]
Primordial egg returns
Consciousness unborn
Pre-personal perfection
Bliss's scree yet untorn
Uroboric forms

Find itself as a separate entity
An ego germ is just beginning to be

Wherever there is other, there is fear

Birth, primal paradise
No gap distance or separation
Between self and environment
Unconditional omnipotence

Nothing is himself, everything is world

[CHORUS]

Consciousness unborn
Uroboric forms

07   Textures (04:42)

[Instrumental]

08   How Could I (05:29)

Loading comments  slowly

Other reviews

By The_Bassist

 It is immense, definitely Progressive Death Metal, unmistakable are the very fast riffs, which flow regularly and uninterruptedly, but which allow you to savor their complexity.

 Undoubtedly a work that would enrich even, and I dare say especially, those who are not metal enthusiasts.


By paperino

 Focus is everything and the opposite of everything, the hypnosis before the end, the dreamlike sensation that haunts us as soon as we wake up.

 Only one album. One. A single powerful, vigorous flame before burning out.


By lipap

 "Focus" was released in 1993 by Roadrunner Records, resulting in an exceptional album that truly cannot be categorized into any particular genre.

 The distinctive element of Cynic is indeed the vocals of Paul Masvidal, featuring both vocoder and death voice.