Of all the solitary black metal entities that came to the fore within the US black metal scene in the early 2000′s, Xasthur was and is my favorite.  The music created by Malefic (aka Scott Conner) has haunted me for nearly a decade; a malignant presence nestled in the back of my brain, often uncoiling in the small hours to rise to the surface and possess me.  In my early to mid twenties, I was prone to dark moods, staying up all night writing, feeling hopelessly alone and wondering if I was losing my mind.  More often than not the soundtrack to my fear and loathing was Xasthur.
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