1. Litosth was launched around 2016. Why did you decide to create Litosth? Why did you decide to use the name Litosth and what does it refer to?
Litosth was created in 2016 with the intention of being a musically free project. I've always played in other bands with more defined styles, so I wanted to do something without limiting myself to labels and be able to experiment with ideas, mixing my musical influences. The name comes from a word that only exists in the Czech language "litost", it describes the feeling of suddenly realise our own misery. When I came across the word, I thought it would represent the lyrical proposal of the project very well.
2. “Cesariana” is your third album that has just been released, but it is preceded by “Crossed Parallels of Self Refraction” (2019) and “Farther from the Sun” (2022), during this stage it featured the collaboration of such a drummer Like the incorporation of Wendel Siota on bass, is Wendel Siota a full member of Litosth? What do you remember about the recording of these first two albums and what role did these other musicians play in the final result of the album?
I like to think that Litosth doesn't have a defined lineup, it's something situational, just as I don't want to limit the project to musical styles, I also don't want to limit it to members. On the first album I had the opportunity to count on Leonardo Pagani on drums, he is one of the best drummers in Brazil, and it was great to have him participate and contribute to the album, and Wendel Siota wrote all the lyrics on it. The second album was written and recorded during the Covid19 pandemic, so I had to do everything myself. On the album Cesariana, Wendel returned to participate and wrote all the lyrics for the album. Even though I'm the project leader, I like having people contributing, and it's something that will happen even more in the future.
3. What has the process of composing and recording “Cesariana” been like? What brands of instruments have you used in the process?
Before I start composing the album I like to think about how it will sound when heard in its entirety. I plan the differences in each song so that in the end they don't sound too similar, or too different. I try to avoid the album sounding like a collection of songs, Litosth albums are thematic, I try to maintain coherence between the songs. Then I start working on guitar riffs and drum accompaniment, working on all the songs at the same time, so I have control over how the album will sound. So with everything ready I go into the studio to record. At Cesariana I used my Jackson King V KVX10 guitar and Jackson David Ellefson CBX-V bass.
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4. Perhaps “Cesariana” is the most complete album in terms of sound, with a black metal base with a melodic tondo, but also incorporating a good number of elements and style that range from rock, to gothic, a certain epic tone, outburst of viscerality with other slower moments, all within an enviable compositional maturity, how would you describe the sound of the new album for those who have not yet heard it? What bands or styles have been an influence when composing “Cesariana ”?
Labeling Litosth's music is always very difficult for me. The base of the music is certainly between Black Metal and Melodic Death Metal. But it's easy to find some elements of Doom Metal and Symphonic as well.
As I mentioned before, Litosth is a reflection of my musical taste, and what I like most is extreme metal, bands like Dissection, Bathory, Emperor and Sepultura, but I also like many things outside of metal, bands like Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, A-ha... Folk songs from various countries, classical music, classic rock. So all these things also somehow end up appearing in Litosth's music.
5. The theme of the album revolves around the curse of being alive, even from one's own will, but approached from a prism of rebellion. Could you explain the concept of the album a little more? Did the music adapt to the letters or vice versa?
Cesariana is Litosth's most existentialist album, and the album's main theme is about the lie that life is a blessing, a good thing, when it can also be a terrible punishment. We are born into different situations, and many sell the lie that we can change this, not everyone can change their lives, there is no justice or meritocracy, and of course life can also be wonderful, but we cannot discard the idea that it is a gamble , we take innocent people out of non-existence and throw them into this cruel world controlled by religion and politics until they lose their innocence.
We usually adapt the lyrics to the music, but the theme comes first, so we can write and compose with the theme already in mind.
6. I mentioned previously that the sound of the new album shows an important leap in quality compared to the past, however there is not much information about this process. Who was in charge of the recording, mixing and mastering of the album?
We are always careful with the production so as not to sound too clean, plasticized and crystallized, as many bands tend to do in melodic and symphonic metal style. On the other hand we also don't want to sound raw, like the classic bands of the first wave of black metal. And the person who makes this magic happen is our producer of all the albums, Dave Deville from the studio Dead Marshal Records. He is responsible for all of Litosth's recordings, mixing and mastering.
7. The release of the new album is done through the Mexican record label Personal Records. At what point was the decision made to work with Personal Records to the detriment of the Brazilian label Sulfur Records that had been accompanying Litosth since its beginnings?
We were very pleased with the release on Personal Records, they were very correct and professional with our music. Unfortunately Cesariana would not coincide with the schedule of Sulfur Records, which is the record company that has supported us since the beginning. But we will definitely work together again in the future for launches within Brazil.
8. The cover of the new album is also more realistic, a kind of virgin with a child in her arms who is pierced by an arrow. What meaning does this cover have and how does it relate to the content of the album? Who was in charge of the design? of the cover and what do you want to represent with it?
The cover art was done by myself, I also work with graphic art and did the art for previous albums too. As I previously commented on the theme of the album, I tried to illustrate it in some way, to show the image of a mother's guilt in condemning an innocent person to an uncertain life in which he is born hurt and at a disadvantage.
9. Beyond the fact that you have belonged to some classic bands from your country, at the same time that you have also had the collaboration of some musicians in Litosth, how would you describe the black metal scene in a country like Brazil? What bands would you recommend us?
Brazil has always had big names in the Heavy Metal world, such as Sepultura, Sarcofago, Krisiun and Angra, who directly influenced bands that today are even better known than themselves. But unfortunately the scene was never strong enough like North America and Europe, it is difficult for Brazilian bands to have any financial return and thus produce more and reach new horizons. But this has more to do with our political problems, because I'm sure we don't lack artistic ability. Talking about Black Metal, which is an even more exclusive style, it's even worse. There are many bands and fans of the style, but the style festivals are even smaller and precarious, the bands get very little for their releases and there is almost no professionalism. But there are great bands, who musically don't lose anything to the outside bands. I mention my other band, Patria, Mysteriis, Vazio, Mystifier, Amen Corner and Murder Rape.
10. Is there a possibility of taking Litosth's proposal live at some point or is it not a possibility that you are considering? Who would you like to offer a small mini-tour with?
At the moment there is no such possibility, but it is not ruled out. As I mentioned previously, Litosth is a project that was born to be free. With the right conditions and the desire of the fans, I believe it will happen.
I think it would be really good to play with bands that have something in common musically, like Mgla and Sun of the Sleepless.
11. How were your beginnings in music: first concerts you attended, first albums you bought? What happened in your life that pushed you to want to be a musician?
Since I as a child the music é my favorite art form, even before entering the world of Heavy Metal. I live in the south of Brazil, close to Argentina, and there is a strong local Rock band scene, and these were the first shows I attended. The first records I bought were by punk bands, like Ramones and Ratos de Porão.
I've always liked creating things, and when I into the world of Rock/Metal it was no different, I couldn't be content with just being a consumer, I wanted to produce something, make it happen.
12. What album represents for you the essence of black metal? What latest albums have you bought?
Transilvanian Hunger by Darkthrone is the album that I think has the essence of Black Metal. I don't think it's the best, most famous or even my favorite album, but it is cold, raw and aggressive, everything that Black Metal sets out to do. Last album I bought was Antichrist Reborn by The Troops of Doom. New band by Jairo Tormentor, founding member of Sepultura. Highly recommended for those who like real Death Metal from the 80s!
13. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit, if you want to add something for Litosth fans this is the place. I hope the questions are to your liking
Thank you very much Black Metal Spirit for the opportunity to promote our music and ideals! And I invite readers to discover Litosth, available on the main digital platforms!
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