Artist: Executioner’s Blade
Country: Finland
Label: Self-Released
Formats: Digital Demo
Year: 2025
‘First Execution’, a not so subtle way to announce your own debut. However, in this case, the emphasis is not so much on “First” as on “Execution”. This digital debut demo of Executioner’s Blade is a downright killer! The duo, with past and present experience in bands such as Excuse, Satan’s Fall and Urn, leaves absolutely no doubt: this is some of the best Speed/Thrash/Black Metal demos in a very long time.
Although Executioner’s Blade clearly takes inspiration from all the usual suspects, its strength and power lie in the devastating conviction with which the music is blasted into the world. Just take the best of bands like Deströyer 666, Gospel Of The Horns, Desaster, Nifelheim and Cruel Force and you have a very good idea of what this Finnish duo is all about. Not only the fast pace and the total headbanging riffs are more than recognizable, it is also the crafty Heavy Metal-laced leads that makes each of these three songs complete fist pumping earworms. You just gotta love those razor sharp riffs, shout-along choruses, breakneck drums and the vitriolic, barking vocals: this is all simply just near-perfect.
Both in the sense of the actual song writing and the sheer passion with which the two musicians bring their songs of pure steel, ‘First Execution’ is not merely a debut demo. It’s a firm and powerful statement that this sort of music is far from dead and Executioner’s Blade is ready to claim their place amongst the best bands in the genre. As far as I was able to find out, these guys’ roots in (Extreme) Metal go back to the early 00’s, and that clearly shines through these catchy compositions and the strong production of the recording as a whole. These guys know what they’re doing and they are here not only to participate, they are here to win! Absolutely recommended.
