Exsecrator
Vehemence of Human Displeasure
5.7
Gather 'round you fans of '90s death metal and I'll let you in on a little secret: While the other readers are only glancing at the scores and doing the backbutton shuffle, you should break out your tattered, wish-list containing notebook and write down the name Exsecrator. Seriously. No, this isn't one of those outrageous Candid Camera-type gags where I pop out from behind your fake ficus and run your metal cred through the shredder to uproarious studio laughter (“I can't believe he actually wrote it down!”). So, stop worrying fellow metalhead and get to scribbling, because, with a copy of Blessed Are the Sick pressed to my heart, I’m going to tell you the truth: These promising Italians could drop a worthy addition to your collection once they hit a better studio and start recording on a decent label's dime.
As with all demos, the keyword here is promise. Exsecrator’s deep fascination with Floridian death (Morbid Angel and Nile, mostly) combined with the filthy, churning riffs of Incantation and the deep, guttural burps of Demilich is more interesting on paper than on disc. That’s not to say that Vehemence of Human Displeasure, the band’s fourth demo, isn’t a success; it is, in a certain way. Sure, there’s a “been there, done that” vibe to their tunes, but you get the feeling that they’re retreading well-worn ground simply because they hold their influences in such high esteem. The three tracks do lack a singular moment of greatness to raise this recording from a straight “Eh” grading on the Meh to Yeah! scale (the title track's dissonant, leaden stomp ending is nearly there), but they make up for it by playing with the kind of passion and conviction you expect from a young group. You must keep in mind that this is a demo and, while Vehemence of Human Displeasure is need of a real spark, Exsecrator does demonstrate something very important, something that points towards a bright future: they've studied their genre of choice and fully respect its masters. “La Caida Del Ingenio,” for instance, brings together the high BPMs and Middle Eastern inspiration of Nile with the initially-sounds-like-a-mess-but-in-reality-is-highly-detailed style of Immolation. They just need a big section to tie it all together. In a way though (that certain successful way), “La Caida Del Ingenio,” displays Exsecrator’s best trait, one that appears again and again across this demo: they're more than familiar with the elements, the bricks and the mortar if you will, that are required in constructing compelling death metal compositions.
Unfortunately, the production here is a power-neutering hindrance, making Exsecrator out to be sloppier than they really are (the drums sound like someone strapped a typewriter to the back of a grinder monkey and threw it under a steamroller), but that’s just nitpicking, right? Admittedly, bringing that criticism up, especially concerning a demo, is plain missing the point: Exsecrator has the potential to create something worthwhile and, because they already have a strong grasp on what's involved in creating this music, one thinks they'll get there sooner rather than later. Give their work a look and think of what could be instead of what’s actually there.
