Xasthur

Xasthur is the long-running atmospheric black metal project helmed by California-based multi-instrumentalist Scott Conner (often credited as Malefic). Emerging from the USBM (US Black Metal) scene in the late 1990s, Xasthur became known for its raw, depressive soundscapes blending icy tremolo-picked guitars, tortured vocals, and lo-fi production that defined the depressive suicidal black metal subgenre. After releasing influential albums like *Nocturnal Poisoning* and *Telepathic With the Deceased* through the 2000s, Conner notably retired the Xasthur name in 2010 before reviving it in 2015 with a stark shift toward dark folk and acoustic instrumentation.

Recent releases like *Inevitably Dark* and *Portal of Sorrow* showcase this reinvented sound, trading blistering distortion for haunting acoustic arrangements and introspective lyrics, while archival works like *1997 - 1999 Rehearsals* preserve the project’s raw origins. Xasthur’s evolution reflects Conner’s unflinching dedication to exploring bleak emotional terrain, making it a cult favorite among fans of extreme music’s darker, more experimental fringes.