Cynic - Focus POLLcus

the best album ever

and they did it at a time where 'jazz' and 'death metal' being mashed together got bottles thrown at you opening for Cannibal Corpse, as opposed to being embraced by nerdy metalheads the world over.

my friend listened to Focus for the first time yesterday and he used to be a big BTBAM fan and he was like "uhhh I think BTBAM liked this band". ya think?

Oooh, this is a hard one to choose any song from, such a phenomenal album. Been a favorite of mine for almost 30 years, saw them live at Dynamo 1994 and it left a huge impression on 17 year old me. Unlike other progmetal/techmetal this one has stayed with me as I grew older and hasn't aged a bit. Voted for How Could I, for the uplifting solo at the end, but could just as easily have picked Celestial Voyage or Uroboric Forms (check out the demo!) or Textures.

Need to check this out, but can't imagine how it could be better than Traced In Air. Maybe I need a better imagination lol

I'm slightly partial to Traced in Air (and Re-Traced) - which may actually be the best album ever - but this obviously belongs in the (un)holy trinity of pivotal death metal masterpieces alongside Human and Piece of Time

Poll will encourage me to refresh myself on this album, which I've not heard in a while. Vote pending.

Traced in Air is phenomenal, and the right direction for them to go after Focus.

Focus, otoh, basically launched an entire subgenre (along with Atheist). I think it's the better album but both are essential.

Ascension Codes from 2021 is pretty good but feels more like wheel spinning

also lyrics like these in a death metal (ok, tech/jazz-death) album:
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How could I forget such a revelation
To love without fear and learn without question
How could I regret the meant occasions
I must begin this day again
Freedom and reason shine through
Paddle upon the clouds one's own canoe
How could I
Humility take charge of me
Drown me in truth's modest waters
Loosen your grip identity
Free me from an ego's falter
Love too often is only a dream
If I am harsh and unkind to myself
So I share these attitudes with you
Must I try? How could I?
Freedom and reason shine through
Paddle upon the clouds one's own canoe
Love's too often only a dream
If I am harsh and unkind to myself
So I share these attitudes with you
For in this spewing cavern of pride
How could I!

Yeah, I tried and wanted to love Ascension Codes but after playing it about a dozen times I ended up concluding that it's merely pretty good.

I really love Cynic’s earlier demos but haven’t gotten this yet because…. still warming up to the robot vocals. But Paul Masvidal is an absolute sorcerer

the thing about this album is all of the tracks are so awesome i could vote for any of them

robot vox rule

ok it's "uroboric forms"

so many death metal vocalists sound like a corpse who just woke up crankily from a nap. not enough death metal vocalists try to sound like their voice is distorted from the effect of time travel

otm

Can't remember which is the cosmic mother one

Okay let's stick this on. A bit drunk and won't be able to hear all of it before I'm home but let's see

this is very bizarre music and all the better for it

yeah this is delightful. also completely impossible to choose

After the last three days I had, getting to see this masterpiece performed in its entirety yesterday was utter transformative.

But also Paul uses the vocoder to talk to the audience between songs lol

Had no idea they were touring

They did more of an official tour earlier this year, and then are doing five or six shows in Florida/a few other southern states

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