review by: Roberto Martinelli

Nocturnal Poisoning is a monster of a black metal album: So depressive, so huge in its emotional charge, so cult sounding. It takes all the good elements of Abyssic Hate, does them all one better, and adds in the elements that are very much like the slower, more despondent times of the brilliant Leviathan. It's no surprise that all the bands mentioned in this review are one-man operations. I'll have to do some checking, but look out for Xasthur to be my pick for best black metal album of 2002.

review by: ~Eternus~

Signed to Lord Imperial's (Krieg, Weltmacht) Blood Fire Death label, Xasthur has been around for a number of years but for a number of reasons hasn't been exposed to that many people, including myself.

This American one man band could be filed alongside with early Mutiilation, Norway's Manes, and fellow Americans Azrael: Raw, cavernous black metal that exudes a feeling of isolation, depression and utter hatred for humanity. Nocturnal Poisoning has eight relatively long tracks and one cover ("Black Imperial Blood" by France`s Mutiilation). The vocals, similar to Azrael's, are lost somewhere in the sound beneath the wall of raw guitars and surreal, magical sounding synth sections that appear here and there, prolonging and highlighting the depressive vision.

The drums are done by a drum machine and although they sound for the most part competent, the hollow thud of the bass drum, when its not being covered up by the guitar sound, can get somewhat irksome at times. This is the same problem I had with German one-man band Wigrid and the album <Hoffnungstod>, but in both cases it doesn't spoil the release, it's just a point that could have been improved.

This album took a while to sink in due to the long tracks, the overall length of the album and the fact it isn't instantly a stand out release, with no specific amazing songs. Xasthur is in a way similar to Mutiilation in that both bands rely on a atmosphere that's apparent in the entire album. It's very much an album to persist with and listen to all the way through, letting it become part of you. And even now after maybe ten listens I'm still not fully into it or appreciating it as much as I hope I will. It has plenty of scope and room for improvement with further listens, I`m sure.

To sum up I'd say if you have plenty of patience and a like for obscure black metal gems from the underground, then this should do quite nicely. Just don't expect to be instantly gratified upon your first listen.