The Italian death metal concern named
Faust spent the better part of two decades germinating in the darkest recesses of vocalist/guitarist Aleister's cerebellum before finally manifesting as a who's who of session players, also including guitarists Ghiulz Borroni (Profanatum) and
Luca Princiotta (
Doro, Blaze, etc.), drummer Dariusz "Daray" Brzozowski (
Dimmu Borgir), and bassist extraordinaire
Steve DiGiorgio (
Sadus,
Death,
Testament,
Autopsy, etc.). But unfortunately, all this finely tuned talent will largely have to find its way to listeners via Internet download or mail order, due to the positively pornographic cover image chosen for
Faust's debut album,
From Glory to Infinity, which -- suffice to say -- will not pass muster at the local super store. The irony of this is that, once past the silicone-enhanced nun gracing said cover (that's right!) and the explicitly worded anti-Christian sentiments girdling its songs (attributing clergy and faithful alike with every conceivable sexual perversion), listeners will encounter a surprisingly accessible form of death metal. Indeed, thanks to the abundant melodic guitar lines and solos, occasional acoustic passages, meticulous instrumental separation, and sparkling-clean production employed throughout, death metal simply doesn't get any more accessible than this outside the Gothenburg, Sweden city limits -- Cookie Monster growls, blastbeats, buzz-saw riffs, and all. Plus, above and beyond all of the nonmusical distractions listed above, the master virtuosos powering
From Glory to Infinity guarantee an impressively consistent and uncommonly immediate batch of headbanging ditties, making this a recommended release for technical death metal enthusiasts. And, ironically, whoever coined the phrase "cleanliness is next to godliness" inadvertently nailed
Faust's naughty death metal right on the money.