Updated: 10/02/04

The darkness is all you need. Xasthur fully realizes and celebrates this, recording horrific soundtracks for those unspeakable moments when melancholia turns into sheer insanity. Founding member Malefic composes all the bleak symphonies and has been doing so since the mid-90's. Now in a cooperation with the mighty Moribund Cult, Xasthur has presented upon this dismal world a sonic crime against humanity entitled Telepathic With The Deceased. We recently summoned the reclusive Malefic, inquiring about the state of his truly underground project. Here is what he had to share...

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Xasthur, and how long the band has been together.
Consisting of Malefic - All instruments/vocals/all songs by, this band has been going since '96, but only noticeable since 99-00.

Being from the Los Angeles area, what do you think about the metal scene out here, and how does Xasthur fit in - if at all?
I dislike the metal scene here in LA, I was bitter for a while, but now I just don't care either way. I don't really like it when the 'sex, drugs and rock n roll' mentality crosses over into black metal, I think its time to overcome that stereotype. Making music that either has an effect on someone or making music that hurts, causes a disturbance or sickens someone, in some way can be quite a feeling, 'rewarding' in itself, but a lot of bands here don't see that, the reward is meeting some stupid slut or some computer friends. Once upon a time there were a few good bands from here, but that was years ago. Currently, I think Abyssmal Nocturne and Ashdautas are excellent bands from LA, but I can't think of anything else at the moment. No, I do not fit in with the LA scene, no need to include me, I'd prefer being forgotten.

Where did you get the idea for the title Telepathic With The Deceased - do you think there is any kind of afterlife we could be in touch with?
I found a picture of myself where a ghost was sort of 'coming out of my head', seeing this explained a lot to me, it was if I always knew it was there before seeing it in the picture, as if it was compelling me to exist in a certain way, guiding me, behind me for years. The afterlife could just get in touch with you, if be it you're unfortunate enough!

Do you think psychics like John Edwards of Crossing Over or Sonya The Pet Psychic (on Animal Planet) are real or hoaxes?
I'll give your pet a psychiatric evaluation…

Where did you get the ideas for some of the lyrics on the CD? What kind of mood do you find yourself in when you are at your most productive and creative?
Ideas are all around me, but most importantly, within me. I basically like to expand on my total misanthropy for this world on 'Telepathic with the Deceased.' I speak on behalf of myself, it's a personal band without any other members, so I write that way as well. I don't write with the idea of a union, organization or horde in mind. A lot of songs vary lyrically from one another for example: feeling a sense of belonging and having no fear when the end of the world is near, being the last one on earth, genocide, helping humans shatter mirrors with their own reflections, questioning the meaning of existence, severe isolation and the thoughts that (may) go through a persons mind moments before suicide. I really do not care if my subject matter is un-orthodox, trying to impress the black metal scene is futile, retarded and a way of living in self-deceit. I'm usually in a zone where things are quiet around me, when it's more quiet and cold, late at night, times where I feel as if I have more uninterrupted time on my hands than usual, an unhappy mood as apposed to a frantically miserable mood.

How did you wind up connecting with Moribund and having them release your CD?
Moribund heard that 'The Funeral of Being' on Blood Fire Death was going to be my second and last CD with BFD, so they contacted me, things have been going well being a part of the Moribund Cult so far.

You have a history of members wandering in and out of Xasthur. Do you have problems finding musicians who are serious or are you a tyrant as a band leader?
According to certain people who I became furious with for thinking that playing black metal was just about 'jamming', doing drugs and partying, then yes, those people might tell you I was a tyrant, wherever they're aren't these days. I was open to ideas, but no one had any. I've been doing things more impulsively these days to rely on anyone else's timetable.

Being the sole member of Xasthur, have you ever wanted to play any live shows or do you prefer to just record your blackened symphonies?
I used to want to play live, but that was a long time ago, since making the choice of being a one person band, I haven't had any desire to play live. I don't even like going to shows anyway, let alone playing one. I prefer keeping things the way they are.

What does Satanism mean to you, if anything?
Somewhat, but I wouldn't say it dominates my life, its basically a different standard of living, unique philosophy and an answer to certain questions that sometimes go unasked.

Why does the NSBM scene want nothing to do with Xasthur? Do you share any of their political beliefs?
The NSBM scene wants nothing to do with Xasthur? I really wasn't aware if it was or not. I'll put it this way, being where I'm from and noticing that the 'minorities' are really the majority, I certainly don't take any offense to NSBM, yet I don't feel the need wave the NSBM banner.

What do you think of bands like Cradle Of Filth and Dimmu Borgir who have brought Black Metal to the masses? Do you think the type of music you perform is easily presented for the aural consumption of the same masses?
I'll have no shame in admitting that I liked the first two Dimmu Borgir albums, For All Tid and Stormblast, but I do not care for them at all these days. The real question is, what could they be using their fame for? They could have more of an influence on people than they're having. In the position that these bands are in, you'd think they'd be able to at least influence another Columbine incident. No, Xasthur isn't for them. These bands are adventurous and energetic. Xasthur is a downward spiral.

What do you think of the concept of "Christian Black Metal?" There seems to be such a scene going on now.
Ridiculous! That makes absolutely no sense! If these kind of people just made dark music without any Christian lyrics (or any), without the corpse-paint, etc, then I don't think anyone like you and I would care or even notice this.

Do you have any comments about the passing of Quorthon from Bathory? Was he ever an influence on your music?
It seems like quite a loss, I know that his death wasn't as much of a newsflash as Euronomyous' death, but I think it was just as much of a loss, if not more. I was more a fan of Bathory's Viking metal stuff, like Hammerheart especially.

In addition to Xasthur, are you involved with any other projects?
Yes, there are a few that I will be involved with as I take a break from Xasthur for a little while, one that I'm currently working on is Mord, a band/project that consists of myself and members of Striid (Holland) and Misanthropy (US). I'll be the keyboardist and doing bass for this. The others you'll just have to either figure out or wait and see.

What are the future plans for Xasthur?
Not too many plans at the moment, the only thing coming soon in the midst of a break that I'm taking is a split 12" with Leviathan later in the year. Other than that, there is now a second member of Xasthur (who isn't from LA!), I think not only a little change was needed, but I also found some qualified help that might help that might make operations go a bit more smoothly.

Any final words of wisdom?
Thanks for the interview.

Telepathic With The Deceased is now available from the Moribund Cult!!!

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