Band: Faust Again
Title: The Trial
Label: Bastardized Recordings
Distribution: Suburban
Release date: 20/05/2009
Review: CD

The Polish horde Faust Again was formed in late 1999, and in mean time the band released two full length albums (Seizing Our Souls, 2003, and Hope Against Hope, 2006, both released through Circulation Records) and a split (The Regional Alliance, 2005). This year, the band will celebrate its tenth anniversary, and the party starts with the release of The Trial, Faust Again’s third full length. And like both former albums, The Trial convinces! The band’s eccentric Death Metal still is powerful, technical and, especially, varying and convincing. And what’s more, the band’s rather original approach is of a high quality. Every track is filled with tempo-changes, and the addition of elements like industrialised intermezzos and atmospheric passages isn’t but a surplus in this case. The guitar riffs mostly sound dirty, including several psycho-grinding moments (Godflesh, Scorn, VoiVod), and the rhythm section passionately supports the riffs and filthy, throat-crushing grunts with ambitious perfection and ingenious precision. These forty two lethal minutes don’t bore one second, that’s for sure!

87/100

Ivan Tibos.