West Virginia thrashers Executionist step into this week’s Meet The Band spotlight. Their full-length debut album is Sacrament Of The Sick. Vocalist/guitarist Brett Ash introduces us to his band.
Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Executionist.
Brett Ash: Executionist can be traced all the way back to 2018-2019, which was when Tristan, my brother and drummer, and I started jamming. I cannot in good faith say that the initial jam sessions were good, but they were enough for us to continue pushing forward. We wrote a bunch of songs, which gave us our first taste of writing. We also went through a bunch of different band names, most of which were not very good. Eventually, we decided on Executionist because we felt that it fit the vibe we were going with. We recorded our EP Destined for Destruction in the fall of 2020 and released it in January of 2021.
Following this, we played live as much as we could as a two-piece. It was difficult to gain attention in the scene as a two-piece, but we did our best. We released a single called “GENESIS 666” in March of 2023. Finally, in 2024, we added Austin Rose on bass, which added a whole new dimension to our live sound. Additionally, in 2025, we added Mike Kinder on guitar, filling out our lineup. We have released two singles from Sacrament of the Sick, with the full record slated to drop on May 16, 2025.
Describe the songwriting process for Sacrament Of The Sick.
The songwriting process was very arduous, as we were working very hard to ensure each song was as good as it could be. For the most part, each song started with writing a melody. From there, I could build on the key of the song. I wanted some songs to be short, and some to be long, which is well represented in the range of song lengths on the record.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
My strongest memory will be recording vocals for the album. I remember this well, mostly because it was the easiest part of the recording process. Tristan and I had a blast recording vocals, as there were many creative decisions we got to make together.
What was the biggest challenge in its creation?
The biggest challenge was our schedules. At the time of writing and recording, Tristan was in high school, and I was in the midst of a 4-year nursing program. Since then, I have graduated, and Tristan has finished high school, but having to juggle school and music was very difficult.
How has your sound evolved from your EP?
Our sound is much more refined, with the biggest evolution being in production. The production for the album is far better than what was on the EP, which we are very happy with. Additionally, there was a much heavier emphasis on melody for this album, which gives it an extra dimension.
What lyrical topics do you cover?
As the lyric writer, I get free rein over song topics. I write about typical thrash topics, like war, politics, and apocalypse. However, I also get to write about more unique topics. For example, “Serrated Shadows” and “Palace of Kings” are about a comic book character and a video game, respectively!
What led you to go the independent route for the album release?
While we are very interested in working with a label someday, we went the independent route so we could have complete creative control over all aspects of the record.
What are your goals and expectations for the record?
We don’t have any specific goals, but we want the music to reach as many people worldwide as possible. One of my favorite parts of being a musician is being able to see how many people around the world have heard my music.
What has been your most memorable Executionist live show?
I’m sure that most of the band would agree that our show at The Loud in Huntington, WV, this past January was the most memorable.
What are your upcoming show/tour plans?
We are trying to play live as much as possible in as many places as we can. We would love to tour someday, and we are trying to break into that scene every day!
How did you get started in music?
I got started in music after watching the movie “Purple Rain.” I can say that the movie isn’t the best, but the performance scenes of Prince ripping on the guitar were so cool to me. After that, I picked up an old beater and started learning!
Who were your early influences and inspirations?
Prince was the earliest influence, who I still believe is one of the most underrated guitarists ever. Early on, I was also really into Kirk Hammett. Metallica is still a huge influence on me as a musician. Finally, my biggest influence and greatest guitar player of all time (in my opinion), Randy Rhoads. His guitar playing was and always will be incredible.
What was the first metal concert you attended?
Tristan and I attended our first metal concert together back in 2014. It was actually a Fozzy show here in West Virginia. Fozzy was our favorite band for a while, and we still listen to them occasionally today.
How’s the metal scene in West Virginia?
The metal scene in West Virginia is solid! Unfortunately, thrash metal bands are few and far between here, which kind of makes me experience some type of impostor syndrome, as we do not fit in musically with the rest of the scene. The WV scene is dominated by hardcore and punk, both of which I’m not huge on. Despite that, there are some sick bands here!
What are some of your non-musical interests and hobbies?
I am a huge video game nerd. I’m currently doing a marathon of the 3D Legend of Zelda games! I’m also super interested in weather, weirdly enough. I love learning about weather systems and watching videos on them. Anytime there is a tornado warning in West Virginia, I am morbidly intrigued by the possibility!
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Thanks so much for the opportunity to do this! Sacrament of the Sick is out now! Cheers y’all!
(interview published May 17, 2025)
Watch Executionist – “Serrated Shadows” Video
