To many, Cynic’s lone album Focus not only represented the absolute height of death metal never to be reached again, but a life-altering experience that would be forever embedded in their consciousness. It’s even arguable that no one who encountered Focus was left indifferent: you were either a purist who hated its progressive nature or a new disciple who lived and breathed its magic daily. Myself, and just about every person I know who heard the album when it was released in ’93, fall into the latter category. How could you not be completely overwhelmed by its audacity, intelligence, mercurial arrangements, unparalleled performances, and raw emotional outpouring? Death metal had never – and have not since – produced an album as affecting and spine-tingling as Focus… is it any wonder that the album is now considered a landmark release? Like all good art, it sold modestly at the time (despite press and fan worshipping from the likes of yours truly), but more than 10 years later it is looked upon as a deity. Untouchable, impossible to copy, a dichotomy of lights and darks that transcend subjective analysis. Focus, as time has proven, is just Focus: a moment in time in a musical movement that shall never be again. We can only be thankful that such a monumental achievement was put to tape before the band dissolved.

Former Metal Manics scribe / ex-Century Media guy Ula Gehret sums up the band’s anatomy, brief existence, and impact upon the scene in the liner notes better than I ever could, so instead I will tell the story as my friends and I witnessed it. By the time Focus was released, us Miamians had long been familiar with the mighty name of Cynic. Formed in the late ‘80s as a crossover / thrash cover band (which at one point supposedly included an acquaintance of mine, “Evil” Steve, as lead singer), the band took giant leaps forward with every demo and every gig until arriving at the status of prospective Roadrunner signees in ’92. Having heard their last three-song demo, I was surprised that a label was willing to gamble on such a difficult listening experience: no repeating riffs, no connecting themes within songs, NOTHING memorable. The band’s intention of writing the most non-pop structured songs, although technically innovative and theoretically impressive, rendered their music impossible to enjoy. No verses or choruses, just mind-boggling complexity that slipped out of the listener’s comprehension. And they were gonna make an album full of this stuff?

So imagine my gaping jaw when Rob bought the album upon its release and played it for me over the phone (ah, the childhood rituals!). Before the first eight bars of “Veil of Maya” were over, I already had goosebumps all over my body. “WHAT HAPPENED!?” was my first thought. “This can’t possibly be the same band… this sounds like a radiating specter whispering cyberlullabies through a meditative dream!” It was one of those moments that you knew you were going to remember for the rest of your life. Cynic had been reborn into something completely unique: a perfect combination of sensitivity, forward thinking, and visceral intensity.

And kinda sorta out of necessity more than calculation, actually: guitarist/vocalist Paul Masvidal only switched to singing when his doctor forbade him from growling any further, and the shapeshifting chapman stick introduced when bassist Tony Choy left and his replacement Sean Malone brought a few new tricks along. But no difference, the results became more than the sum of its parts, and along with the other jazz death bands of the time – Atheist, Pestilence, Believer – helped usher in possibly the most vibrant period of the genre.

I was fortunate enough to catch the band twice during their touring cycle for Focus: first by themselves and then opening for Cannibal Corpse. If you’re lucky enough to have heard bootlegs of the band’s gigs around this time, you would undoubtedly note 1) the absolute perfection with which the band reproduced the songs live and 2) the palpable division they created amongst the audience. In between people declaring them the new gods, there were screams of “fags!” and “go home!” But no matter, cuz individuals who understood the significance of the band and its works were bathing in the knowledge that this was a unique era. This was our The La’s… and it would’ve been our Beatles had the band not outgrow its fondness for metal immediately after Focus.

The members pursued separate interests after ’93: guitarist Jason Gobel got married and moved to Portland, OR, Masvidal and drummer Sean Reinert played in several outfits such as Portal (whose celestial demo comprises the bonus tracks here) and Aeon Spoke, and Malone continued his education and studio work. It was only natural for artists of such caliber and imagination to not stay still: there was no way Cynic was going to last. But in one year, they sewed the seeds of endless possibilities in one album, leaving the musical landscape forever altered. I hail thee, mighty Cynic, for everything that you have been to me, as well as for having been the glue that held best friends together for 10+ years.

PS: A little known fact is that the four members of Cynic recently semi-reunited on Gordian Knot’s Emergent album. Check it out if you can find it.

PPS: The photo collage in the insert features members of Cannibal Corpse and Malevolent Creation, as well as original bassist / ex-Monstrosity man Mark van Erp. The Florida scene in the ‘90s fucking ruled.

PPPS: If you check the inlay of Cannibal Corpse’s The Bleeding, you will find a picture of then-guitarist Rob Barrett posing with Jim Carey (taken when the band cameoed, at Carey’s request, in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective). Barrett is wearing an old school Cynic shirt from the band’s early days. That drawing was originally done by Reinert’s high school buddy for his English class: it still hangs on the wall in Mrs. Crawford’s class today. I know because I was in the same English class five years later.

PPPPS: Oh yeah, and saying “I went to the same high school as Sean Reinert, one of the world’s best drummers” automatically makes you the coolest metalhead in the crowd.
www.roadrunnerrecords.com

Tim Den

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 Past Constructive Criticism

Gio posted the following Constructive Criticism: I just think it's pretty sad to see how the metal music changed so rapidly. The nu metal crap is not the same as those pioneers like Cynic and others out there that are still struggling still.

Simon posted the following Constructive Criticism: Man it'd been a long time since i last read something like this about Cynic: just exactly what i'd have written. There's one thing about Cynic: you just know you'll never experience this feeling of having finally found it. It's like an answer to a question you were not even conscious of, but that lingered somehow. I'm very glad to see that people are still willing to keep Cynic's flame burning fuckin'hot!!!!

Travis Severson posted the following Constructive Criticism: The most mind bending music I have ever heard and a big inspiration in my music writing. My drummer turned me on to them in the mid 90's then I never heard the name again until running across a tape with "how could I" and made it my goal to find a copy of focus. trying to even comprehend what they were thinking when they made that music just blows me away. Last year for christmas my wife found a new unopened CD online and got it for me. I really dont listen to much more. People just say "how many times are you going to listen to that", I tell them as many times as it takes. If anyone out there knows where I can get my hands on old video footage I would be glad to pay for it. CYNIC KICKS MY BALLS IN.

Tim posted the following Constructive Criticism: Manu, although I would never disagree that "Questionable Presence" is brilliant, I think "Focus" is better in that it combines technical virtuosity AND catchiness. Atheist, as amazing as they were, were never interested in hooking you in. Of course, this is coming from someone who also loves Ben Folds and The Beatles (i.e. catchy songs), so... there ya have it! Thanks for the compliment!

Manu posted the following Constructive Criticism: 4 Words: Unquestionable Presence is better. And... Not taking away from Cynic or Focus but I stand as someone who truly hated the vocal, keyboard wizardry of the album. Nice review though!

Blake of Northwest Royale posted the following Constructive Criticism: I remember picking up Death's "Human" tape back in '91 (which featured Reinert and - I think - Masvidal) and being blown away by the musicianship. Wow. Yet I still haven't heard "Focus." I'll be picking it up now.

Riiko Ritvanen posted the following Constructive Criticism: I totally agree with your review! I was totally shocked when I found Focus a few years ago from here, from Finland. I had heard Focus few times before because my big brother had bought it 1994. It was great to recognize that it is on sale still today! In Finland! That wasn`t critic, but I had to say it!

Craig posted the following Constructive Criticism: I bought this "cassette" back in '93 here in Sydney, Australia, and I have not heard a band like it since. No one can touch the phenomenal sound they had - shame because the music of today could do with a bitch slap that I wish would make them sound half as talented as Cynic. It's the kinda music Randy Rhoads would have played if he had of lived on (imagine if he did live on - I don't think he would've played Cynic style but I can only dream - bring back the rock gods of yester year!) Anyway, back to Cynic... I still have the cassette and have kept my old player just for that tape. Musically mind-bending lullabies, pitching to the aural delights of those with intelligence. CYNIC IS/WAS A ONE OF A KIND

Rob posted the following Constructive Criticism: Hell fucking yeah! What an amazing album! *goes crazy during "Uroboric Forms" while bumping into skinheads in Pompano Beach, FL* Ohh the memories Tim-a-sze! You, Brian, and I have way too many! I fucking love you guys.