Description

Third press with barcode on backcover

Xasthur’s second album, ‘The Funeral Of Being’, shadows the themes of ‘Nocturnal Poisoning’ in detached reflections of begrimed and humid abstraction. Once more, Malefic records through the most simplistic devices (sounds like possibly a 4-track recorder) which submerges the music into foggy ambience and primitive obscurity. Through a procedure of echoed systems of technique music is offered as sacrifice towards imperceptible realms. Actual songs in the traditional definition are swallowed up and spewed out in soundshapes of monotone circulation and transplanted tones sculpted through buried mechanistic percussion, shadowy keyboard ambience, and excruciated shrieks. Elusive melodies flow in monochromatic currents of riffs from guitars of venomous subtlety to awaken misty fabrications and sordid atmospheric presence. Abstract, ambient black metal is the purpose of Xasthur, and while none may perform it with as much deliriousness and unyielding hatred, anything in the way of cohesive composition becomes ultimately lost. Short instrumental pieces that seem barely realized separate more involved tracks, themselves often seeming underdeveloped and partially accomplished. In a twisted, demented manner this may add to the overall feel of the album as one constructed by an artist desperately clinging to fading sanity, frantically releasing ideas and themes that, while short on complete form of movement, provide the desired intent through shredded emotions. Much of the disc is frozen in dense murkiness and acerbic impositions, as wayward souls who’ve forsaken direction for gloomy journeys in nighttime forests. ‘Release the chains and slash your throat Eternal black winter left only hate in its never-ending grasp The killing shadows of all it was I never lived for Injecting hate into despondent minds possessing your decay Asphyxiate upon ghastly hidden fear’ As a whole, ‘The Funeral Of Being’ lacks the consistency of compelling atmosphere of its predecessor, and is significantly more disjointed in structure. Yet the emotional impact of this music is far from vacant, assisted largely due to a stronger presence of hate-ridden and agonizing vocals in the sound. A continuous war through this work rises between atmospheric sustainment and articulated melody and indiscreet centralized thematic, rendering the album, and indeed Xasthur itself, ultimately noncommittal. Where Xasthur triumphs is in the shattering of the perceptible in abundant emotional blackness, however, because tracks rarely achieve full realization through expansion of ideas and conceptual range, the experience of the album’s entirety feels incomplete.

Track list:
1. The Awakening To The Unknown Perception Of Evil
2. Tyrant Of Nightmares
3. Intro
4. Sigils Made Of Flesh And Trees
5. Blood From The Roots Of The Forest, Part 2
6. Blood From The Roots Of The Forest, Part 1
7. Intro
8. Bleak Necrotic Paleness
9. Reflecting Hateful Energy
10. Tyrant Of Nightmares-Darkened Winter Promo 01 version
11. Outro