"Xecutioner's Return" is the seventh studio album by the American death metal band, Obituary. Released on August 27, 2007, the album was produced by the band themselves and represents their return to Candlelight Records, with whom they had worked before. The album marked their changed musical direction and a shift in their lyrical themes towards more of a fantasy and supernatural focus.
The album title "Xecutioner's Return" was a nod to the band's early days when they were known as "Xecutioner". It featured the iconic cover art by artist Andreas Marschall, which was a departure from the band's previous three albums that had used more real-life and disturbing images. The energized and raw sound marked a return to their earlier style, particularly resonating with the sounds of the band's first two albums.
Generally well-received, "Xecutioner's Return" showcased Obituary's characteristic heavy, slow, and grimy tunes, making it a significant contribution to the death metal genre. It was the first Obituary album to involve Ralph Santolla, who had previously worked with renowned bands like Deicide and Death.
