Litosth - Dreaming

Litosth is a black metal band from Brazil, who formed in 2016. Actually, it’s a one-man band project from musician Maicon Ristow.  This latest album, “Dreaming,” is the fourth full-length under the Litosth moniker.  I actually reviewed his previous album, “Cesariana,” when I wrote for Metal Temple.  I wasn’t a huge fan of it, giving it a score of 6 out of 10.  Basically, I thought it was solid, but it wasn’t going to stick with me.  

So how does “Dreaming” fair?  Well, the two years in between releases must have really helped because “Dreaming,” is a huge step forward for the band.  I don’t give numbered reviews on my blog but it’s definitely well above a 6.   I feel like Maicon has finally found the true sound that has been building up for years: a freighting amalgamation of melodic tinges of blackened despair.  “Dreaming,” is anything but—this album is a nightmarish hellscape that crumbles the light into the shadows it helped create. 

It’s very melodic in places but melody doesn’t always mean happy.  These melodies, harmonies ... they are born of a place that many won’t go to, but it doesn’t matter because it's coming all the same.  The fall, the collapse, the rot…it will consume us all, despite any best measures put forward to stave it off.

“Dreaming,” is the soundtrack to this encroaching darkness.  Hell, it IS the darkness. There is nothing about this album that is safe, secure, or space for comfort.  Despite the melodic, epic nature, “Dreaming,” fully embraces the extremity of black metal, in its concepts and atmosphere.  

And it’s going to shred you to pieces while it does.  Groove, lighting drums, and rabid vocals are stalking these melodic corridors, and each turn will reveal a new threat to survival.  It’s not a matter of if this album will scare you—it’s when and where.

“Defy,” isn’t a fist pumping anthem to inspire—-it’s the rise of defeat that turns against life.  The cold, bitter waves of riffs hit immediately, backed by powerfully explosive drums.  A scream rings out in the darkness and off the pale rider goes. Keys provide a backdrop that brings dread front and center.  The vocals and keys both herald nasty things but go about it in two different ways yet complement each other’s styles.  

“Eclipse,” is doom and gloom with slow, heavy riffs like the rising of the moon on a cold, brutal winter evening.  The drums pepper this landscape before it all comes to a boil with a clash of keys, drums, riffs, and growls.  The song turns on a dime as it approaches the two-minute mark, offering itself upon the altar of grueling speed and guile.  Doom-style riffs mark the second half of the song as a friend to the crushing darkness before fading out into a clean section that does little to abate the everblack.

I would expect a song called “Monolith,” to be a towing representation of the album—and it definitely is.  This is a very well put together song; the drums compliment the riffs so goddamn well and the vocals groove on top of the music without overtaking it.  Around the 3:17 mark, the animal is let out of its cage to feed, and its metal is your senses as the rhythms rush the blood to your head and create intense pressure.   This song BEGS for a good pair of headphones.  I talk about headphones a lot in my reviews and for good reason: metal, especially this kind, needs headphones for a surreal experience that listening on a party speaker or something just can’t provide.  This entire album is made for headphones.  

The final song, “Golgota,” is mesmerizing.  I love the buildup, from the lone guitars in the opening seconds, to each instrument adding their personality to the layers.  By the time the minute marl has passed, every kick ass element of this album is presented in full force.  The vocals are the rawest on this song and the energy is palpable, a spreading darkness that can’t be faced by any other means other than succumbing to it.  

Litosth’s “Dreaming,” is quite the experience and the jumping in quality to this release from their others is striking.  Join the band and use this album to dive into their dark waters….you probably won’t survive but you might as well enjoy the music as you face it.  

Rating: Excellent