It took ten years to record this album between 1996 and 2006. And you can truly hear the nineties in it. Faustian Dream was the next step ahead from Promethean Gift (1993) and for many black metal purists it seemed as there was one step missing between them and those people didn't make it through. Faustian Dream is the odd one in Black Crucifixion's catalogue and still loved by many a fan.

BLABBERMOUTH
8/10 points
“The band has evolved into a dark, depressive outfit with very impressive results. It drips with a rainy, sorrowful pathos, with guitar lines that positively ache (just listen to the lead break in the masterful "Bible Black Tyrant"). The result is a very timeless, classic-sounding album, echoing its atmospheric vibe from the early-to-mid 1990s, spiritual kin to TIAMAT's "The Astral Sleep" and a dozen pretentious French avant-garde black metal bands.

Organic melding of classic doom, black metal aura, and depressive goth-rock is quite a feat — anyone into the glumness of KATATONIA, the lush sorrow of MY DYING BRIDE or the martial melancholy of "Hammerheart"-era BATHORY will find "Faustian Dream" immensely satisfying. 

- Keith Bergman


Smothercom
“Their songs are rich in atmospheric ambience that is both gripping and stirring, reaching deep into your inner vortex to give your organs a good scare. Tiamat and Celtic Frost fans will rejoice in this liver punch of a dark metal album.”
- J-Sin

Blisteringcom
“Faustian Dream” bridges the gap between the somber and forlorn sounds of “Silent Enigma”-era Anathema and Katatonia’s most despondent period, namely the “Dance Of The December Souls” album. Some albums have atmosphere to them, and “Faustian Dream” is one of them. Put this thing on during the final stands of autumn and you’ll see and feel the results. Black Crucifixion is dark metal personified. There is no better description, even for something that took this long to make as this record. Buy it.”
By: David E. Gehlke


SUE magazine
9/10 points
“This is not an easy album, but with listening it reveals itself to be absolute meisterklass. The genuine despair of tracks like “Wrath without Hate” and “Winterkill” display totalitarian sense of style. It is a miracle if this band doesn’t go far.”
- Oskari Lehtinen

metal-observercom
8,5/10 points.
"BLACK CRUCIFIXION sounds like TIAMAT, SAMAEL and PARADISE LOST just formed some sort of super-group. The massive production makes everything just sound right and in place. The lyrics range from amazing to just awesome, Forn’s voice is just so suiting for this style of music, he sounds in pain, he sounds like the agony on this album comes directly from him.

So here you have it, a bizarrely named but utterly phenomenal Dark Metal band. Crafting beautiful songs and enrapturing melodies, BLACK CRUCIFIXION has made one hell of an album for sure. Pick this one up or be sorry you missed it. Great stuff!"

Worm Gear Zine
""Faustian Dream" is a very mature album. The pitch vocals really work well within this material, freeing up a lot of room for the deep guitar harmonies to weave an impenetrable net of hooks throughout this innovative album…The ethereal atmosphere empowering this album, puts me in mind of the more death metal influenced doom…It didn't take long to fully appreciate the uniqueness on display. "Faustian Dream" is really an easy album to enjoy.”
- Marty


fishcomcollectivenet
Author: Upchuck Undergrind
“Lush guitar work, gothic melodies and deep, delicious male vox combine for music that is truly moody and dark and utterly listenable thanks to the beauty of the songwriting. Besides the songwriting, the production is also sweet. Intelligence and gorgeous aural manifestations make this one of the year’s watchworthy metal albums.”

vampire-magazinecom
“In their older work, which was Black Metal, you could already here a somewhat deviating atmosphere, compared to other bands. A dark and mystical atmosphere, strongly reminding to ‘the occult’ in general...Strong riffs, a dark atmosphere and lots of rhythm-differences…This album is spectacular in more than one way.

By still keeping and even developing the feeling of the previous work, yet completely changing the overall structure of the music itself – this deserves the rating ‘brilliant’. Faustian Dream rises to the top of 2006.”

Imhotep
Rating: 5/6 points – very good

“While “Bible Black Tyrant” holds the Tom G. Warrior spirit, the following “Wrath Without Hate” contains a fine dose of early Katatonia. And no, this is not a drawback. Because Black Crucifixion do not copy, they only borrow and use it for their own means. And each creation is different from the next. While “Winterkill” holds a surprisingly positive melody, the former “Where Will You Hide” has one of the most insane refrains I’ve heard. And then, just out of nothing, comes the utter piece of sadness: “Scandinavian Melancholy” is the saddest song I’ve heard since Steve von Till did “As The Crow Flies”. “Faustian Dream” is probably your melancholic dream of an album.”
- Roy Kristensen

blackangelpromotionscom
“What would you say if I told you that the Celtic Frost from the "Into The Pandemonium" era had returned? Or better yet how about a band with these influences combined with the flavor of an early Tiamat and Sentenced. Black Crucifixion's Faustian Dream will be one of the best Dark/Gothic Metal releases this year…I highly recommend that each and every one of you go and pick it up.”

thegreatnothingcom
“This definitely will set a dark mood upon any listener and cause them too seek further tracks. Top notch production cradles a dark rhythm that is simply put evil on the second track As Black As The Roses (As Weak As My Smile). Forn’s frightening whispers will provide almost a forbidden soothing touch on the track Wrath Without Hate. The arrangements, vocals and writing got me where I needed… and will do the same for any black metal fan.”

beowolfproductionscom

“The band still is in the metal range of music, but no longer have that Black metal sound…This will surely help broadening their fan base. Check out the new direction these guys are headed!”

nocturnalcultcom
“At first I had to get over the shock of what I was hearing…The vocals are really interesting, ranging from typical deep goth a la Sisters of Mercy all the way to "whiny" vocals that remind me of Tom G. Warrior's…This whole album takes some of the best parts of middle era Tiamat and meshes them with some goth sensibilities and some rock overtones. This is not an album for everyone, but for the more open-minded underground fan.”

feastofhateandfearcom
“Operatic gothic metal, where the vocals are actually sung - not far off of Type O Negative, but better. At times I think of Celtic Frost, but BC really do sound like a much better Type O Negative. Sorry Peter Steele!”