Xasthur: Defective Epitaph

The American black metal band Xasthur, basically the work of one Malefic, aka Scott Conner, has been around since 1999, releasing a handful of interesting albums filled with atmospheric, depressing, doom laden extreme music. Defective Epitaph, Malefic's latest collection of tortured and haunting songs, is no different. 12 tracks of intense hatred, mind boggling melancholy, devoid of anything uplifting but surprisingly full of beauty, Xasthur sort of takes a more ethereal slant here than fellow US band Wolves in the Throne Room, channeling the spirit of Varg Vikernes' Burzum somewhat with plenty of spooky and horrific passages and moods. If you are looking for raging guitar riffs and slammming blast beats, better look elsewhere. What you get throughout Defective Epitaph is layer upon layer of textured guitar patterns, ominous keyboard washes, tribal sounding drum beats, and Malefic's garbled wailings. While there are definitely moments here where you'll swear that you've been listening to the same song over and over, repeated spins unravel plenty of sonic tapestries no doubt coming from one seriously demented mind. It's rare that music this anti-social, this full of loathing, this steeped in dread & mystery, comes along. Defective Epitaph is one horrific musical ride into your own worst nightmare-take the trip if you dare.

Track Listing

1. Souless Elegy (2:42)
2. Purgatory Spiral (4:29)
3. Cemetery of Shattered Masks (6:03)
4. Malignant Prophecy (5:40)
5. Oration of Ruin (7:23)
6. Legacy of Human Irrelevance (5:35)
7. Dehumanizing Procession (4:52)
8. Funerals Drenched in Apathy (5:29)
9. Worship (the war against) Yourself (7:34)
10. A Memorial to the Waste of Life (8:44)
11. The Only Blood that Pours is Yours (8:15)
12. Unblessed Be… (8:13)

Added: October 7th 2007
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Hydra Head Records
Hits: 3717
Language: english

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