Veteran Black Metal outfit Xasthur are set to release a double album entitled Inevitably Dark on June 23rd. Scott Conner, the mastermind behind Xasthur took the time to talk with Metal Express Radio about Inevitably Dark, the longevity of his career, writing as a solo artist as opposed to writing with a band, and more. Check out the chat below!
Metal Express Radio: Xasthur will be releasing a double album entitled Inevitably Dark on June 23rd. What can you tell fans about the upcoming release?
Conner: It’s an album daring to not worry about offering plenty of diverse “genres” gathered within a record. There’s Doom, Ambient, Folk, Death Metal, Blues, Dungeon Synth, Western, Gothic, and a resemblance to Black Metal.
MER: How did it come about making Inevitably Dark a double album?
Conner: It didn’t start out that way, yet quickly turned into that. It’s always been natural for myself to come up with at least 50 songs a year. As expected, it gets narrowed down to what fits and feels good to me when deciding to put together an album. Inevitably Dark has over 20 tracks, all with their own individual mood and character. There are definitely a few good tracks there for every listener to discover and appreciate.
MER: How would you compare Inevitably Dark to your previous albums?
Conner: It’s actually incomparable to any of my previous albums. This time around, I attempted to carry out several different styles, genres and changes, while also avoiding to stick to one type of song (of each genre). On this album, I decided that huge changes would keep occurring, becoming the pattern. The production is more experimental. It changes a lot. Some was live, some was even more than live. I got a TASCAM DP-03, which has two built-in mics for the live recording. I used a couple of 80s and 90s rack units (for the Metal sounding stuff), and mixed it all the best I could on my own.
MER: What are your plans for the rest of 2023?
Conner: To make a difference, to not be sidelined. To perform my favorite songs, live on stage, by myself to an audience. I’m already working on this. Instead of depending on others, I’ve created backing tracks, with bass and drums that I personally wrote myself. Touring and performing is always on my mind. Whatever it takes.
MER: What have been some of the changes you’ve noticed since bringing back Xasthur in 2015?
Conner: By 2010, I was focusing on blues/folk and my own style of doom grass. I then decided to change the name of my band from Xasthur to Nocturnal Poisoning. By 2015, I got to thinking that changing the name had been unnecessary, realizing that I can do anything, or any kind of music, under the name of Xasthur. So, I went back to what felt right for me. I noticed that it opened up people’s minds to the sound I had taken on, and I felt heard and supported during my live gigs. That was a big change.
MER: What are the differences for you between writing as a solo artist as opposed to writing in a band?
Conner: I’ve never been a person to ask for help, especially when I can do what I want myself. By working that way since the beginning, I’ve noticed that the music I create is beyond complex & darker. There have been times that I’ve allowed people to join my band, but their work was minimum. I have goals and a work ethic. I’m driven, I want to win, I need to have what I do worth people’s time. People hanging around giving 30% effort is not wanted. I’m not interested in others’ opinions, saying “oh you have too many songs” or “this is too hard to play”. I’m consistently getting better, out doing myself, year after year.
MER: You’ve been writing and recording music since 1995, what has been your driving force to keep it going for almost thirty years?
Conner: Being extremely productive is the key. I talk at length about this in the artbook edition of Inevitably Dark. That I’m never satisfied with what I do, how I’m constantly competing with myself. How I invent tunings which have given me endless milage, that generate a pile of ideas, riffs, and songs. Music is always on my mind. I’m constantly preoccupied with it. The more I do it, the less I feel that I know how to do much of anything else. I have to believe… Like you said, almost 30 years. I refuse to be denied the opportunities it creates.
MER: Out of all of your albums, what is one you would suggest to a new fan and why?
Conner: Without a doubt, it would be Inevitably Dark. The reason being that what I’ve offered there is meant to encourage new and loyal fans, peers, promoters and musicians, to discover all what I’m about, what I do and why I do it. There’s a lot to be said about understanding many styles of music than what most people even realize. I’ve outdone myself. It’s like a 12 course meal. You can’t go wrong. People get the chance to experience more dishes that they normally wouldn’t get.
MER: What does the future hold for yourself?
Conner: To get out on the road, playing live, meeting people, seeing the world, again and again. As I’ve been working on turning Xasthur back into a one person live band, it’s opens up the opportunity to older songs from the past to sounding better, with a few newer ones that turn into being better than they already were. I’m becoming more jazzy, weirder, darker, more technical, already putting together my next album along the way. It’ll continue to be a surprising and challenging experience.
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