No. 9: Cynic, ‘Focus’ – Best Debut Metal Albums

Cynic may be the most underrated technical death metal band since the genre's inception. The balance showcased throughout the band's 1993 debut, 'Focus,' has influenced countless bands, but no act has quite been able to replicate Cynic's sophistication.

Throwing in jazz-fusion and progressive rock elements in with their Florida death metal roots, Cynic presented an album that is fundamentally perfect. 20 years later, 'Focus' hasn't aged a day, and if you were to play the album for someone who had never heard Cynic, you could easily convince them that 'Focus' was released last week.

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