Focal Point

**Labels:** | * Solid State Records
* Tooth & Nail Records
 **Former members:** | Robbie ImrisekDanny DinhRyan ClarkKyle BrownRobert Torres

**Focal Point** was a hardcore punk and metalcore band that began out of Sacramento and Elk Grove, California in the United States. The band began in 1995 but disbanded in 1997. However, not before releasing an EP and a full-length album through Life Sentence Records and Solid State Records/Tooth & Nail Records respectively.

Guitarist Ryan Clark later went on to perform Vocals for mathcore band Training for Utopia and melodic metal band Demon Hunter. He would also form Asterisk Studios, which became Invisible Creature, leading him to become a Grammy Nominated artist.

## History

Focal Point began in 1995. Vocalist Robbie Imrisek, Guitarist Ryan Clark, Bassist Kyle Brown, and Drummer Robert Torres had been in a band called Opposed, while Guitarist Danny Dinh had been in a band called Offset, alongside Don Clark, Ryan's brother. Both bands disbanded, as they were unhappy with how each band had progressed. Brown and Clark met with Dinh and began the band, hiring Imrisek and Torres. They recorded a material simply titled *Demo Tape* on October 5, 1995, which featured four songs, "Segregated", "No Return", "Fulfillment", and "Purify". The tape was manufactured and distributed by Dinh and the band.

The band the next year, in 1996, recorded a 7", titled *Neglected*, which was released through Life Sentence Records, a label that had housed fellow spirit-filled hardcore bands XDEATHSTARX. The three songs on the EP, as well as "No Return" from the demo, would be featured on *Suffering of the Masses*, the band's debut studio album, which was released through Tooth & Nail Records. The band embarked on a single tour in 1996, playing with Zao, Pensive, Seasons in the Field and others.

In 1997, the band split up and went their different ways. Most of the members seemingly stopped performing music, save for Clark, who went on to perform in Training for Utopia, Demon Hunter, Deathbed Atheist, NYVES, and Low & Behold. He would also become a Grammy Nominated artist.

## Members

* Robbie Imrisek - Vocals (1995-1997)
* Ryan Clark - Guitars (1995-1997)
* Danny Dinh - Guitars (1995-1997)
* Kyle Brown - Bass (1995-1997)
* Robert Torres - Drums (1995-1997)

## Discography

**Studio album**

* *Suffering of the Masses* (1996; Tooth & Nail Records)

**EP**

* *Demo Tape* (1995)
* *Neglected* (1996; Life Sentence Records)

## References

1. ↑ "Focal Point". Fuel Radio. Retrieved on November 7, 2018.
2. ↑ Costes, Judea (April 13, 2012). "Interview with Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter". Rock Edition. Retrieved on November 7, 2018.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sharpe-Young, Gary (2005). "New Wave of American Heavy Metal". Zonda Books Limited. p 333. Retrieved on November 7, 2018.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Ryan Clark". Grammy. Retrieved on November 7, 2018.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Focal Point". Stereokiller. Retrieved on November 7, 2018.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Focal Point - Demo Tape". Discogs. Retrieved on November 7, 2018.
7. ↑ "Focal Point - Suffering Of The Masses". Discogs. Retrieved on November 7, 2018.
8. ↑ Schwab, Andrew (June 25, 2013). "A Conversation with Ryan Clark from Demon Hunter". Patheos. Retrieved on November 7, 2018.