FOCUS

Aah, Cynic, easilly one of the most influential bands that helped to shape progressive death metal as it is today. But this band was definitely not limited to just death metal, mixing elements of jazz and prog rock into their unique style, and that is what makes this band so wonderful and epic.

First of all the musicianship is outstanding. You can't really point out one member of the band who is any better than the other. Paul and Jasons dualing clean and distorted complex riffing gives the tunes ample melody, sean malone ( who is one of my fav. bass players) is all over the neck playing lines that sound like Geddy lee if he got punched in the face by jaco and then was thrown in a death metal band ( lol, i know weird description). And last but not least sean reinert s drumming is fluid and extremely jazz influenced, not just playing straight rhythms, and throwing plenty of tom and cymbal work.

Now for the songs:

Veil of Maya: Very electronic, with one of pauls best solos on the album, definitely a quick energetic album opener

Celestial Voyage: Some of the best riffing by the band, with very cool interludes, and a beautiful synth ending

The eagle nature: I would say this is the most complex song on the album, and probably the fastest ( excluding uroboric forms, maybe), the guitar and bass interaction is great and the whole band is on fire, definitely one of my favorite tracks.

Sentiment: First of all the verse riff to this is so epic, and the super cool bass intro doesnt dissappoint either.

Im but a wave to: A beautiful song, I would say this is one of the more prog and jazz influenced songs, with lots of melodies, and very odd time switches. Very melodic.

Uroboric forms: The definitive death metal moment for the band, this tune is bassically and infusion of death metals speed mixed with prog playing elements. This is a headbanger!

Textures: An instrumental art rock/ jazz rock piece in the beginning with a metal ending, This is seans time to shine with a great melodic fretless bass solo, very jacoish sounding solo

How could I: This sounds very metal with some seriously fast proggy parts, the first song i ever heard by the band and the song that drew me in.

This album and more importantly this band has influenced so much it almost changed my bass playing completely, This album holds a very special place in my heart and a motto i have always had is if any band im in can make an album as good as focus then i will be truly happy with what we had done musically. Without this band death metal musicians would have probably failed to experiment and i believe bands like alarum, canvas solaris, and alarum wouldnt exist. If you are interested in prog metal pick up one of the true underground gems of this genre, if not one of its best albums!