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Rating: "Cynic: A member of a group of philosophers from ancient Greece who taught that virtue constitutes happiness and that self-control is the essential part of virtue."
This is how the text in the booklet of the debut studio album of a great band, hindered by a troubled history, Cynic, reads. "Focus" was released in 1993 by Roadrunner Records (I'm increasingly convinced it's my favorite label), after already four self-titled demos published by the group. The result is an exceptional album that truly cannot be categorized into any particular genre. There's a bit of everything; the music is a meeting point between bands like Opeth and Death (of which Cynic's drummer Sean Reinert and singer/guitarist Masvidal were part for the album "Human"), and others closer to traditional progressive, with the addition of synths and vocoder (possibly one of the first times the vocoder was used in metal, gifting the listener with unique emotions) and sporadic references to other genres. The distinctive element of Cynic is indeed the vocals of Paul Masvidal, featuring both vocoder and death voice. Completing the lineup is the second guitarist Jason Gobel (who also played in Monstrosity with the future iconic Cannibal Corpse singer George Fisher!) and bassist Sean Malone, who also plays the Chapman Stick and is remembered for the prestigious Gordian Knot project.
Of the 8 tracks composing the album (only 35 minutes of music, which, with the addition of 3 new versions of original tracks and 3 bonus tracks, become 75 in the 2004 version), I particularly recommend the opener "Veil of Maya", the central "Sentiment", and "Textures". Closing, perhaps too soon, the album is, with a progressive decrease in volume, a guitar solo followed by synth of the concluding "How Could I".
Cynic subsequently disbanded, remaining united only with other projects such as the already mentioned Gordian Knot of Malone, AEon Spoke (still active), and Portal, which quickly disappeared after a single demo; they reunited with a new second guitarist and bassist from 2006 to 2015, when Reinert left the group. In any case, they remain a great band, a trait d'union of technique and emotions without descending into either whining or nonsense.
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
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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 emanuele
The album is mostly developed on absolutely extraordinary bass lines and drumming.
The song 'Uroboric Forms' is certainly the most successful episode of all; wonderful crescendo and twilight atmospheres.
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.
