Xasthur
Defective Epitaph

THE REVIEW

Xasthur has sparked much debate in recent years. The one man American band led by Malefic consistently produces albums, standing out undeniably among the top representatives of the so-called "depressive black metal" scene (one of the many silly nicknames from a 14-year-old kid).

With this new 'Defective Epitaph', those who have enthusiastically followed the endeavors of our misanthropic artist will continue to appreciate his music, and those who have detested him so far will, well... inevitably continue to hate him, as the compositions present here relentlessly remain faithful to the depressive/oppressive mood to which Malefic has accustomed us since his debut: slow and wrenching tempos, desperate screams, dark and introspective arpeggios, and raw production, minimal, and I even have the sense that Xasthur's musical ideas have become even more visionary, mad, and personal.

Dear metalheads, it goes without saying that this is certainly not an easy listening work, it must be listened to in certain situations and is aimed at a narrow circle of enthusiasts of certain sounds. Personally, I have never been crazy about Xasthur, but certainly, those who wish to dive into dark and nightmarish atmospheres will stumble upon the right platter, as few manage to convey so much unease in music.