EP REVIEW: Come Apart – The Devil In Faust
THE DEVIL IN FAUST began in 2014, playing local shows and working out their place in the musical world. They released the single Dark Places, which proved popular among their fans. A few more singles and line-up changes, they are now ready to release their debut EP, Come Apart.
Opening with Cross Your Heart, Come Apart immediately sets the tone as an alt-rock EP. Al Pritchards vocals are reminiscent of NIRVANA’s Kurt Cobain, with a similar slow, methodical pacing. Cross Your Heart is a very nostalgic track; lyrically with “cross my heart, I hope to die” invoking memories of school playgrounds, and musically it reminisces back a couple of decades but in a genuine, unpretentious way. They are not trying to milk an overdone genre, but find their own sound.
Soulmate switches it up a bit with an unnerving introduction, which gradually builds until strong guitars take over. The grungy guitars ebb and flow between chorus and verse, creating a track which is both upbeat and despondent at once. A music video has already premiered for Soulmate in which a gothic black and white wedding scene with the bride singing along to the male vocals. Bones and skulls complete the macabre vibe, backed up by both lyrics “lost the will to live” and musical tones, it is truly fitting.
Gentle ooo’s bring in In My Eyes, accompanied by gentler vocals and melancholy lyrics. Strong drum beats and an upbeat guitar riff carry the song through, juxtaposed to frustrated and dispirited lyrics. Unfortunately Al’s voice sounds a bit stretched on some of the notes, which is a shame because it really is a pleasure to listen to and blends well with the tone of the music. It is perhaps something he will improve on over time.
Seed opens with a strong bass line from the band’s newest member, Jess Lomas. Seed experiments more with vocal delivery, and repetition of lyrics which give the track more depth. Chugging bass lines, melancholy lyrics, and twiddly guitar parts all come together in this tale of frustration. Come Apart draws to a close with just vocals and the bass line, creating an eerie and unnerving finish.
Come Apart was narrowed down from twelve songs to the final four, and they are a strong four showcasing THE DEVIL IN FAUST‘s talents and creating a good introduction. The album focuses on the gritty side of life – despair, anger, frustration – displaying the underbelly of human emotion in a grungy manner, representative of some 90s rock bands, but in their own right. THE DEVIL IN FAUST have a way to go, but they’ve created a solid EP that’s both enjoyable and an indication of who they are and what they aim to achieve.
Rating: 7/10
Come Apart is out now via self-release.
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