Review by Denis on August 2, 2003.

If I'm basing my judgment on the cover art, an intergalactic dog warrior, this is not a very serious album, so once again, does humor belong in music? On the other hand, if you look at the songs title, they make you think you're dealing with a serious prog metal CD.

So what is it actually? Well this is more serious than my last album I reviewed (Method of Destruction's "The Rebel You Love to Hate") but not to the point to be considered a deep down prog metal opus either. To be more specific, I would rather call it a heavy metal album with a progressive song writing and some kind of a space opera concept.

The main musical direction are short compositions beating at mid-fast pace with some pretty intricate structure but bound to be good driving music as well. Complex and catchy too, definitely a kicker you know where... My feet just kept following the beat in happy harmony. "Traveller" is not too serious or extreme in any way, shape or form. Not as fast as a power album, thank God! Only on one song 'The Final Gambit' is included some double kick but far from me to make you believe that the drumming sucks because it doesn't! It's great and pounds loud enough for my taste and forms with the bass parts a hell of a good tight rhythm section brought upfront by good production work. The driver here is the awesome guitar work in whatever style or form it is used. Clean vocals reminiscent to uncle Ozzy with a lower pitch are being used for story telling, which by the way suits the music and style perfectly. Amongst the best compositions are: 'High Passage/Low Passage,' 'Asteroid Belts,' 'Vagr Theme/Confrontation(Genetic Prophecy)' and the much doom sounding 'Vagr Moon.'

Bottom Line: "Traveller" should keep you alive and kickin'.

Categorical Rating Breakdown:

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality: 7
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.6 out of 10

Review by Denis on August 2, 2003.

If I'm basing my judgment on the cover art, an intergalactic dog warrior, this is not a very serious album, so once again, does humor belong in music? On the other hand, if you look at the songs title, they make you think you're dealing with a serious prog metal CD.

So what is it actually? Well this is more serious than my last album I reviewed (Method of Destruction's "The Rebel You Love to Hate") but not to the point to be considered a deep down prog metal opus either. To be more specific, I would rather call it a heavy metal album with a progressive song writing and some kind of a space opera concept.

The main musical direction are short compositions beating at mid-fast pace with some pretty intricate structure but bound to be good driving music as well. Complex and catchy too, definitely a kicker you know where... My feet just kept following the beat in happy harmony. "Traveller" is not too serious or extreme in any way, shape or form. Not as fast as a power album, thank God! Only on one song 'The Final Gambit' is included some double kick but far from me to make you believe that the drumming sucks because it doesn't! It's great and pounds loud enough for my taste and forms with the bass parts a hell of a good tight rhythm section brought upfront by good production work. The driver here is the awesome guitar work in whatever style or form it is used. Clean vocals reminiscent to uncle Ozzy with a lower pitch are being used for story telling, which by the way suits the music and style perfectly. Amongst the best compositions are: 'High Passage/Low Passage,' 'Asteroid Belts,' 'Vagr Theme/Confrontation(Genetic Prophecy)' and the much doom sounding 'Vagr Moon.'

Bottom Line: "Traveller" should keep you alive and kickin'.

Categorical Rating Breakdown:

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality: 7
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.6 out of 10

Review by Alex on November 17, 2020.

Here's one I don't hear anyone talking about. Coming from Heretic Ritual, their debut full length album War - Desecration - Genocide / Passages of Infinite Hatred sets off a decimating explosion of war/black/death metal that takes the shape of more notable bands within the genre. This unit brings a frighteningly militant display of the subgenre through their steady footed yet heavy and assault laden tracks. To many already affiliated with the genre would sound like nothing new, however there are some interesting paths chosen during the playthrough of War - Desecration - Genocide / Passages of Infinite Hatred that would make anyone familiar with the territory commit to multiple listens. To reiterate again, this is black/death the underground way so there's no major straying from the main path. However, Heretic Ritual makes the experience worth the while for the oldie and those now anointed by the sounds of barbarity with meticulous additions of groove and doom metal marinated in the flesh for a debilitating effect.

A total of 9 tracks keeps the hatred on maximum and the cannons firing through their torrential downpour of cavernous howls, immolating riffs and demolishing hammers on the kit. 'Infinite Hatred' provides the eternal vision of what this Mexican tribulation pack aims to achieve during their time on the battlefield. The well aligned instrumental work brings out a sense of professionalism urging even the most advanced supporter of the genre to pay keen attention to Heretic Ritual. This three-piece sounds amazing and devastatingly heavy which is quite impressive when you factor-in it is army of 3. Their instrumental wielding on fast sections that'd transition to more down paced moments tells of a decorated squad rather than that of a rookie unit. 'Disciples of Fire', 'Macabre Magic Adoration' and my favorite, 'Rat Krusher Kommando', bring out some of the best musicianship the band has to offer the masses. Kicking your brains-in with pummeling strikes from the drum kit, these tracks (among others) standout to me as some of the best highlights on the album in which it seems Heretic Ritual are able to pin-down with efficacy their intentions in the genre. Hence, by trying to take their music from the exponentially cloned to something you'd have some interest in speaks volumes of their attempt to stand apart from the crowd though paying homage to the old and wild.

You'd hear a track like 'Black Perverted Abomination' and begin to feel the musical intensity of the band peak then you'd be in for even more of a surprise when they hit you with something like 'Summoning Genocide' that just storms through your speakers and afflicts you with a carnivorous duality of beastly snarls supported by demonic howling, punishing savagery on the kit and razor-like riffing. Powerful, energetic, continuous but most of all enjoyable.

War - Desecration - Genocide / Passages of Infinite Hatred is an album I hope more become acquainted with before the crack of Heretic Ritual's next calculated genocidal war/black/death ballistic precision strike.

Released through Death in Pieces Records (CD) and Goat Throne Records (Cassette), go hard or go under.

Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Review by Denis on August 2, 2003.

If I'm basing my judgment on the cover art, an intergalactic dog warrior, this is not a very serious album, so once again, does humor belong in music? On the other hand, if you look at the songs title, they make you think you're dealing with a serious prog metal CD.

So what is it actually? Well this is more serious than my last album I reviewed (Method of Destruction's "The Rebel You Love to Hate") but not to the point to be considered a deep down prog metal opus either. To be more specific, I would rather call it a heavy metal album with a progressive song writing and some kind of a space opera concept.

The main musical direction are short compositions beating at mid-fast pace with some pretty intricate structure but bound to be good driving music as well. Complex and catchy too, definitely a kicker you know where... My feet just kept following the beat in happy harmony. "Traveller" is not too serious or extreme in any way, shape or form. Not as fast as a power album, thank God! Only on one song 'The Final Gambit' is included some double kick but far from me to make you believe that the drumming sucks because it doesn't! It's great and pounds loud enough for my taste and forms with the bass parts a hell of a good tight rhythm section brought upfront by good production work. The driver here is the awesome guitar work in whatever style or form it is used. Clean vocals reminiscent to uncle Ozzy with a lower pitch are being used for story telling, which by the way suits the music and style perfectly. Amongst the best compositions are: 'High Passage/Low Passage,' 'Asteroid Belts,' 'Vagr Theme/Confrontation(Genetic Prophecy)' and the much doom sounding 'Vagr Moon.'

Bottom Line: "Traveller" should keep you alive and kickin'.

Categorical Rating Breakdown:

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality: 7
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.6 out of 10

Review by Denis on August 2, 2003.

If I'm basing my judgment on the cover art, an intergalactic dog warrior, this is not a very serious album, so once again, does humor belong in music? On the other hand, if you look at the songs title, they make you think you're dealing with a serious prog metal CD.

So what is it actually? Well this is more serious than my last album I reviewed (Method of Destruction's "The Rebel You Love to Hate") but not to the point to be considered a deep down prog metal opus either. To be more specific, I would rather call it a heavy metal album with a progressive song writing and some kind of a space opera concept.

The main musical direction are short compositions beating at mid-fast pace with some pretty intricate structure but bound to be good driving music as well. Complex and catchy too, definitely a kicker you know where... My feet just kept following the beat in happy harmony. "Traveller" is not too serious or extreme in any way, shape or form. Not as fast as a power album, thank God! Only on one song 'The Final Gambit' is included some double kick but far from me to make you believe that the drumming sucks because it doesn't! It's great and pounds loud enough for my taste and forms with the bass parts a hell of a good tight rhythm section brought upfront by good production work. The driver here is the awesome guitar work in whatever style or form it is used. Clean vocals reminiscent to uncle Ozzy with a lower pitch are being used for story telling, which by the way suits the music and style perfectly. Amongst the best compositions are: 'High Passage/Low Passage,' 'Asteroid Belts,' 'Vagr Theme/Confrontation(Genetic Prophecy)' and the much doom sounding 'Vagr Moon.'

Bottom Line: "Traveller" should keep you alive and kickin'.

Categorical Rating Breakdown:

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality: 7
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.6 out of 10