Album Review: Autokrator – Hammer of the Heretics (Krucyator Productions)

With two fearsome full lengths, French suffocating death metal troop Autokrator has become a source of obeisance in the domain of underground extreme metal. They are returning with the third full length called Hammer of the Heretics. The album will be released April 10th 2018 via Krucyator Productions.

A mentally taxing & physically draining listen, Hammer of Heretics is a vile & extreme noise release that might only be five tracks long but is incredibly effective.

Against Flesh and Blood is a tremendously ferocious opener. Autokrator sound raw as hell but behind the constant assault is a decent level of guitar rhythm. When focus switches from the destruction to a more riff-based effort it improves massively.

Le Sang Impur sees the band stretch their legs though as it comes in at nearly 10 minutes long. Here the band really build on what they started with delivering a compact death metal sound with wider range of elements that include doomy riffs and thrashy increases in tempo.

The 3 minute interlude is one of horrifying sounds. In no way acting as a form of relaxation before the title explodes at a face-melting pace.

For all the intensity of Hammer of the Heretics what really makes Autokrator’s efforts stand out is the bleak feedback that often sits in the background. This gives the album a really dark & confined feel. As if you’re stuck in a cramped cellar while a hideous beast searches for you above.

The war that Autokrator has waged on your senses comes to an end with your defeat as Inquisitio-Denunciatio-Exceptio plants its flag in your chest. The vocals here, disgustingly gutteral, reach a new level of intensity and if you do somehow survive you’ll be waking up in a sweat for many years to come.

Autokrator – Hammer of the Heretics Full Track Listing:

1. Against Flesh and Blood
2. Le Sang Impur
3. Interlude
4. Hammer of the Heretics
5. Inquisitio-Denunciatio-Exceptio

You can pick up the album via Autokrator’s Bandcamp here, via Krucyator Productions here and their Bandcamp here. Find out more and keep up to date by liking Autokrator’s Facebook Page.