Album Details

• Artist: Cynic
• Album: Focus
• Label: Roadrunner
• Year of Release: 1993
• Original Release:
• ME Rating: Indie Classic
• Reviewed by: solitaryman on 2008-12-14

Do you like the sounds of Dream Theater? How about Opeth? Well, you may want to thank Cynic. Their groundbreaking 1993 release Focus can (and damn well should) be seen as one of the most influential bursts of creativity progressive music has ever been graced with, a monument of determination, skill and execution. You'll find a host of rave reviews across the underground internet blogs, so this will be cut fairly short. Basically, if you claim to be a fan of metal of any sort and haven't heard Focus, you're cheating yourself more than you realize. You can take my word for it, or buy it and their newest release Traced In Air (also reviewed recently), and sink into the epic wonders within. This classic gets vaulted because it's influenced the biggest names in metal today, whether most of them understand it or not. It gets vaulted because it has an undeniable essence of what music has always been about; the outward-reaching soul defining itself through personal influences and motivators. In a sense, Focus IS music. 

User Reviews and Comments

on 2009-08-16 MusicGuru Said:

I have no idea how Cynic influenced Opeth. Opeth were clearly influenced by obscure 70's Prog Rock bands and Swedish Death Metal.
Rating: 9/10