Sometimes a reviewer struggles to find the right words. Especially after writing for as long as I have—or even longer, in the case of about a third of our staff—we occasionally hit a wall of demotivation, an uninspiring promo in hand. That’s not necessarily the album’s fault alone, of course, but it always helps to have some sort of anchor, a musical base lift from which our words spring. Even the smallest striking melody, compelling core theme, or touching lyrical phrase can save this reviewer from writer’s block. When it comes to Brazillian melodic black metal duo Litosth’s third LP Cesariana, it is indeed the smallest of details that rescue me from freezing up.
Despite their frosty, dour tunes, the first comparison I draw when listening to Cesariana is Oubliette’s warm and rich The Passage. The second is Ethereal Shroud’s magnum opus Trisagion. Aesthetically falling somewhere between these two disparate references, Litosth’s style sounds epic without resorting to double-digit song lengths, feels relaxed in pacing without lacking passion, and manages to be memorable without possessing especially unique songwriting tenets. Some die-hard fans of black metal might consider these traits evidence of a “safe” and “unremarkable” record, and there is merit to that argument. A certain percentage of Cesariana’s material lacks the identity, creativity, and novelty needed to pull the record’s forty-nine-minute weight across a wasteland of forgettable releases in the atmospheric, melodic black metal realm. However, the remainder showcases real promise, emotional depth, and heartfelt writing. Through the restrained—sometimes downright minimalist—use of riffcraft and metallic leads, coupled with a tasteful measure of synths, blast beats, and atmosphere, Litosth compose eight bleeding-heart songs that feel familiar enough not to offend or frighten. At the same time, they possess enough humanity and soul to keep my attention and spark a little flame in my heart.
At no point does that flame burn brighter than in response to Cesariana’s crowning achievement, “A Ofensa.” Its lead melody, compelling in its soaring scales yet remarkably simple in construction, lives rent-free in my head and I love having it as a permanent guest. There’s something special about the way this singular passage elevates everything around it, giving what would otherwise be unremarkable if serviceable, riffs, drumming, and orchestrations a lively, purposeful presence. At under six minutes, this song is doubly remarkable as it feels far too short for my tastes. I want it to sing its siren song long enough to lure me to deep sea waters from which I could never resurface. Furthermore, “A Ofensa” is so effective as a centerpiece that it allows other strong offerings, like the weepy “Whipping Bottles,” the regal “The Clay Messiah,” and the urgent “Caesarean” greater context and value on either side of it. It also appears to be the only track vocalized in the band’s native tongue, which may contribute to the added authenticity of the work on its surface (but maybe it’s just that Portuguese simply sounds great in this environment).
“A Ofensa” marks the record’s most crucial contribution to Cesariana’s success, but its mates don’t reliably follow through on that same promise and quality. Forgettable pieces “In Waves,” “Time Doesn’t Heal,” and “The Argonaut” fill the space between the record’s strongest material, resulting in an uneven album experience that challenges my desire to return at my leisure. The individual musical elements that make me want to play the record’s standouts on repeat all day long are the same which evoke my desire to cut the record’s lowlights short; “The Argonaut” features melodies cut from the same cloth as “A Ofensa” and effective closer “The Vaccum Extractor Paradigm,” but the stitching around them is flimsier. In turn, those melodies can’t carry the song across six minutes without dropping my interest halfway through. “In Waves” and “Time Doesn’t Heal” feature riffs that are similar in structure to “Caesarean,” but “Caesarean” takes advantage of subtle bends and twists in its theme to elevate and breathe life into it. The others don’t.
It’s these small, seemingly insignificant touches that define competent, well-conceived records like Cesariana. While Litosth’s third effort valiantly attempts to optimize those minute details and curate a memorable, compelling product, the results are inconsistent. When they hit the nail on the head, Litosth sweeps me off my feet. When they miss, they leave me feeling unmoved.
Rating: Mixed
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Personal Records
Websites: litosth.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/litosthofficial
Releases Worldwide: February 2nd, 2024
