For those of you in the Black metal scene who have been living in a cave since 1995 Xasthur was one of the most ground breaking Black metal acts on the American scene. In recent years Scott has re-invented Xasthur as a doom grass trio. This week we spoke to him about the old days and the future.
I am going to split this into two parts first dealing with the modern incarnation of Xasthur and then the old days
* You’ve talked in the past on how you moved into Doom grass as what you were doing with the original Xasthur just wasn’t working for you anymore. What made you wait so long to make the change?
I think running out of ideas with black metal was happening and a big part of what made the change, it was becoming a struggle no matter what I did or threw in to it. With acoustic playing, I never run out of songs, riffs, lyrics and ideas, so I’m naturally going to go with what works best and what I’m feeling. I wanted to talk about reality in the music.
The old Xasthur was a blur
* Do you think many of your old fans understand what you are trying to achieve with Xasthur 2.0?
Some do and some don’t. I don’t think there’s anything lacking in the 2.0. The foundation is there, the music is technical and strange enough without all the effects getting in the way of that. The old xasthur was a blur, the new is not.
* How did you find Chris and Rachel? And what was the process of them joining the band? ( e.g. straight up auditions or organically happened? or? )
it was more organic or fell into place really. Chris found a way of learning maybe a dozen of the songs on his own time then he let me know about it, that he could handle doing this. After that, Chris and I went to a festival in Washington, met Rachel, we got along with her pretty well and found out she could play bass, after that she started playing with us.
I’m usually very surprised by the support and turn out in LA.
* You have done a couple of tours with the Doom grass Xasthur so far – what’s been the most fun place to play and why?
I enjoy playing most places, really. I enjoy Texas a lot, I like playing most of the big cities because people actually do show up in bigger numbers and listen more than they used to. I’m usually very surprised by the support and turn out in LA.
* My friend caught you guys recently in NYC and said you seemed really happy being out on the road, basically that it agrees with you. Do you think that’s true? If so what advice can you give our readers for staying sane on the road?
This is true. I don’t have much of a home life, there’s nothing here for me so I enjoy traveling on the road much more. It’s more of a direct way of conveying the music, either during, before or after the shows with people. My advice would be to be grateful for the chance to do it, to go to places you normally wouldn’t have the chance to go to, look at the positives in it, do it for the music, to say something and be heard with the chance. Look forward to playing better each night and play every show as if it were your last because not much music has any staying power these days.
Prophecy isn’t afraid to take chances on music that’s different
* How did you hook up with your new record company Prophecy Productions ? They seem to be a progressive minded company and are looking to make big in roads here in the USA
The old fashion way, they just contacted me one day on the phone, started talking about it, they showed interest for real. Prophecy isn’t afraid to take chances on music that’s different. So far, I get along with the staff pretty well.
* After Prophecy fest in NYC what can we expect next from you?
A lot. Later this year Xasthur will be recording a new proper album at a real studio, before and after that, there’s a few festivals coming up (shadow woods, prophecy and power of the riff) and then touring will be mandatory again.
Ok here are some questions about the old days
* I think you once said you made the switch from playing Death Metal to One man Black metal as you couldn’t find many like minded musicians in your area. Do you think that if you had stumbled on other musicians you liked your musical output would have been drastically different or much the same?
I think it would’ve been compromised, back then, if I had met other musicians. I think the productivity would’ve been slowed down. It used to be hard to find musicians that are for real in LA and it still is. I was getting nowhere trying to be in bands with people and vice versa, no one believes in anyone.
* Do you remember how you got into Black Metal? What was your “gateway” band? What appealed to you about Black metal more than Death Metal?
That is a good question. It might not have been a black metal band that made that transition for me, it might have been Thergothon.
It was taxing and it was difficult
* For me personally those first few Xasthur albums really pushed the boundaries of Black Metal – did you find creating that style of BM mentally and physically taxing on you or could you separate art from yourself?
It was taxing and it was difficult after a while to do things with my own style and approach but ALSO trying to keep it something new!
* Are there any Black metal bands that you find these days that are interesting?
Not really.
* Any final words?
Thanks for the interest and questions. Sorry I couldn’t make this more of a black metal interview but I’m burnt out on it, but I’m probably not the only one.
Xasthur play Prophecy fest in NYC November 3rd – see here for more info
XASTHUR RELEASES STUDIO SESSIONS EP – click here for more info
Follow Xasthur on Facebook = click here
