Ancient Tongue…
Execration Review + Stream

Execration review by By Metaloath
“Ancient Tongue” (2013)

The Norwegian deathmetal act Execration has been around for quite a while, and they have steadily evolved from the early demos in 2004 into a really solid band. The long and winding road from demo to demolition includes one EP (Language of the Dead, 2004), two full lengths (Syndicate of Lethargy, 2008; Odes of the Occult, 2011) – and a European tour; oh, and that Fenriz from Darkthrone ‘Band of the month’ thing he has going.

Anyway, Execration provides the lethal combination of raw and intricate song material – especially the Odes of the Occult album really laid down the rules of how to do malign deathmetal while avoiding a mindless grind & blast-o-rama. The musical expression is closer to acts like Deathspell Omega, Blut Aus Nord and similar bands, but is different as Execration has very much kept the organic live feeling in the production.

Pick up, say, the ‘A Crutch for Consulation’ song from the Odes-album, and you see what I mean. Slow and heavy, then lighting fast, all evil and sincere, and this funeralish riff-hymn at the end of the song.

“Ancient Tongue” is the first song released from the up coming album due early 2014. The song dives into this lingering chords and thrashed deathmetal segment, the production is mellowed down a bit, avoiding the shrieking metallic feel some bands are trapped in. The mixing is credited to Ola Christian Gundelsby, and he’s done a superb job on this one. “Ancient Tongue” suggests that these guys have taken another step forward. The pitch-black heaviness is less prominent, and this half-weird, intricate song structuring is allowed to evolve through the song. The drums have this analogue ring to them, and keep the million riffs strung together. Damn, this stuff is good, and I’m really happy to see the genre staying alive and generating new ideas and songs!

The song is up on the mighty Internet, and I fail to see any reason for you not to check this out. They are set to play Beyond the Gates in Bergen late August alongside acts such as Mgla (PL), Obliteration (no), Necros Christos (DE), and Aeternus (NO), so if you’re somewhere on the northern hemisphere of the planet, get your arse over there to see these guys live.