Band:	Xasthur
Album:	To Violate The Oblivious
Style:	Depressive black metal
Release date:	July 2004
A review by:	KwonVerge

01. Intro
02. Xastur Within
03. Dreams Blacker Than Death
04. Screaming At Forgotten Fears
05. Consumed By A Dark Paranoia
06. Marked By Shadows
07. Apparitional Void Of Failure
08. A Gate Through Bloodstained Mirrors
09. Walker Of Dissonant Worlds

When terms like anti-life, nihilism and suicide become part of the atmosphere music evokes or, to say it better, when music is the outcome of anti-life, nihilistic and suicidal emotions then you really know what to expect, something extremely deep and utterly depressive that leaves scars on the listener's soul. Malefic, the one and only sullen soul behind Xasthur, knows well the art of suicide and how to present it through wailing and bleeding ambient-oriented suicidal black metal soundscapes and this is what he did, for one more time, with "To Violate the Oblivious".

Despite not being their best effort up to date, "To Violate the Oblivious" remains a really good and decent work with Malefic proving for one more time that he still has a lot to offer to the scene. The production is blurry and noisy, yet this doesn't effect that much the overall outcome, on the contrary, it makes the compositions sound more haunting and asphyxiating, passing their message through in a more dreadful way. Sometimes some of the instruments seem to sound weaker in the overall outcome, but who cares anyway, the whole work breathes death, depression and suicide in such an intense way that you really can't bother thinking of this factor.

The whole atmosphere of "To Violate the Oblivious" is so fragile and so bitter at the same time that suffocates the listener through the melodies that echo, through these tormented screams from beyond, through the negative emotions that rise more and more with the flow of the compositions. The guitar work is utterly mourning, violating gently the oblivious with its razorblade and blurry sound, sounding quite emotional in its own weeping way. Some simplistic floating keyboard melodies are present for sure and they make the whole atmosphere more terrifying and menacing in a way, they are definitely well-put in the album. As for the rhythm section the drumming is the part of it we can hear mostly through the whole duration of "To Violate the Oblivious", whether it has an accompanying funereal tone or sounds more imposing and upbeat. The bass guitar adds volume to the walls of sound/noise with its pulse whenever it sounds. The vocals are screaming and they echo from beyond in a deeply tormented and eerie way, completing the sweet like slumber, yet doleful and despondent like death atmosphere of Xasthur.

If you're searching for some deep, soul-crushing, suicidal music with a lethargic touch then you shouldn't miss Xasthur for sure, they have better releases like "Nocturnal Poisoning", but I don't think that "To Violate the Oblivious" will disappoint you, so go forth, pass the gates of bereavement and cherish the beauty of suffering?

Highlights: The ominous "Xastur Within", the desolate and fragile "Screaming At Forgotten Fears" and the upbeat "Marked By Shadows".