Methods of Execution

Released in 2004, Methods of Execution is the third full-length album by the American band Brodequin and is widely considered a cornerstone of the 'Brutal Death Metal' (BDM) subgenre. While many of their peers focused on gore and slasher-film aesthetics, Brodequin carved out a niche by focusing on the meticulously documented history of medieval torture and capital punishment. Sonically, the album is defined by Jon Falgout's hyper-speed drumming and the Bailey brothers' dense, distorted string work. The production is famously 'murky,' a deliberate choice that emphasizes the chaotic atmosphere over individual riff clarity. The closing title track is a notable departure for the band, stretching over seven minutes and incorporating slower, doom-laden passages that contrast with the preceding thirty minutes of high-velocity blasting. This album solidified Brodequin's reputation as one of the most extreme acts in the US death metal scene, influencing a generation of 'slam' and 'technical brutal death' bands that followed.