Album Rating: 1.0

Didn’t traced remixed came out in 2019

Album Rating: 1.0

Oh i see what you mean. Not sure how the time distance would have much to do with this being terrible but I’m not a studio engineer

Not sure either but it seems plausible.

It would be great if a seasoned studio professional weighed in, here or elsewhere.

I listened to an interview about a week ago a real in depth one with Paul from about 12 months ago and they way he was talking about how meticulous he'd been and how unreal this remaster was he had me sold even though I really can't be arsed with remastered most of the time. He's surely to smart to be this deluded. As Pizza said up there they took the magic OUT of it sonehow

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

The main factor that could make the thirty years between Focus and its remix versus the eleven years for Traced in Air and its remix an issue would be analog verses digital recording.

Traced in Air was a digital recording and a digital remix that probably had most the album elements available. Focus was an analog recording that had been sitting for thirty years that may or may not have even had all the individual elements available. We can't be certain what had to be remixed as a package as opposed to individual elements.

Also, it's just the overall sound. Traced in Air had way less that had to be adjusted to make it sound like the Remix, but to get the Scott Burns production to sound more like a modern production while using the remaining analog elements would be a huge undertaking.

Album Rating: 1.0

Yeah good points, I’d like to think they had the DAT tapes for focus so this wouldn’t be an issue but who knows

'Full remix from the ground up and its sounding so fierce and intense Im so excited its kinda pushing it into a whole new realm' - Masvidal

It’s just because modern music like this for the most part is produced so soullessly. Sampled everything, programmed everything, brick walled to hell.

Album Rating: 1.0

https://youtu.be/hZ1Rb9hC4JY

this sounds horrible compared to the OG

also i forgot how good celestial voyage is

lmao just the first few SECONDS are enough to know not to listen

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

The first few seconds are jarring, for sure. It evens itself out after a few minutes of getting used to it.

Album Rating: 5.0

As with Traced in Air Remixed I think you guys are crazy and close-minded. In fact I view this as a more objective improvement whereas TIA Remixed actually changes the record.

This remix has a way wider soundstage which suits Cynic’s thick atmosphere and complicated texture. A wider soundstage and more even mix also means that one of the best rhythm sections of all-time is easier to hear, which you think would be a clear victory but instead everyone is complaining that they can’t hear the guitars or something, which I don’t seem to have a problem doing.



/rantover



but seriously this remaster owns. Open up your eyyyyes. And ears, I guess

"lmao just the first few SECONDS are enough to know not to listen"

agreed, this is awful.

Damn was at least expecting the bass to sound good with people talking the greater focus on the rhythm section but god it sounds anemic as fuck, none of the punch of the original and buried under the drums. Everything sounds like it’s competing in the mix

focus always has been one of the most pretentious and overrated albums in history by an army of internet dorks that look like anthony fantano abortions

"focus always has been one of the most pretentious and overrated albums in history by an army of internet dorks that look like anthony fantano abortions"

well no, but still based and redpilled

It’s no Staind self-titled

oh wow they really did butcher the guitar tone on this

i see what they were going for but man

Nice review as always, Willie. This is a baffling listen after all that hype Paul was raising over the past couple of months for this. Very muddy for a remaster (at least the Spotify version). Also, taking the edge and crunch from the guitars is obviously a tremendous letdown.

I understand Paul's not into death metal anymore, but this just doesn't sound... good.

Also, on the 80s and 90s vs modern metal production topic, I also used to prefer the crispness of modern production, but more recently I've become increasingly annoyed by the amount of compression and brickwalling going on. Most drums today don't even sound like drums. I have a feeling that when we went digital, a lot of actual knowledge about recording and production, as well as the attention to detail and meticulousness of the process, went out the window since you could touch it up in post.

Kinda like when you watch the original Jurassic Park vs today's CGI, you just can't beat the realness of practical effects and lighting.