Xasthur is addictive. Never great, often dull, amazingly addictive. Modern Psychedelic US Black Metal is what the Moribund press release calls Xasthur. At least we have finally gotten past the suicidal depressive tag that was always misleading and inaccurate, despite the reappearing noose. They do however use the words despair and dreary. Maybe it is just my personality but images of caves do not make me depressed, then again neither to songs about the plague. The music is more trance inducing than depressive, lending itself well to listening while performing monotonous work. Xasthur needs no introduction, which actually baffles me since I don’t understand the widespread appeal. I didn’t think there were that many fans out there of this style. Sixteen releases in five years are sure to get you some attention, I suppose. Once again nothing groundbreaking, if there was Malefic would have to change the name of the project. One thing that makes Xasthur appealing is the total lack of innovation or progression. What changes album to album is subtle differences in sound quality.

The first song is an instrumental, aptly titled “Instrumental”, followed by “Bubonic Plague” and finished with ”Doomed By Howling Winds,” a new version of an older song, most likely heard on the Xasthur / Acid Enema split from a few years back, though it originated on A Darkened Winter . After listening to this disc the first time an amazing thought entered my head, it’s too short. That has never happened before, an Xasthur disc with no fillers (unless you count a re-recording), and that keeps your attention from beginning to end. I see this disc getting more than the occasional listen over the next few months. I’m looking forward to the next one, with real drums and real cello.

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