### Faustcoven: Hellfire and funeral bells

#### 23/01/13 || gk

Norwegian black/doom duo Faustcoven returned in 2012 with Hellfire and funeral bells, the third full length in just about 10 years of existence and the first for Nuclear War Now! Productions.

What we have here is an album that basically takes the previous work of the band and tweaks it in slightly more effective ways to get a much more fulfilling sound and a rewarding end result. Main man Gunnar Hansen writes the songs, sings, plays the guitar and bass and his vision is uncluttered and I’d say almost unique. What you have here is mid-paced classic doom metal with elements of black metal and classic heavy metal added to give the music an extra lift. It’s all wrapped up in a lo-fi, cavernous production that’s just perfect for the songs and a Satanic lyrical bent that just completes the picture.

Title song and opener “Hellfire and funeral bells” is a case in point. Clocking in at just over 8 minutes, it starts with a slow, plodding doom riff before going off into a classic heavy metal section half-way through and ends with a slow and beautifully placed guitar solo. Lost in the forest of suicide starts with a creepy and slow guitar line that slowly builds over the course of 5 minutes into an atmospheric and doomy song that works simply based on repetition of that haunting opening guitar line. It’s a simple but very effective song. “Dr. Karswell” is based on the classic Curse of the Demon film with well-placed samples and a plodding, lurching riff that works very effectively. Album closer “Choir of mentors” has an epic feel and a vague melody but really comes into its own in the middle section as the band seems to be going for an almost groovy feel that’s pure Black Sabbath but wrapped up in their own inimitable atmosphere.

Hansen has pretty much outdone himself here. His songwriting is great and he effectively mixes doom metal songwriting with a black atmosphere and touches of straight up classic heavy metal. The band seems to be continually ignored by the majority and the faithful who cheer at every release by Faustcoven seem to be getting smaller but this is easily the band’s best work.

Fans of both black metal and doom should check this album out because “Hellfire and funeral bells” is a very well done combination of the two genres and they should find plenty to like here.

- Information
- Released: 2012
- Label: Nuclear War Now! Productions
- Website: Faustcoven Facebook
- Band
- Gunnar Hansen: vocals, guitars, bass
- Johnny Tombthrasher: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Hellfire and Funeral Bells
- 02. Convent of Earthly Delights
- 03. Lost in the Forest of Suicide
- 04. When the Wolves Howl for Blood
- 05. Dr. Karswell
- 06. Choir of Mentors