Genocide are a recently formed German Black Metal trio from Kleve. There first full length Apocalyptic Visions is impressive. The use a slightly cleaner-than-usual production style, which, coupled with bombastic orchestral samples, gives the album a very epic feel. Eleven tracks, 44 minutes of unrelenting mid-paced black metal. The instrumentation could be categorized under “raw black metal” but with more Darkthrone-esque melodies and the vocals are reminiscent of Burzum, and thereby have depressive undertones. Furthermore, the album is executed with impressive fervor and reeks of anti-Christian overtones (track 10-“Spill the Blood of Christ” takes the cake for Christian bashing black metal and ranks up there with Marduk’s “Christianraping Black Metal”).

The qualities of Genocide are clear as soon as the album picks up, no frills, no filler black metal, sadly, that’s all it is. In the currently saturated black metal scene the public ear bleeds for innovation (from the likes of Xasthur, Wolves in the Throne Room and Make a Change… Kill Yourself), which Genocide simply does not provide. Sure Satanism is all good and fun but when it comes down to it traditional black metal has been chewed up and spit out more times than the foreskin of Christ himself. Bands like Genocide need to realize that Burzum, Mayhem and Darkthrone did it and no one will do it better.

When all is said and done, I do not mean to discourage Genocide from making music, quite the contrary, they are an excellent band. If it weren’t for the classics Genocide would be held iconic. Apocalyptic Visions is a cold slab of hateful black metal and for that I am thankful. I can only hope that Genocide use they dwellings in the traditional arena of black metal as a spring board to experiment more and possibly incorporate other genres. For any avid black metal listener Apocalyptic Visions is worth picking up, it is a great listen and upholds the values of true kvlt black metal, but if you are looking for innovation and experimentation look elsewhere.