Xecutioner's Return
Obituary · 2007
44 min · 12 tracks · death metal
A relentless assault of guttural vocals and thunderous riffs, embodying the raw intensity of classic death metal.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Face Your God Start here — This opening track establishes the album's ferocity with its rapid-fire drumming and bone-crushing guitar work, setting a high-energy tone that resonates throughout.
-
→
Bloodshot — The track showcases a perfect balance of melodic elements and brutal riffs, highlighting Obituary's ability to craft engaging arrangements while maintaining their signature heaviness.
-
→
Executioner Returns — Serving as the title track, it encapsulates the essence of the album with intense lyrics and an infectious groove that pays homage to their legacy.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid songwriting and performance but lacks the standout tracks that define classic death metal.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a consistent tempo with aggressive guitar riffs and guttural vocals, while the second half introduces more varied pacing.
- The album includes multiple instances of breakdowns, where the instrumentation drops to a slower pace before launching back into fast-paced sections.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing for focused listening
- relentless energy for workout sessions
- cathartic release through aggression
- engaging riffs that invite headbanging
Maybe skip if you
- prefer melodic or soft music
- seek instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Marks a strong return after a hiatus, showcasing renewed vitality in their sound.
- Career context
- Released in 2007, Xecutioner's Return came a decade after Obituary's seminal album, The End Complete. This album marked their return to form after a hiatus and a series of lineup changes, reinvigorating their sound with a blend of old-school elements and contemporary production techniques.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Cannibal Corpse· Deicide· Dying Fetus
Tracklist
- 1 Face Your God Start here 2:58
- 2 Lasting Presence 2:14
- 3 Evil Ways 2:59
- 4 Drop Dead 3:38
- 5 Bloodshot 3:27
- 6 Seal Your Fate 2:32
- 7 Feel the Pain 4:33
- 8 Contrast the Dead 7:03
- 9 Second Chance 3:30
- 10 Lies 3:34
- 11 In Your Head 4:34
- 12 Executioner Returns 3:42
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.