Godz Ov War Productions has always been a label of quality releases, and the latest from France, HEXEKRATION RITES, cements this even further. First of all, I was impressed with the CD presentation and layout. Simplicity and the colors take point and give me a great idea of what the band is going to sound like and lend credence to the theme. So a tip of the hat to that. Plus, the almighty Chris Moyen does the art! So you cannot go wrong with that. At first listen, the band is very reminiscent of BELPHEGOR but with a more deathly vibe. Also, DENOUNCEMENT PYRE comes to mind. As we all know, no reinventing the wheel here, but good quality aggressive Black / Death Metal is what you can expect. Being only a 3-piece gives the band and their songwriting a more open feel. You hear the bass (I love some of those solo bass moments) trudging along in sync with the riffing, and the drums lock in to create a powerful sound. Just a great production overall. Now, while I appreciate the power and the dark energy behind it all, the question I have, will I continue having this in my rotation? Maybe the band could have presented this as a bit of a smaller package. Something to pack more of a punch. Some songs lack a bit of distinction and can be a bit samey. Part of the reason is that the vocals are a bit monotone, maybe lack a bit in the variation department. This would have been much better as an EP if it were 3-4 songs, trim the fat a bit, because there are a few songs on here that are ragers. I know I may be a bit of a Metal curmudgeon and gripe a bit too much, but if you are a newer member into the world of all that is Heavy Metal you may find this to be right up your alley. Check out their stuff at the info below. www.facebook.com/hexekrationrites, www.facebook.com/godzovwarproductions