Xasthur is an American one-man ambient black metal band formed in 1995 by Scott Conner, who goes by the pseudonym "Malefic". Although similar in terms of low-fi production and the wearing of corpse paint, musically and lyrically Xasthur's focus is not on paganism, Satanism or anti-Christian blasphemy ? as is common in the genre ? but rather on astral projection, darkness, despair, suicide, hate, and death. Malefic has toured with Sunn O))) and has joined Nachtmystium on stage, Some video clips of these performances are available on YouTube. but stated in an interview for Pitchfork Media that he "will always keep Xasthur a band that will not play live." Etymology The name "Xasthur" is a combination of "Xastur" and "Xenaoth". Malefic explains that he found the former name in a Necronomicon paperback and believes it refers to "a demoness who kills people in their sleep." The latter name refe