COLUMN INCHES
“This record kills! Fast and furious hardcore punk from San Jose recorded way back in 1982! Playing gigs with punk pioneers such as Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, Social Distortion, Crucifix, Fang, Faction, etc. Executioner stood out with crazed vocals, killer guitar solos, stop on a dime changes and a strong Anti-War message, they helped to develop the Californian punk sound by bringing in heavy UK influence from bands such as G.B.H. and Discharge.”
— Inter Punk
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“The music of Executioner is classic early hardcore. The songs are hard, fast, heavy and short. Hundreds of bands copied this style in the years to come but this band was at the first part of the curve. There’s a small bit of British punk influence in the sound and the very tiniest hint of metal in the guitars that only just makes the sound heavier, and isn’t remotely reminiscent of the metal that would infect hardcore three years later. The vocals are yelled and the singer has a great harsh, throat full of gravel vocal sound that was perfect for this style of hardcore. Had this record come out in this form 28 years ago I could guarantee you it would have been pretty influential and people would be paying big money for them on eBay these days along with their early Dischord and Touch and Go singles. ”
— The Punk Vault
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“ I'm honestly baffled why this did not officially come out in 1982, when it was recorded. This is fuggin' awesome hardcore from San Jose. If you like bands like Social Unrest, Sick Pleasure, and Code of Honor, then you must pick this up. Hell, if you like Fallout Boy I strongly suggest you pick this up so you can hear what good music is. Executioner had the classic hardcore sound wired. The songs are a mix of mid to fast tempos, with a great guitar sound that is distorted, but not overdone, with a bass that has a lurking and crawling sound. The vocals are delivered through gritted teeth, and everything comes across loud and clear. "Riding In The Flatlands" is a great song that moves at a mid tempo, telling the tale of life after the bomb drops. The perfect song for driving through the streets late at night. The whole record is perfect actually. One of those records I can put on in twenty years and get the same rush like I did the first time I listened to it. -M.Avrg ”
— Matt Average, Razorcake
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Executioner – Hellbound is as old school hardcore as it gets. The tracks on this 7” have been on ice since 1982 and are finally getting a proper release on PATAC Records. All four tracks are a definite blast from the past, and they embody everything 80s hardcore stands for.
All four tracks have a gritty feel, just as you would expect from a hardcore record recorded almost 30 years ago. The tracks are fast, short, and aggressive, but they all feel complete. Unlike some early 80s hardcore there are more guitar solos, but they fit the tracks and are reminiscent of something along the lines of speed/thrash metal. Overall, the songs have the snotty pissed off vibe that fueled early 80s hardcore and it just works.
Executioner is one of the most competent bands from the time period, they mix up tempo, and the songs have a more technical style than what was common for the time. The final result is very enjoyable, so if you enjoy old school hardcore definitely check out this record.
— Stereo Killer Magazine
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This one from Executioner came in from Patac records, out of Boston, I randomly pulled this reissue gem from the pile post-Irene and this convertible driving through the lava apocalypse seemed appropriate, if weirdly nostalgic, that demented '50s in hell look. Turns out it's from Winston Smith, who designed all those great Dead Kennedys covers, and he's even got prints of this one for sale over there, along with lots of other collage work that is most definitely NOT funded by the NEA. Thanks to the liner notes, I realized this was recorded in 1982, and that definitely changed things. Sometimes the date is the most important part of work like this, you really have to imagine the music scene back then in the bay area in CA, the lack of support for anything outside the box in the early '80s, let alone this kind of metal punk. It's also crazy to put this alongside the sing sing releases or Last Laugh's reissues from the same time period...it feels like a different world. I guess that goes to show the effects of geographic isolation on a sound that was happening all over the country.
"Fix Me" is surprisingly slow tempo and melodic, but Dave Burks vocals let you know this is going scummy punk eventually, sounding like he's puking and screaming at the same time. Not surprising, he's talking about shooting up in a style made for this irrational, cold-war, world ending, Regan times.
These guys bring the speed eventually, running right into the next track "Hellbound"...and with insane solos(?) they can most definitely deliver more than just power chord changes. I think that was the hardcore work ethic at work here. They have to be taken seriously because of the musicianship, not that they really needed anyone's approval, but it's anything but the stereotype lazy or apathetic playing that can be punk sometimes.
The B-Side, "Flatlands", is another stab at a real melody, with Dave's rough delivery that you have to appreciate that you can still understand what he's talking about....unlike a lot of those Germs tracks. I get that it's even more punk to not even be able to understand what you're even singing about, but at this point we haven't gotten to that useless competition phase yet. Plus he's talking about bombing a museum...I think you could start with a lot of other institutions first, but they shouldn't exactly be exempt either.
"Marked to Die" starts with a distanced, lo-fi distortion riff, it that slow, deliberate almost metal rhythm, something like Group Sex, which must have been an influence.
These aren't the typical power tempo, showoff speed punk tracks. They aren't all the same sounding one minute songs, it's right up there with probably some of the best legendary punk from that year...there are going to be a lot of people happy about this finally hitting vinyl almost 30 years later.
On Black vinyl with an old xerox flier from a show, lyrics printed on the reverse sleeve and black and white photos from the old days.
— 7 Inches
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
A few years back I was so heavily obsessed with early 80ies Hardcore I wouldn’t listen to anything that did not at least sound as if it was recorded before 1986. But after a few years with this obsession I felt like I’ve heard basically all the bands you gotta know. Of course there were still more bands from the early 80ies I found out about, but a lot of it did not make a point because of the musical quality, but only because it was so obscure. Anyway, I felt like there wasn’t anything to explore anymore. All the more surprising it is now when I stumble across bands from that era I never heard of that are really amazing. One of those bands is Executioner (not to be confused with the American Thrash Metal outfit of the same name, which had an amazing record as well by the way). Patac Records just released an anthology CD that compiles everything this Californian band has ever recorded – check it out after the jump!
The reason why I and probably a bunch of you haven’t heard about Executioner until now is simple: they never released a proper record, no EP, no album. The only thing they ever released were a handful of tracks on a skate cassette released by The Faction called Growing Pains. While this record blasts through my stereo I really ask myself why not one label at that time did a record with this band. All of the songs are true killers.
Executioner - The AnthologyFast, wild, out of control, with amazing guitar solos thrown in your face and a hyper nervous, crazy singer. Shit fucking shreds. Just like the best bands of that time, namely Black Flag, Suicidal Tendencies or Void, Executioner were heavily influenced by the good metal stuff of that time, Black Sabbath might be the most obvious one.
So if I’d sort my records by sound I’d put Executioner just right next to Black Flag, DRI, Void and Jerry’s Kids. Jerry’s Kids because the similar vocal performance.
Thanks to Patac Records for bringing this excellent piece of Hardcore history back to the daylight, fans of the aforementioned bands surely won’t be disappointed.
— Cult Nation
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This record kills! Fast and furious hardcore punk from San Jose recorded way back in 1982! Playing gigs with punk pioneers such as Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, Social Distortion, Crucifix, Fang, Faction, etc. Executioner stood out with crazed vocals, killer guitar solos, stop on a dime changes and a strong Anti-War message, they helped to develop the Californian punk sound by bringing in heavy UK influence from bands such as G.B.H. and Discharge. These four tracks were only available on the 'Growing Pains' cassette released in 1983, this is the first time on vinyl. The first pressing is limited to 600 copies. Cover art by Winston Smith (Dead Kennedys, Green Day, Lard, Ben Harper) Later this year, PATAC will also be releasing their lost 1983 album, as well as a brand new single.
— State of Mind
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“1982 Bay Area Hardcore! I hoped that would get your attention, because those words mean something. Executioner were a lesser-known but worth contemporary of such legends like Crucifix, the Faction and Ribzy, and those bands are also reference points to what these tunes sound like. I'd even throw in a bit of UK82-tinged metal punk into the mix, but thankfully not enough to fuck it up. For 30 years these four classic San Jose hardcore tracks have remained stashed away in obscurity and are mercifully now available on the proper format, the 7" EP. I'm so glad this didn't come out as some CD with a bunch of crappy new songs and inaudible live tracks. This is the way to do it - the tracks and the format that the people want! And having cover art by Winston Smith just makes this thing even better. These tunes might not be the best of the era or anything, but they definitely sound good and are worthy of this release. Better 30 years late than never. (BG)”
— Maximum Rock'N'Roll
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
It almost seems foolish to write a review of Executioner's "Hellbound" 45. This PATAC Records release deserves an announcement! "Hellbound" was to be the debut release from San Jose hardcore punk pioneers, Executioner: Vox- Dave Burks, Bass- Bill Fraenza, Drums- Dave Boston, Guitar- Phil Means, and more Guitar- Charles Normal. After the band split members went on to work w/ Frank Black of the Pixies, Pete Yorn, and Throbbing Gristle just to name a few. What is remarkable is that this time bomb has remained buried for almost 25 years before it's release. Of the eight songs two were bootlegged and got some air play from Nor Cal stations in the early 80s, to my knowledge the rest remained largely unheard.
Did I mentioned that the cover and liner art is the work of Winston Smith? It's true.? I am fairly certain that most PG readers are familiar with Mr. Smith's dystopian montage art work from Dead Kennedys albums if not his "All Riot on the Western Front" series.
All told this 45 is brilliant and I highly recommend grabbing a copy while copies are still available for grabbing.
— Punk Globe Magazine
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Having known nothing of Executioner before hearing this album I hadn’t a clue what to expect, but was nonetheless hopeful upon hearing that they played with the likes of Dead Kennedys and Black Flag. I wasn’t disappointed.
Opening track “Fix Me” introduces us to what sounds like a jauntier Black Flag having a scrap with The Freeze, and what follows is a confusing yet elating convulsion of pure audio violence. There are of course the odd weak tracks to tolerate, this being a fairly vast and comprehensive collection, but over all Executioner’s bouncy charm will win any lover of Punk Rock or Hardcore over at some point on here, and once they’ve charmed you for the first time, they prove virtually irresistible.
I’d strongly recommend this for any fans of the “This Is Boston Not L.A.” and “Unsafe At Any Speed” compilations, and also for DRI and Crossover enthusiasts. That is not to say this is a Crossover collection, but the frantic shift between Hardcore noise and epileptic guitar solos carries the same appeal. The finest tracks have to be “Fix Me”, “Hellbound” and “Crime Through Corruption”. There isn’t a poor track on this collection, although as I said before, some fall a little short of the finery of the aforementioned tracks- but even then they’re pretty damn blinding.
This band have all the energy, exuberance and vitality of youth with none of the stupidity, arrogance or inanity that usually comes with it. A thoroughly enjoyable racket!
— Ball Breaker Magazine
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
For better or worse this is it. This is the entire recorded output of California hardcore punk band Executioner. Despite playing with legends like the Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, Crucifix and Fang these guys never got their proper due. This is prime hardcore circa San Jose 1982 with all the rage and explosive capability of a Molotov cocktail! Since the band never released anything officially other than a few tracks on the Growing Pains tape (a skate cassette released by THE FACTION) this anthology is filled out with demo cuts as well as live recordings. Since it has painstakingly been restored and remastered the sound for the most part is pretty good. Some songs due suffer from a fuzzed out effect, but hey this is punk hardcore and not a Lady Gaga album so what do you want? Getting all of this together on one convenient album is a pretty sweet deal and like all good punk this one is timeless. Rage like this never grows old or gets tiring. Other than being there in person this is as good as it gets. Executioner might not be thought of quite like the Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Germs, Circle Jerks or the Sex Pistols which is a crime. This is real deal. It's sloppy, raw, angst ridden, pissed off and full of piss and sweat. Good times.
— Heavy Metal Time Machine
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Buried in the annals of American hardore punk history is San Jose's Executioner, who after 25 years finally put forth an official release for their 1982 demo Fix Me/Hellbound.
Essentially a local band who generally stayed within eyeshot of the California coastline from their inception in 1982 to end in 1983, Executioner did share the stage with a handful of legendary acts including TSOL, Crucifix, Social Distortion, the Faction, Bad Posture, Social Unrest and Redd Kross (who were still known as Red Cross at the time) to name a few.
Although alleged to be revolutionary in the release's press materials, Fix Me/Hellbound came some six years after the formation of Black Flag (and four years after Black Flag's "Fix Me") at a time when hardcore had pretty much already spread across the country from the East and West coasts to the nether-regions like Minneapolis and Detroit.
And while Executioner's sound isn't a total copy job of other West Coast hardcore at the time, it wasn't all too dissimilar from those like Code of Honor who embraced punk skateboard culture while expanding with guitar solos and slower tempos. The A side is somewhat of a hybrid of two songs seamlessly transitioned from a riff-heavy anthem of heroin apologetics to the thrashy and unripe anti-war "Hellbound," which shouts "A soldier waits in a foxhole / Waiting for the enemy to pass by / Air raid sirens fill the air / As bombers darken the sky."
The B side includes the repetitive but easily enjoyable skaterock of "Riding in the Flatlands," which is mid-tempo but with enough teenage gang shouts to give it its punk feel. "Marked to Die" is perhaps the best song of the EP, a ripping slam-along that starts slow and hits overdrive with a searing guitar solo all in a cool minute and 20 seconds.
Executioner may not be the first band that comes to mind when considering crucial California hardcore, but they certainly have their place, and the release of this enjoyable 7-inch after 25 years finally gives them the recognition they deserve.
— PunkNews.org
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“Patac Records has just unearthed some mummies. Dormant for over 25 years, Executioner from San Jose, CA pretty much sound like classic west coast hardcore punk to me. From the time when punk couldn’t really be heavy and hardcore could only be fast (and the chugga riff hadn’t been invented). Instead, Executioner came to rely in aggressively pronounced and pouted vocals and songwriting that abruptly and dynamically could come to a halt and back start. When at high speeds, some of the riffage is straight up thrash metal, precisely on ”Hellbound”, while the second side shows restrain and class on “Flatlands”. These tracks were recorded in 1982 and they haven’t lost one bit of their vitality. One more reason to love classic west coast hardcore. ”
— Deaf Sparrow
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— Inter Punk
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“The music of Executioner is classic early hardcore. The songs are hard, fast, heavy and short. Hundreds of bands copied this style in the years to come but this band was at the first part of the curve. There’s a small bit of British punk influence in the sound and the very tiniest hint of metal in the guitars that only just makes the sound heavier, and isn’t remotely reminiscent of the metal that would infect hardcore three years later. The vocals are yelled and the singer has a great harsh, throat full of gravel vocal sound that was perfect for this style of hardcore. Had this record come out in this form 28 years ago I could guarantee you it would have been pretty influential and people would be paying big money for them on eBay these days along with their early Dischord and Touch and Go singles. ”
— The Punk Vault
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“ I'm honestly baffled why this did not officially come out in 1982, when it was recorded. This is fuggin' awesome hardcore from San Jose. If you like bands like Social Unrest, Sick Pleasure, and Code of Honor, then you must pick this up. Hell, if you like Fallout Boy I strongly suggest you pick this up so you can hear what good music is. Executioner had the classic hardcore sound wired. The songs are a mix of mid to fast tempos, with a great guitar sound that is distorted, but not overdone, with a bass that has a lurking and crawling sound. The vocals are delivered through gritted teeth, and everything comes across loud and clear. "Riding In The Flatlands" is a great song that moves at a mid tempo, telling the tale of life after the bomb drops. The perfect song for driving through the streets late at night. The whole record is perfect actually. One of those records I can put on in twenty years and get the same rush like I did the first time I listened to it. -M.Avrg ”
— Matt Average, Razorcake
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Executioner – Hellbound is as old school hardcore as it gets. The tracks on this 7” have been on ice since 1982 and are finally getting a proper release on PATAC Records. All four tracks are a definite blast from the past, and they embody everything 80s hardcore stands for.
All four tracks have a gritty feel, just as you would expect from a hardcore record recorded almost 30 years ago. The tracks are fast, short, and aggressive, but they all feel complete. Unlike some early 80s hardcore there are more guitar solos, but they fit the tracks and are reminiscent of something along the lines of speed/thrash metal. Overall, the songs have the snotty pissed off vibe that fueled early 80s hardcore and it just works.
Executioner is one of the most competent bands from the time period, they mix up tempo, and the songs have a more technical style than what was common for the time. The final result is very enjoyable, so if you enjoy old school hardcore definitely check out this record.
— Stereo Killer Magazine
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This one from Executioner came in from Patac records, out of Boston, I randomly pulled this reissue gem from the pile post-Irene and this convertible driving through the lava apocalypse seemed appropriate, if weirdly nostalgic, that demented '50s in hell look. Turns out it's from Winston Smith, who designed all those great Dead Kennedys covers, and he's even got prints of this one for sale over there, along with lots of other collage work that is most definitely NOT funded by the NEA. Thanks to the liner notes, I realized this was recorded in 1982, and that definitely changed things. Sometimes the date is the most important part of work like this, you really have to imagine the music scene back then in the bay area in CA, the lack of support for anything outside the box in the early '80s, let alone this kind of metal punk. It's also crazy to put this alongside the sing sing releases or Last Laugh's reissues from the same time period...it feels like a different world. I guess that goes to show the effects of geographic isolation on a sound that was happening all over the country.
"Fix Me" is surprisingly slow tempo and melodic, but Dave Burks vocals let you know this is going scummy punk eventually, sounding like he's puking and screaming at the same time. Not surprising, he's talking about shooting up in a style made for this irrational, cold-war, world ending, Regan times.
These guys bring the speed eventually, running right into the next track "Hellbound"...and with insane solos(?) they can most definitely deliver more than just power chord changes. I think that was the hardcore work ethic at work here. They have to be taken seriously because of the musicianship, not that they really needed anyone's approval, but it's anything but the stereotype lazy or apathetic playing that can be punk sometimes.
The B-Side, "Flatlands", is another stab at a real melody, with Dave's rough delivery that you have to appreciate that you can still understand what he's talking about....unlike a lot of those Germs tracks. I get that it's even more punk to not even be able to understand what you're even singing about, but at this point we haven't gotten to that useless competition phase yet. Plus he's talking about bombing a museum...I think you could start with a lot of other institutions first, but they shouldn't exactly be exempt either.
"Marked to Die" starts with a distanced, lo-fi distortion riff, it that slow, deliberate almost metal rhythm, something like Group Sex, which must have been an influence.
These aren't the typical power tempo, showoff speed punk tracks. They aren't all the same sounding one minute songs, it's right up there with probably some of the best legendary punk from that year...there are going to be a lot of people happy about this finally hitting vinyl almost 30 years later.
On Black vinyl with an old xerox flier from a show, lyrics printed on the reverse sleeve and black and white photos from the old days.
— 7 Inches
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
A few years back I was so heavily obsessed with early 80ies Hardcore I wouldn’t listen to anything that did not at least sound as if it was recorded before 1986. But after a few years with this obsession I felt like I’ve heard basically all the bands you gotta know. Of course there were still more bands from the early 80ies I found out about, but a lot of it did not make a point because of the musical quality, but only because it was so obscure. Anyway, I felt like there wasn’t anything to explore anymore. All the more surprising it is now when I stumble across bands from that era I never heard of that are really amazing. One of those bands is Executioner (not to be confused with the American Thrash Metal outfit of the same name, which had an amazing record as well by the way). Patac Records just released an anthology CD that compiles everything this Californian band has ever recorded – check it out after the jump!
The reason why I and probably a bunch of you haven’t heard about Executioner until now is simple: they never released a proper record, no EP, no album. The only thing they ever released were a handful of tracks on a skate cassette released by The Faction called Growing Pains. While this record blasts through my stereo I really ask myself why not one label at that time did a record with this band. All of the songs are true killers.
Executioner - The AnthologyFast, wild, out of control, with amazing guitar solos thrown in your face and a hyper nervous, crazy singer. Shit fucking shreds. Just like the best bands of that time, namely Black Flag, Suicidal Tendencies or Void, Executioner were heavily influenced by the good metal stuff of that time, Black Sabbath might be the most obvious one.
So if I’d sort my records by sound I’d put Executioner just right next to Black Flag, DRI, Void and Jerry’s Kids. Jerry’s Kids because the similar vocal performance.
Thanks to Patac Records for bringing this excellent piece of Hardcore history back to the daylight, fans of the aforementioned bands surely won’t be disappointed.
— Cult Nation
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This record kills! Fast and furious hardcore punk from San Jose recorded way back in 1982! Playing gigs with punk pioneers such as Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, Social Distortion, Crucifix, Fang, Faction, etc. Executioner stood out with crazed vocals, killer guitar solos, stop on a dime changes and a strong Anti-War message, they helped to develop the Californian punk sound by bringing in heavy UK influence from bands such as G.B.H. and Discharge. These four tracks were only available on the 'Growing Pains' cassette released in 1983, this is the first time on vinyl. The first pressing is limited to 600 copies. Cover art by Winston Smith (Dead Kennedys, Green Day, Lard, Ben Harper) Later this year, PATAC will also be releasing their lost 1983 album, as well as a brand new single.
— State of Mind
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“1982 Bay Area Hardcore! I hoped that would get your attention, because those words mean something. Executioner were a lesser-known but worth contemporary of such legends like Crucifix, the Faction and Ribzy, and those bands are also reference points to what these tunes sound like. I'd even throw in a bit of UK82-tinged metal punk into the mix, but thankfully not enough to fuck it up. For 30 years these four classic San Jose hardcore tracks have remained stashed away in obscurity and are mercifully now available on the proper format, the 7" EP. I'm so glad this didn't come out as some CD with a bunch of crappy new songs and inaudible live tracks. This is the way to do it - the tracks and the format that the people want! And having cover art by Winston Smith just makes this thing even better. These tunes might not be the best of the era or anything, but they definitely sound good and are worthy of this release. Better 30 years late than never. (BG)”
— Maximum Rock'N'Roll
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
It almost seems foolish to write a review of Executioner's "Hellbound" 45. This PATAC Records release deserves an announcement! "Hellbound" was to be the debut release from San Jose hardcore punk pioneers, Executioner: Vox- Dave Burks, Bass- Bill Fraenza, Drums- Dave Boston, Guitar- Phil Means, and more Guitar- Charles Normal. After the band split members went on to work w/ Frank Black of the Pixies, Pete Yorn, and Throbbing Gristle just to name a few. What is remarkable is that this time bomb has remained buried for almost 25 years before it's release. Of the eight songs two were bootlegged and got some air play from Nor Cal stations in the early 80s, to my knowledge the rest remained largely unheard.
Did I mentioned that the cover and liner art is the work of Winston Smith? It's true.? I am fairly certain that most PG readers are familiar with Mr. Smith's dystopian montage art work from Dead Kennedys albums if not his "All Riot on the Western Front" series.
All told this 45 is brilliant and I highly recommend grabbing a copy while copies are still available for grabbing.
— Punk Globe Magazine
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Having known nothing of Executioner before hearing this album I hadn’t a clue what to expect, but was nonetheless hopeful upon hearing that they played with the likes of Dead Kennedys and Black Flag. I wasn’t disappointed.
Opening track “Fix Me” introduces us to what sounds like a jauntier Black Flag having a scrap with The Freeze, and what follows is a confusing yet elating convulsion of pure audio violence. There are of course the odd weak tracks to tolerate, this being a fairly vast and comprehensive collection, but over all Executioner’s bouncy charm will win any lover of Punk Rock or Hardcore over at some point on here, and once they’ve charmed you for the first time, they prove virtually irresistible.
I’d strongly recommend this for any fans of the “This Is Boston Not L.A.” and “Unsafe At Any Speed” compilations, and also for DRI and Crossover enthusiasts. That is not to say this is a Crossover collection, but the frantic shift between Hardcore noise and epileptic guitar solos carries the same appeal. The finest tracks have to be “Fix Me”, “Hellbound” and “Crime Through Corruption”. There isn’t a poor track on this collection, although as I said before, some fall a little short of the finery of the aforementioned tracks- but even then they’re pretty damn blinding.
This band have all the energy, exuberance and vitality of youth with none of the stupidity, arrogance or inanity that usually comes with it. A thoroughly enjoyable racket!
— Ball Breaker Magazine
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
For better or worse this is it. This is the entire recorded output of California hardcore punk band Executioner. Despite playing with legends like the Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, Crucifix and Fang these guys never got their proper due. This is prime hardcore circa San Jose 1982 with all the rage and explosive capability of a Molotov cocktail! Since the band never released anything officially other than a few tracks on the Growing Pains tape (a skate cassette released by THE FACTION) this anthology is filled out with demo cuts as well as live recordings. Since it has painstakingly been restored and remastered the sound for the most part is pretty good. Some songs due suffer from a fuzzed out effect, but hey this is punk hardcore and not a Lady Gaga album so what do you want? Getting all of this together on one convenient album is a pretty sweet deal and like all good punk this one is timeless. Rage like this never grows old or gets tiring. Other than being there in person this is as good as it gets. Executioner might not be thought of quite like the Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Germs, Circle Jerks or the Sex Pistols which is a crime. This is real deal. It's sloppy, raw, angst ridden, pissed off and full of piss and sweat. Good times.
— Heavy Metal Time Machine
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Buried in the annals of American hardore punk history is San Jose's Executioner, who after 25 years finally put forth an official release for their 1982 demo Fix Me/Hellbound.
Essentially a local band who generally stayed within eyeshot of the California coastline from their inception in 1982 to end in 1983, Executioner did share the stage with a handful of legendary acts including TSOL, Crucifix, Social Distortion, the Faction, Bad Posture, Social Unrest and Redd Kross (who were still known as Red Cross at the time) to name a few.
Although alleged to be revolutionary in the release's press materials, Fix Me/Hellbound came some six years after the formation of Black Flag (and four years after Black Flag's "Fix Me") at a time when hardcore had pretty much already spread across the country from the East and West coasts to the nether-regions like Minneapolis and Detroit.
And while Executioner's sound isn't a total copy job of other West Coast hardcore at the time, it wasn't all too dissimilar from those like Code of Honor who embraced punk skateboard culture while expanding with guitar solos and slower tempos. The A side is somewhat of a hybrid of two songs seamlessly transitioned from a riff-heavy anthem of heroin apologetics to the thrashy and unripe anti-war "Hellbound," which shouts "A soldier waits in a foxhole / Waiting for the enemy to pass by / Air raid sirens fill the air / As bombers darken the sky."
The B side includes the repetitive but easily enjoyable skaterock of "Riding in the Flatlands," which is mid-tempo but with enough teenage gang shouts to give it its punk feel. "Marked to Die" is perhaps the best song of the EP, a ripping slam-along that starts slow and hits overdrive with a searing guitar solo all in a cool minute and 20 seconds.
Executioner may not be the first band that comes to mind when considering crucial California hardcore, but they certainly have their place, and the release of this enjoyable 7-inch after 25 years finally gives them the recognition they deserve.
— PunkNews.org
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“Patac Records has just unearthed some mummies. Dormant for over 25 years, Executioner from San Jose, CA pretty much sound like classic west coast hardcore punk to me. From the time when punk couldn’t really be heavy and hardcore could only be fast (and the chugga riff hadn’t been invented). Instead, Executioner came to rely in aggressively pronounced and pouted vocals and songwriting that abruptly and dynamically could come to a halt and back start. When at high speeds, some of the riffage is straight up thrash metal, precisely on ”Hellbound”, while the second side shows restrain and class on “Flatlands”. These tracks were recorded in 1982 and they haven’t lost one bit of their vitality. One more reason to love classic west coast hardcore. ”
— Deaf Sparrow
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