The Pitch: Through Metal Blade Records, Oslo band Execration brings "a whirlwind of thrash, death, black, and even heavy metal, fast and slow parts, and the trademark Execration shifts in mood, tempo, and atmosphere." FFO: Horrendous, Immolation, Wombbath
What I Like: When the pace kicks up, there are some really righteous moments of headbanging to be found on Return to the Void. The crusty, old school sounding D-beats and rugged distortion drive the listener running towards a steep ledge; and the raw death metal growls are enough to convince you to jump. It's that or face the monster at your heels. The guitar tone has a certain evil quality to it, and I love the drumming. "Nekrocosm" sports some excellent use of the toms and is just an all-around excellent track; bringing the pain where it counts but delivering some dynamics as well.
Critiques: The second half of this album drags a lot. After the interlude, the pace and tone take a significant dive and it doesn't really recover. These tracks might have been better served by dispersing them more evenly across the duration. And in general I personally find "Unicursal Horrorscope" to be a pretty dull track even if it does have some twists and turns.
The Verdict: An album with promise and some cavernous progressive elements to compliment the old school and blackened aesthetics, but one that leaves me feeling it could have been better. I am confident, however, that many may disagree with my assertions, so as always you'll have to decide for yourself.
Flight's Fav's: Nekrocosm, Eternal Recurrance, Cephalic Transmissions