FAUST was born in 1992. During these years, many line-up’s changes, several concerts and two releases: “FAUST” demo of 1993 and “… And Finally FAUST!” mcd of 2001. In 2000 Ghiulz (Profanatum and Obscurity) joins the band as guitarist. From August 2006 to April 2008 FAUST records the album “From Glory To Infinity”. Except for me and Ghiulz, the drum is recorded by Darek “Daray” Brzozowski, one of the two rhythm/acoustic guitars by Luca Princiotta and the bass by Steve Di Giorgio (later in 2008, he becomes part of the band). This is the current line-up: Aleister - guitar / vocals, Ghiulz - guitar, Steve DiGiorgio - bass. If you want to know our style, go to www.myspace.com/faustband2 : listening is better than a thousand words. And, by the way, the latest news: the new album “FROM GLORY TO INFINITY” will be released by STYGIAN CRYPT productions-RUS (exclusively in EU) and PARAGON RECORDS-USA (exclusively in USA) on 9/9/9. It will be released also in DIGIPACK format by ABYSS RECORDS-USA on 10/31/09 and in VINYL format by NEGATIVITY RECORDS-USA on 12/24/09 (limited edition of 666 copies with an exclusive artwork).

Tell us about evolution. Not really about evolution in general but perhaps maybe about your evolution as a “musician” and getting involved in the scene. What is your opinion on the underground nowadays than it was before?

Since ’92, I’ve improved a lot my technical skills. I moved my first steps in the scene playing live and releasing the demo of 1993. In the early nineties not many people was able to play well and not many bands were prepared for a live show. In the Italian underground, FAUST was considered a talented band; but, unfortunately, I often had problems of line-up: playing in a band was considered a hobby and just few people had the passion to build something serious. Nowadays almost everybody plays an instrument and the technology has given the chance to “create” an album at home; as result, there are a multitude of albums on the scene, but just few of them propose good music.

About song writing, how long will it take to complete a song (your song). Is it possible to complete it all in an hour, or in day, or it might even took long periods of refining the lines, etc. How do you know or when can you say that the song is finished? Who writes the lyrics? Do each and everyone in the band contribute their ideas?

It takes days to compose a song. Usually we start with one guitar; then: the arrangements of the second guitar, the drum, the bass, the solos and the lyrics. A song is finished when we have developed some themes following a predetermined structure (different for each track of the album). I write the lyrics.

What music format do you prefer the most; vinyl, CD, or cassettes? Do you think it is really good to release one album in these three mentioned formats? I mean, CD first then vinyl or vinyl first then CD is acceptable (at least to me), but CD first then vinyl then after that a cassette with same songs on them over and over again is something that I don’t understand! For collectors?

I prefer CD; but I used to buy vinyl and cassettes as well. There are different people that could buy one of those formats or all of them: collectors, who prefers a format respect to another for the differences of the sound, who doesn’t have a CD player…

Then what is your opinion on bands who keep on releasing “rehearsal recordings” on various formats? Is this good or what? There are some bands who are fond on doing this and releasing same “rehearsal tracks” for about 4 releases (only with different album title) and if you’re not interested buying this, “you’re nothing but a poser” like is what being said in the add.

I hope that people is not so stupid to take care to these kinds of adds! Anyway, the bands are free to release any formats they want and the fans are free to buy or not those releases.

Artworks… how important is this to you? Do you buy a record just because the artwork is great? What about the photoshopped “artworks” nowadays? What do you prefer; a photographed being enhanced by technology, a b/w goats, or a hand painting?

A good artwork could help to sell more copies, of course; but the most important aspect of a record is the music. Personally I don’t buy an album because the artwork is great. The artwork of “From Glory To Infinity” is a hand-painted illustration, realized by computer: the old taste mixed with the modern technology.

What is your opinion on bootlegs and also the massive downloading of albums in general? Do you think all these ripped audios in filesharing sites helps the band? For nowadays over-crowded scene, what’s the best way for a band to get an attention? Is originality important?

The file sharing can help the bands to have more visibility. The originality is fundamental to stand out in a scene of thousands of similar bands.

Do you listen to other forms of “music” in general? Something non-metal like classical or industrial? Do this somehow influences you? Where do you take your inspirations when you write your songs?

I’ve never listened to Metal only. The influences of our music reside in what we have heard since we were born: musics, songs, sounds, noises. And, of course, in our daily experiences: feelings, emotions, memories, desires.

What is your opinion about “life”? Do you believe humans really got “souls”? What is success, because there is a lot of definitions, specially on some people that thinks travelling all over the world is already a “huge success”? What are your goals with this band? When is the time to quit metal (ie: listening, buying, being in a band, etc)?

There is only one short earthly life. Everyone has his own goals: it could be a success to go to the disco on Saturday night to some, or to go to the stadium for a soccer match on Sunday to others. Once my goals were to write, produce and release a great album; today my goals are to promote “From Glory To Infinity” as much as I can and to play live everywhere. The time to quit comes when the interest for something is over.

Back to the band, what is your opinion on the use of keyboards? Is it really a problem? Do you think a metal band should not use this instrument just in order for them to stay “purely metal”? Then what is “purity” in metal? Do you think “experimenting” in music is bad? What is your opinion on the modernization of music (technical playing, etc)?

I’m not interested in keyboards for FAUST. “Purity” in Metal could mean to play with: guitars, bass, drum and male vocals only. The experimentations help the music to evolve. Metal is the most eclectic music in history and it has been changed a lot since thirty years ago; however not every experimentation has worked properly.

Some bands claim that they are here for a message? What do you think is that message? I mean, if these bands really want to spread a message across, then why are they releasing limited amount of copies? I don’t think that releasing 250 limited copies is enough to spread that “message”.

Nice observation! Pretty funny too! We should ask to them the reasons.

It is also noticeable about bands being so “defensive” nowadays. Loading themselves with a lot of excuses like: “no technical playing”, “no clean professional sound”, etc. I think only a few are doing good, but the rest are just trying to be hip. Anyway, what is your opinion on all of these?

I know some bands that use to say things like these. Most of the time it’s just an excuse because they are not good enough to play their instruments and/or because they don’t want to spend money for professional recordings.

Alright, we’ve come to an end. Do you have any final thoughts? Thank you for your time…

Thank you too for the interview! Everyone can always contact FAUST or me at: www.deathmetal.it (FAUST’s official website), www.myspace.com/faustband2 (FAUST’s page), www.myspace.com/aleisterpgd (my personal page). Hail to all readers! Hope to see you soon at the FAUST’s upcoming shows!