UMUR "Demo 1987" is the third (not counting the 1987 rehearsal tape) and last demo recording by US, Florida based death metal act Xecutioner. It´s their last release before changing their name to Obituary.

Xecutioner formed in 1984 under the Executioner monicker, but soon changed their name to Xecutioner to avoid confusion with other bands named Executioner. Xecutioner released three demos (and one rehearsal tape) before changing their name to Obituary (just before recording their debut album). The first demo was recorded under the Executioner monicker and featured a Nasty Savage influenced thrash/speed metal sound, but already on the 1986 demo (where the band had changed their name to Xecutioner), the band had found a more original and heavy death metal style, and John Tardy´s unique vocal style already stood out. The 1987 rehearsal demo was a raw and savage, but also fragmented and unfinished rehearsal recording, predominantly featuring material which would end up being included on "Slowly We Rot" (1989).

This demo features three tracks and a total playing time of 15:48 minutes, and it´s basically one more 1987 rehearsal demo, as it´s obvious from the sound quality and the way the tracks are performed that they are recorded live in the band´s rehearsal space...warts and all. With that in mind Xecutioner have managed to get a decent product out of it, but it´s still the 1986 demo which should prove the most interesting to fans of Obituary, as it features a professional studio sound quality. A 2.5 star (50%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "1987 Rehearsal" is a rehearsal demo recorded in 1987 by US, Florida based death metal act Xecutioner. The demo predominantly features tracks, which would be re-recorded and included on the band´s 1989 debut full-length studio album "Slowly We Rot" (but "Find the Arise" is also on the setlist). Some of them in slightly different versions, lacking solos and vocals. The sound quality is decent taking into account that this is a rehearsal demo, but of course it´s far from professional recording standards. The band were already this early on a well playing unit.

When all the good are said this rehearsal tape has more value as a historical document than an actual music release. It´s too fragmented, raw, and unpolished to serve as something you´d take out and listen to even on occasion. A 2 star (40%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Demo 1986" is the second demo by US, Florida based death metal act Xecutioner. The demo was independently released in 1986 and was Recorded at Morrisound Studios, Tampa, Florida. As a result the material features a professional studio sound production.

Listening to the two tracks on the 5:05 minutes long demo it´s hard not to be amazed by how much the band have changed and developed their sound since the thrash/speed metal found on their 1985 demo "Metal Up Your Ass". "Find the Arise" and "Live Like the Dead", may retain some of the the most dark and brutal thrash metal moments of the material on "Metal Up Your Ass", but Xecutioner now play death metal with John Tardy growling in his distinct sounding vocal style. It´s some of the earliest recordings featuring death metal growling, and not just raw and brutal thrash metal snarling.

The riffs are heavy with a fat distorted tone and the drums are even heavier. Add to that the growling vocals and the blistering screaming guitar solos (Allen West had joined since the last demo), and this sounds exactly how Obituary would sound in 1989 on their debut album "Slowly We Rot", although none of the tracks from this demo were originally featured on the album. "Find the Arise" would be re-recorded and included on Obituary´s second full-length studio album "Cause of Death" (1991), but "Live Like the Dead" is exclusive to this release (although both demo tracks have since been included as bonus material on reissues of "Slowly We Rot"). A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Metal Up Your Ass" is the first demo recording by US, Florida based thrash/death metal act Xecutioner (this demo was released under the Executioner monicker). The demo was recorded at Morrisound Recording Studios in Tampa, Florida, and as a result features professional demo quality sound production. As a bit of a rarity the demo was released on 7" vinyl and not on cassette tape. The original pressing was limited to 1.000 copies.

Xecutioner formed in 1984 under the Executioner monicker, but soon changed their name to Xecutioner to avoid confusion with other bands named Executioner. Xecutioner released three demos (and one rehearsal tape) before changing their name to Obituary (just before recording their debut album).

"Metal Up Your Ass" features two tracks and a total playing time of 8:04 minutes. Stylistically the material is a grim and aggressive type of thrash/speed metal, and it´s the early releases by contemporary Florida act Nasty Savage that I´m mostly reminded of. Just in a less professional and original version. Considering their young age, Xecutioner are relatively well playing, but there´s little here which sounds unique, and John Tardy had not yet begun to growl with his distinct sounding voice and vocal style, but there are actually times when you can hear it´s him singing.

For at first attempt by a young band, "Metal Up Your Ass" is a relatively decent product. The sound production is alright, the musicianship decent, and the songwriting acceptable in quality. A 2.5 star (50%) rating is deserved.