Faustus – Act 1

Faustus actually took a bit of digging to find the relevant information regarding their existance – A quick internet search led me in the direction of a similarly named Swedish band, but not the one I was looking for. Trying a bit harder, and I managed to dig up the following:

Faustus (this version) is a Polish one-man band, specializing in a tantalizing mixture of Black and Gothic Metal. He has been at it for a year now, having released two Singles last year and a Full-length release early this year (which, incidentally, included the two previously released Singles as part of its six-track line-up). This Full-length release, aptly entitled Act 1, spans a grand total of fifty-two-and-a-hald-odd minutes. So far, so good. Now onto what actually spinning the record taught me.

First of all, all six tracks are performed in their native Polish – A trait that I have come to relate with

criticism of organized religion, relentless blast beats and remorceless vocal growls. And while Act 1 has aspects of all of this present as part of its identity, that is by no means the entire truth.

Normally when two or more genres are mixed it is my experience that the end result is almost always lop-sided in one of the genres favour; In this case for instance a Black Metal release with Gothic undertones or vice versa, often translating into a release lesser than the sum of its parts. While I might enjoy the individual genres separately, grabbing even what can be charitably be considered the best part of one genre and bolted onto the framework of another does not equal a better result; Often, just a more diluted, uninteresting whole. That is not the case as far as this Faustus is concerned, however.

The mastermind behind the moniker seems to agree with my take that in order for a merge of genres to be succesful, you need to include all of both, infusing them into one another in order to create something new. And I would argue that he has succeeded. His music is hauntingly melodious, while at the same time slow-paced and gritty. Somehow not quite either of its parent genres, but at the same time obviously a conclusion of both. Not quite what I had come to expect from that region of Europe, but definitely a pleasant surprise.

Recommended for fans of Bal-Sagoth, late-era Dimmu Borgir and, to some extent, Malevolentia.

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