YITH is a solo blackened doom project which follows on from four demos in an "exploration of darkness, fear and grief". Sole member Yith is the conductor on a train that plunges into the deepest, darkened depths. This album may not be an easy listen, but it's a grower that reveals its subtle charms upon multiple listens.

After a somber acoustic intro, opener "Time and loss" transforms into an atmospheric black metal piece with caustic vocals and a melancholy mood. Another transformation takes place, and the track slows down into a heavier, depressive phase. Its final transformation is in a faster coda, making for a varied yet cohesive track.

For the most part, the album's atmosphere is desolate, with funeral procession pacing. The cold doom chords bring a reminder of death. There are also beautiful, high guitar melodies, and haunting acoustic and symphonic parts. The black metal parts add interest - for example, the subtle counter melodies on "Resentment" evoke early BURZUM. The track then goes into a faster black metal part, thus exploding any possible stupor that may have built up in the listener. "Centuries of horror" also has some faster parts, with sinister clean riffs. The drumming on this track has an expansive, almost galloping sound, which got my head nodding. I thought that the drums had a resonance to them which really added gravitas to the drum parts.

The mixing of Yith's vocal parts is very good - the vocals meld well with the other instruments without sounding too soft. His vocals are like a cold wind blowing through and around the other parts, particularly on "Centuries of horror". On "Dread", a powerful howl acts as the transition to the next section of the song. The songwriting was, for me, a strength of this album. The fast and mid-paced black metal parts add a counterbalance to the funeral doom aspects, without taking away from the gravitas of the doom parts. The acoustic and symphonic parts also add some balance.

"Dread" is an album with many melancholy, yet beautiful layers to discover. It's coherent despite the changes in dynamics, and drew me further in with multiple listens. If one is willing to give the album the attention it deserves, it will cast its spell on the listener.