Review: “Fairest She” by Characith

Musing on themes of Anti-Cosmic Satanism, Characith are a Polish Black Metal band hailing from the city of Poznań. Founded in 2025 by guitarist and vocalist Wojciech Majchrzak and guitarist Piotr Melcer, a pair known for their parts in Speed Metal merchants Bömbardiër and Death Thrash act Manhünt respectively. The evil duo were initially joined by drummer Konrad Olejniczak and bassist Ryszard Słotwiński of Bömbardiër and Morbithal fame, however Słotwiński has since departed to be replaced by Jakub Bartkowiak. Their first burnt offering together is “Fairest She“.

Given their backgrounds it might come as no surprise the that this first crack of the whip from Characith has distinctive second wave of Black Metal vibes, reaching into the void of Extreme Metal in the process. Opening cut “Between The Stars” has that raw demo edge with a distinctively muddy drum sound but the atmosphere is dark and brooding, capturing the imagination with some tasteful riffs and scalding harsh vocals. There is an ethereal quality to the track, a classical acoustic bridge confirming the Scandinavian roots of the quartet run deep, Majchrzak having the ability to offer a blood curdling scream if he so desires.

A tale of a shadow on the tree of life, known as the tree of death “Characith” is one that demonstrates masterful storytelling with blistering riffs and furious anger, the spoken word moment an interesting twist, adding an alternative texture. What is clear is that the four piece have a greater talent that the quality of this recording allows them to show and while the drum sound has a certain nostalgia to it which adds charm, the record cries out to be re-recorded in a studio to allow the quality of the material and musicianship to be matched.

Title track “Fairest She” has another restless and relentless percussive performance at its beating black heart, the melancholic tinged riffs providing the perfect soundscape for the vocal onslaught. While all the songs have that sense of storytelling about them this one has a little more about it, like it’s an ode to a dream of a banshee or siren, a beauty of the night who may have simply been a vision or fever dream of what might have been. There is deviation from the Black Metal sound here in the guitars with some Melodic Death Metal creeping into some of the longer instrumental passages but that’s by no means a bad thing… [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Between The Stars
2. Characith
3. Fairest She

“Fairest She” by Characith is out 19th December 2025 and is available over at bandcamp