yeah this is definitely a lot better than refocus

Id at least consider putting this on over the original TiA, but Im putting the original Focus on everytime over ReFocus

Album Rating: 3.5

I've never been a fan of the growled vocals from this band. They sound very "amateur" compared to a lot of other vocals in the progressive death realm. So this is a welcome change.

Album Rating: 4.0

They never seemed to fit on this album anyway, IMO.

Album Rating: 3.5

This remix feels like meeting that cool, long haired, long bearded, metalhead uncle (leather jacket and all) after many years of absence and finding him all shaven, hair trimmed short and wearing some clean poshy clothes with a 10000$ smile... In other words: I'm staying with the og



On the positive side, it's not a murder crime to the original album like Refocus. It's still a minor crime to shear that cool uncle though...

Album Rating: 4.0

bass so clean in this

Focus is the only thing this band has made that is worth returning to tbh.

Album Rating: 1.5 | Sound Off

How is this not messing with the original sound? They removed a whole ass aspect of the album.

Album Rating: 3.0

"They never seemed to fit on this album anyway, IMO."



Heavy, HEAVY disagree on that. Maybe it's just from listening to the original countless times, but I couldn't imagine TiA without the juxtaposition of the clean and harsh vocals. Like sure, TiA isn't as DM-oriented as Focus (I'd say it's more like prog metal with fusion touches), but those growls give some much-needed pep and intensity to an otherwise clean and occasionally overly-polished experience



Unfortunately, this remix just strips the original of all the charm and power it originally had. The bass is more prominent, yeah, but the rest of the recording is just not up to snuff imo

Album Rating: 1.5 | Sound Off

You’re way more generous with that rating than I am. I hate these remasters.



But.. Cynic has built up enough good will that I can just ignore these butcher jobs and even their mid last couple albums. Ascension Codes was at least a step in the right direction after kindly bent to three us.



I believe they have a modern masterpiece in them somewhere despite the loss of the magic of the Seans

The lack of uncleans kills this for me. That contrast/duality is a big part of what makes their music so iconic.