XASTHUR
To Violate the Oblivious

On the ninth full-length with the tell-tale title of "Subject to Change", XASTHUR took a musical leap of faith: Mastermind, multi-instrumentalist, and singer Scott Conner abandoned black metal as a form of musical expression for the time being, and turned to something stylistically rather comparable to acid folk and neofolk instead. Keeping the minimalistic approach of his previous albums, but embarking on a long journey through the dark underbelly of the American dream, Conner created his own brand of dark Americana. XASTHUR were originally conceived by Scott Conner in California, USA in the year 1995. The project started out in the vein of bleak black metal in the tradition of the Nordic second wave. Over the course of nine albums and a host of split-singles, EPs, and occasional demos, XASTHUR's individual, particularly depressive style became highly regarded within the extreme genre. In 2010, Scott announced the end of XASTHUR and returned with an acoustic dark folk project under the banner of NOCTURNAL POISONING. In 2015, the American artist returned to the name XASTHUR, but insisted that his black metal days were over. On his so far latest album, "Inevitably Dark", XASTHUR have partly lifted the self-imposed ban on black metal, simply because Conner simply did like he felt.

XASTHUR founder Scott Conner, an astute chronicler of the dark side of the American dream, has come to terms with the idea that his work can confuse people and be misread. He just accepts that reality now. This notion is clearly expressed in the title of his new work "Open to Misinterpretation". This insight has also firmed his resolve to neither change his artistic direction nor to attempt making his music easier for people to access. Conner is just not interested in chasing what has worked for other people or fitting neatly into a genre. This does not mean that XASTHUR are standing still. "Open to Misinterpretation" represents a deeper and more developed version of what Conner already does. He keeps honing his expression and to find new sounds and moods for his ideas. As a result, his songwriting has become equally more detailed as well as harder to predict at the same time. The production has audibly been cleared up, even though Conner still aims for the recording process to feel live, organic, and real. "Open to Misinterpretation" probably feels more complete because these songs have already been performed live on stage due to XASTHUR's prior touring activities on both sides of the Atlantic. With "Open to Misinterpretation", the American delivers a more focused and more confident album that realises the evolution and expression of Scott Conner's sound to a point that makes it harder to misunderstand this artist's intentions. Well, and if anyone does, he has come to accept it as an integral part of XASTHUR's music.