LITOSTH - DREAMING

'Defy' sets the tone with a slow-burning introduction, where ominous textures and delicate cymbal work gradually give way to a more forceful rhythm. Distorted riffs steadily build the tension before the song erupts into snarling vocals, relentless blast beats, and an impressive display of controlled aggression. Despite its intensity, LITOSTH never abandons melody, allowing haunting guitar lines and subtle orchestral elements to add depth and grandeur. It is a confident opener that immediately draws the listener into the album's bleak world. 

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Melancholic piano melodies introduce 'Ruin', creating a deceptive sense of calm before the track unfolds into a dynamic blend of beauty and aggression. Driven by dark, rasping vocals, dense bass lines, and energetic drumming, the song balances atmospheric depth with relentless momentum. The melodic bridge provides a striking contrast, pairing slower, old-school-inspired riffing with subtle choir-like textures that add an almost ghostly quality. It is a composition rich in emotion, atmosphere, and memorable songwriting. 

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'Abyss' immerses the listener in an atmosphere of mystery from its very first moments. Dominated by majestic organ melodies with a distinctly gothic character, the opening feels almost ceremonial before a cavernous scream and furious blast beats abruptly break the spell. Yet beneath the aggression, LITOSTH continue to weave subtle beauty into the composition through ethereal choir textures, melodic guitar lines, and hypnotic drumming. The result is a song that constantly shifts between menace and melancholy, creating one of the album's most captivating moments.

'Iconoclast' is built upon a slow, brooding foundation, where ghostly textures and dragging melodies create an overwhelming sense of unease. The fierce, rasping vocals inject the song with urgency, while the band once again demonstrate their gift for balancing raw aggression with moments of haunting beauty. Delicate guitar passages and subtle choir arrangements briefly illuminate the darkness before the composition descends back into its cold, oppressive atmosphere.

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'Nadir' is defined by an overwhelming sense of longing, as though searching for something forever out of reach. Once again, LITOSTH masterfully balances uncompromising black metal with moments of fragile beauty, allowing cold aggression and delicate melodies to coexist without ever diminishing one another. The composition flows with remarkable elegance before spoken-word passages emerge towards the closing moments, adding another layer of emotional depth. Their return to rasping, throat-rending vocals provides a powerful finale to one of the album's most evocative compositions. 

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The journey reaches its conclusion with 'Golgota', a powerful finale that gradually builds through commanding drumming and sweeping guitar melodies. Performed in the band's native Portuguese, the song delivers a scathing critique of religious hypocrisy, its venomous vocal performance reinforcing every word with conviction and intensity. Musically, 'Golgota' encapsulates everything that defines Dreaming, balancing bleak black metal aggression with moments of haunting melody and fragile beauty. It is a fitting conclusion to an album that never loses its emotional or atmospheric focus.

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With "Dreaming", LITOSTH have crafted an exceptional work that transcends the boundaries of atmospheric black metal. Through outstanding musicianship and a remarkable balance of raw aggression and haunting beauty, the duo deliver an album that is as emotionally immersive as it is musically captivating. A masterfully composed journey from beginning to end, Dreaming is nothing short of essential listening.

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SCORE 10/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY