Thanks.

[QUOTE=Zappa]"Textures" has revealed itself to be a band trying an exercise in a style they're not really fit for.[/QUOTE]

I never thought of it like that, probably because I'm not a jazz/fusion fan (though I'm starting to look for One of a Kind).

Found this album in the store the other day... Couldn't believe it. I'm the proud owner of a Focus!

My copy came the other day as well, I finally got around to ordering it. Had it shipped in from America for a total of only £6.66. :evil:

Excellent review. :thumb:

I bought this album about a year ago ( www.freesonrock.com ), and though it was the most expensive single album I've ever bought (came up to about 31 bucks CDN after tax), it is INCREDIBLY worth it. Focus is the only CD I listened to for about two months, and I still listen to it regularly.

The musicianship on this album is probably the best I have ever heard in metal. Sean Reinert has become my favourite drummer, and Sean Malone's bass playing is unreal. The guitar solo in How Could I is my favourite solo of all time. Every time I hear that solo, I've got to stop what I'm doing, it just moves me that much.

I feel that this album acheives a near perfect balance of metal and fusion, it breaks my heart that this is the only Cynic full length. I'll be purchasing the Gordian Knot albums soon, however.

I'm not a HUGE fan of the robo vocals, but they serve their purpose, and I feel that Cynic just wouldn't be Cynic without the vocals.

This is definetely a 5/5, it's incredible that they manage to make the music listenable with this level of technicality, and yes, sometimes even catchy (Uroboric Forms, anyone?). Focus is the only album I own that I've never had to take a break from, it's still almost as fresh as the first time I downloaded ...I'm But A Wave To from Coypu's site. Quite possibly my favourite CD of all time.

6.66 pounds eh... I paid $33 for mine. Oh well.

I love the robot voices, esp. in Veil of Maya. It adds a nice touch. The only thing I could fault the album with is the hardcore vocals, which I dislike in general. It fits the music nicely though.

[QUOTE=Iai]You know, when I looked at that album cover, I thought it was a certain....anatomical feature.....then again, it was a very quick glimpse, and it's very late. I'll definitely make a note to check this out. Sounds just like my kinda thing[/QUOTE]

I find it pretty funny that you saw that in this album cover, when Coypu's avatar was frequently mistaken for exactly the same thing (and yet, suprisingly given the amount he talked about it, wasn't this album cover). Hope you do get around to checking it out, let us (me) know how you find it if you do.

Album Rating: 3.5

Sorry to bump this, but...



I'm actually listening to it right now. Excellent album - absolutely incredible. Very creative and the instruments are expertly played. I love almost every aspect of it. Not metalhead could go wrong with this record.

I've been meaning to listen to this for quite some time now. There are terribly long qeues for this on slsk:p

I have it, dude.

Album Rating: 3.5

So do I.



Actually the qeue for this when I downloaded it was under thirty so it started very quickly.

I don't like the production too much on the album, is the re-release worth getting?
I heard a demo version of 'Uroboric Forms', good stuff. I like how it didn't have those digital/robotic vocals.

The demo version is much better than the Focus version, I'd say pick it up if you can find it

Album Rating: 3.5

Excellent album. I may add another review of this since the re-release has six additional tracks, although was a damn good review.

Please do a review of the re-release. Despite having many, many, other CDs to add to my collection that I don't own at all, I'm quite tempted to buy the re-release as this is probably my favourite album of all time.

Album Rating: 3.5

I found it at a local Media Play. But unfortunately, I went back to buy it and it was gone. :upset: But I'll follow up on what I said by downloading it anyway.

This album is the goods.

Album Rating: 5.0

Such a diverse album. I love it all to pieces.

I love it too.

Album Rating: 5.0

This album is beyond amazing. One of my favorites. It manages to combind all sorts of genres add technicallity and still be catchy and listenable.

Album Rating: 5.0

This cd is just so... complete. The only flaw is production, and that is minor. Has anyone heard the remasters yet? How do they handle compared to this?