LITOST „Pathos”

Blood Fire Death Promotion, March 2023

Music: Blackened Metal
Website:
https://www.facebook.com/LitostMusicVlc/
https://litostofficial.bandcamp.com/
Duration: 33:35 (8 tracks)
Country: Spain

LITOST comes from Spanish Valencia and was created from the ashes of POLYBIUS. Before the album “Pathos” the album “Ethos” was released and that’s all I know about this band… I also could speculate about the name of the band, which may be associated with the word “litosc” (mercy, pity) to all Poles, but Spanish music definitely does not know mercy (!)

The compositions are very aggressive, insistent, mainly in their structures they contain black-metal themes with death-metal influences as well as crust punk moments. The arrangements are filled with rage, sometimes straight from the heart, without any compositional inflatedness. Other times the riff patterns are more complex and elaborate. The music is crushing, but with the addition of melody (simple but powerful)… Although, as it turned out later, these melodies developed… In all this riffing, you can feel a modern approach to composing, one with a hint of progressive playing. The gurgling bass deepens the heaviness. On the one hand, it’s killing furious (which prevails), and on the other hand, there are decelerations, just so full of pathos.

I think the Spaniards would not be themselves, if they didn’t add elements of their heritage to this extreme music in the form of folk acoustic guitars or other stringed (as if Arabic) instruments, including violins and folk drums, as well as keyboard’s motifs from fairy-tales or horror. These types of patents significantly increased the artistic value of the material, clearly contrasting with the fast Metal themes. In places the music sounds quite oriental. Arabic musical scales had a significant impact on the development of music in Spain, and this is probably where the oriental accent comes from.

Of course, vocally, how could it be otherwise than aggressive and hysterical! The screams are dominant but polyphonic growls also appear at times to enhance the death metal mood. Another contrasting element turned out to be single climatic singing resounding in the background (also with a slightly folk tint).

The Spanish language probably gave the whole exoticism, but it significantly deepened the darkness prevailing on the album. However, darkness is not the only atmosphere on the album… Mystery, fear and a note of melancholy…

Tracklist:
1. Tromba
2. Espectro
3. Vigilante del abismo
4. Emboscada
5. Simún
6. Barján de Céfiro
7. Vendaval
8. Galerna

Line-up:
Pedro Soriano – bass
Daniel Molina – drums
Manri – guitars
Joaquín García – guitars

Rate: 8.0/10