Track By Tracks: Lychlake - The Tragedy Of Doctor Faustus (2021)

1. Bene Disserere Est Finis Logicies:

Set in Faustus' study this track introduces us to our main character. Our Faustus is frustrated with the logic of mundane subjects such as mathematics, natural sciences and astronomy. He is ambitious and hearkens to understand the metaphysical. Valdes & Cornelius arrive providing Faustus with books on necromancy, he now has a path to his desires. Faustus spends the rest of the scene assessing the risks and then begins the summoning ritual to converse with Mephostophilis.

2. Consummatum Est:

Mephostophilis arrives! Faustus has a moment of inner conflict over what he knows to be right and what he wants. Mephostophilis tempts our Faustus into a deal; Faust will have any wish instantly granted but only for 24 years after which his soul shall belong to Lucifer for eternity. Faustus' curiosity, greed, and lust for knowledge overcome him and he signs the deal in his own blood.

3. Felicity Bequeathed By The Neck of Paramour:

With all the power of Hell at his fingertips and Mephostophilis at his side Faustus is eager to test his new power. He seduces 'A beauty red-haired, in a gown of silk stitch' but Mephostophilis commands Faust to kill her as he told her too much. Under threat of being dragged to hell Faustus panics and strangles her. Overcome with guilt Faustus weeps. Believing his sanity is now slipping he questions what's real and demands Mephostophilis show him Alexander the Great's paramour. From his studies Faustus knows this paramour has a mole on her neck. He believes that if she appears and he can see the mole everything is real.

4. Libera Me I:

Lyrically this is a Catholic text typically used in a requiem mass. It asks God to have forgiveness on the deceased. For Faustus it's more a plea to deliver him from Lucifer and save him from his Judgement Day. The chorus of Libera Me II is a partial English translation.

5. Libera Me Part II:

After the demonstration at the end of track three Faustus understands the power at his fingertips and regrets his transgressions. He decides to search the Vatican archives to see if there's a way to void his contract. What he finds is three cells with different future versions of himself, none of them give him hope for redemption. Angry, Faustus takes what he can find in the archives to expose the Vatican as a weak human imitation of divine power.

6. Penultimate Patricide:

Faustus in nearing the end of his contract. In The years after the incident at the Vatican, Faustus sank deeper into despair and debauchery. Alone he has locked himself in his mansion the fear of what's to come oppresses him and drives him to a state of sheer terror. He grabs a knife and starts cutting his arm in an insane way to try and reverse the contract. He pleads for forgiveness and release from the demonic forces that hold him.

7. The Tragedy of Doctor Faustus:

During he final hours, under the influence of various substances Faustus reminisces over the past 24 years. He realises he's lived a lonely, loveless existence. He's also being torn between facing what he's done whether he deserves eternal damnation and turning to God to beg for salvation.

The time has come, servants of Lucifer appear to take Faustus to hell. They mock him with the line 'bene disserere est finis logicies ubi desinit philosophus, ibi inicipt medicus', which translates 'is to dispute well logics chiefest end'. Lucifer himself arrives. His servants become frenzied. They circle above and below him, tearing at him. This is too much for Faustus and he passes out.

After a dream Faustus awakes as he being flown down to the fiery depths of hell. He accepts his fate realising he wasted it all and could he go back would have chosen love over power and knowledge.