I believe that we must have an open mind when we are dealing with some forms of Metal, especially when we deal with extreme Metal. But there are times when a recording quality puts every effort to be a waste of time, and on the case of the French duet AUTOKRATOR, besides they do a good work on the EP "Hammer of Heretics", they bear this sin.

Musically, we hear that same recipe used by bands as BEHERIT on their earlier works: a putrid and aggressive form of music that mixes Death Metal and Black Metal elements. It's truly brutal and aggressive, with nasty low tuned vocals, sharp guitar riffs and a pile driving work from bass guitar and drums. It's massive and brutal to the extreme, but not something new at all (but no band needs to be, mind you all). The sin is on the recording of "Hammer of Heretics". The sound quality is extremely crude in a way that we barely understand the guitar riffs (they are too noisy). To be extreme is not to be incomprehensible, and that's the case. The drums seem to be programmed, and the tunes aren't as good as they could be.

On their songs, we can hear that is a talented work, but with this sound quality, it's hard to have a clear idea. We can hear that good musical ideas arise on "Against Flesh and Blood", on the brutal and oppressive atmosphere of "Le Sang Impur", on the long "Hammer of Heretics" (good tempo changes are presented here), and on the massive weight of "Inquisitio-Denunciatio-Exceptio", but the lack of a better sound quality makes AUTOKRATOR's musical efforts fail. A better sound quality on the next time can make miracles. But for now, "Hammer of Heretics" lies on that kind of releases that we hear once, and nevermore.