Labels: Consouling Sounds
Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital
Release Date: 17 May 2025
Tracklist:
1. The Sun Will Always Shine
2. Little Fountains
3. Stay a Little Longer
4. Infinite Presence
5. To Not Grow Old
6. I Want You Here
The dust has barely settled following Download Festival (I wasn't there) but it's impossible to escape all of the articles about anonymous/masked bands. I like intrigue and mystery as much as the next music fan, though I also like to look deeper; seeking out bands that deserve more of the spotlight. I vow to get better at this and tonight's review was chosen by the heart and not the usual schedule.
Genune are a black metal quintet from Bacău/Cluj-Napoca, Romania and might only be the fourth band from the country alongside Bastos, Siculicidium and Void Forger that I've featured here. Genune started life in 2012 with their self-titled demo. It was followed by a further demo called Inner Depths, as well as two full-length albums called Cern sol and Inert & Unerring. Following the release of their third album, Genune are due to play their first live show at Romania's Dark Bombastic Evening festival alongside the likes of A Swarm Of The Sun and Year Of No Light, amongst many others in August.
I purchased a black metal album (a complete blind buy) from my local record store over the weekend, though it’s probably on the other end of the spectrum compared to this album from Genune. After the initial heaviness that opens ‘The Sun Will Always Shine’, you’re greeted with clean vocals and shoegazey instrumentation. To be fair, the band do describe themselves as more of an atmospheric/post-black metal band.
That said, they do furious black metal really well, without any hint of parody. It both punctuates and integrates itself with the band’s melodic approach brilliantly during what is a lengthy opener. It’s already noticeable that Genune prefer expansive dynamics over instant gratification and it’s a joy to hear as piano adorns the ending alongside angular guitar riffs, and percussion.
The band’s metallic tones are even more prevalent on ‘Little Fountains’, alongside an uplifting mood that’s created by their instrumentation as a whole. Black metal can be uplifting and emotive, as Genune proves here. Instrumental for nearly three minutes, when the vocals do kick in, they do nothing to ruin the mood. After a brief period of abrasiveness, you’re plunged into silence before yet more exquisite musicianship.
A foreboding atmosphere drifts over you during ’Stay a Little Longer’, in what is Genune’s heaviest song on Infinite Presence so far. Really expansive and expressive music has been my go to this year so far, and that could cover all manner of bands or genres I know but maybe my tastes are changing again. With instant gratification comes a rush but only a short one. It’s much better to saver these memories.
The album’s title-track ‘Infinite Presence’ is acoustic, which catches you off guard slightly. It is loverly though and soothes the soul with it’s gentle melody. The sound of the fingers sliding up and down the strings/frets somehow adds to the feel as well. That brief moment of calm is quickly dispensed with as Genune launches into penultimate song ’To Not Grow Old’. Thankfully though, it’s not all fire and brimstone as the quintet adds in classy melodic passages complete with gothic-style clean singing. It’s also the first time (at least to these ears) that Genune makes use of electronica, which by the way is used perfectly.
Album closer ‘I Want Your Here’ is also it’s longest song and it continues the affair (or relationship with) metallic black metal. Containing all of the elements that make this album so listenable, it grows with every bar. Easily the most majestic piece of this record, that may well usher in a new era when it comes to Romanian heavy music. People have compared the band to Deafheaven et al but they’re so much more than that.
With my attention being constantly drawn to so many different bands and releases, I get overwhelmed. Spending precious moments discovering and listening to bands out of nowhere (like Genune) is more than worth it though. Infinite Presence is brilliant and if it hits you like it hit me, please check out their back-catalogue too.
You can stream and purchase the album on all formats from Genune below:-
Genune - https://www.facebook.com/genunebm
Consouling Sounds - https://www.facebook.com/ConsoulingSounds
