The Collins dictionary defines the Czech word ‘Litost’ as ‘a state of agony and torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery’……Cheerful stuff indeed, but actually it is the perfect moniker for this Spanish outfit who create a fraught air of tension and despair on their sophomore album, ‘Pathos’. The beginning of the album is dominated by a frenetic guitar solo before the vitriolic, scathing vocals launch an all-out assault. The track pummels from start to finish taking pieces from black metal, death metal, post black metal and even punk and crust elements, moulding them all into a vicious yet temperate piece of work with this blueprint continuing on the punishing ‘Espectro’.
The atmosphere changes on ‘Vigilante Del Abismo’ which is an orchestral piece. Although this is sumptuous, it has a dark, depressive feel to it further adding to the jeopardy created by the preceding tracks. ‘Emboscada’ and ‘Simún’ bring us back to the more familiar frantic barrage before ‘Barján De Céfiro’ gives an Eastern/Oriental feel to proceedings. ’Vendaval’, another instrumental track, ups the ante somewhat before ‘Galerna’ closes the album in scathing fashion.
A lot of bands draw in different influences but it seldom results in such an organic, effortless feel. Don’t get me wrong, there is clearly a lot of hard work here, but nothing feels forced or as though they are trying to pander to a certain trend. Litost clearly do their own thing and it works well, creating an air of stress, despair and agitation throughout the eight tracks and has something for any fan of extreme music.
(7.5/10 Andy Pountney)
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