Xasthur
| Xasthur | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Alhambra, California, United States |
| Genres |
Black metal, dark ambient (1995-2010) Acoustic, neofolk (2015-present) |
| Years active | 1995–2010, 2015–present |
| Labels | Profane Productions, Blood Fire Death, Bestial Onslaught Productions, Moribund Records, Total Holocaust Records, Profound Lore Records, Battle Kommand Records, Autopsy Kitchen Records, Southern Lord Records, Hydra Head Records, Turanian Honour Productions, Avantgarde Music, Disharmonic Variations |
| Associated acts | Draconis, Nortt, Twilight, Sunn O))), Mord, Celestia, Gravesideservice, Marissa Nadler, Nocturnal Poisoning, Striborg |
| Website | www |
| Members | Scott "Malefic" Conner |
| Past members | Mike "Ritual" Pardi |
Xasthur /zæstər/ is the acoustic, formerly black metal project of American musician Scott Conner (known by the pseudonym "Malefic"), formed in 1995. In 2010, Conner announced the end of Xasthur. However, he revived the name in 2015 for his acoustic project.
The name "Xasthur" is a combination of "Hastur" and "Xenaoth". Conner explained that he found the former name in a Necronomicon paperback and believed that it referred to "a demoness who kills people in their sleep". The latter name referred to a celestial deity he read about in a book on the Afro-Caribbean religion Santería.
Xasthur was created in December 1995 in Alhambra, California, after Conner had played with several local death metal groups in Southern California. Initially, the band began rehearsing and recording in a home studio with an unstable lineup. A 10-track tape of these early rehearsals was circulated on the trade scene. While the original of that tape was destroyed, some tracks appeared on re-releases of later albums.
For a self-released split album with Orosius, Conner was joined on drums and vocals by friend Mike Pardi from the band Draconis, who used the stage name "Ritual." Subsequently, Xasthur became Conner's solo project, although Khaija "Blood Moon" Ausar (of Dacon and Crimson Moon) later appeared as a session musician on the song "A Curse for the Lifeless" (from Nortt/Xasthur) and the EP Xasthur, Mark "M.H." Hunter performed on Defective Epitaph and All Reflections Drained, and Marissa Nadler sang on Portal of Sorrow.
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