OBITUARY: Official Remastered Reissues Of 'Xecutioner's Return' And 'Darkest Day' Due In December

Florida death metal icons OBITUARY have announced the official remastered reissues of the classic titles "Xecutioner's Return" and "Darkest Day". Both albums are available on LP/2LP/CD/CS for the first time in over 15 years and available for the first time on streaming.

OBITUARY comments: "We are super excited about the remastered reissues of 'Xecutioner's Return' and 'Darkest Day'. These albums have not been available for many years and it's great to know that soon fans can finally get their hands on them. It will give everyone an opportunity to enjoy and remember Frank Watkins and the final OBITUARY recordings with him while allowing fans to celebrate the amazing, shredding solos that Ralph Santolla threw down on these records during his time with us.

"R.I.P. both our brothers….gone but not forgotten."

"Xecutioner's Return" and "Darkest Day" remastered reissues will be out December 11 and are available for pre-order via Relapse.com.

Originally released in 2007 and now remastered for 2026, "Xecutioner's Return", named after OBITUARY's original band name (XECUTIONER) was hailed as "a bone-basic tour de force of old-school death metal infused with a bleeding organic groove and dripping with sepulchral atmosphere." (Blabbermouth). The thunderous album features all of the band's hallmarks, "Xecutioner's Return" features heavier-than-anything-else death metal riffs, now infused with old-school, neck-breaking pacing. Prepare for death!

Following the lauded release of "Xecutioner's Return", OBITUARY's classic-sounding follow-up album "Darkest Day" pulled no punches. "Darkest Day" is decidedly marked by the return of OBITUARY's devastating groove riffing. Often regarded as one of extreme metal's most consistent and unyielding bands, OBITUARY's path forward to the top of the genre's pantheon was paved by records like "Darkest Day".

Now fully remastered for 2026, "Darkest Day" includes two bonus tracks, "Dethroned Emperor" (CELTIC FROST cover) and "Slowly We Rot" (2008 version),originally only available on the 2008 "Left To Die" EP.

In 2022, Decibel Books released "Turned Inside Out: The Official Story Of Obituary", the fully authorized biography of OBITUARY. The book was written by David E. Gehlke, author of "Born Human: The Life And Music Of Death's Chuck Schuldiner", "Damn The Machine: The Story Of Noise Records" and "No Celebration: The Official Story Of Paradise Lost".