Artist: Genocide Kommando
Country: France
Label: Osmose Productions
Formats: LP / Cassette Tapes / CD
Year: 2024
The very short-lived first incarnation of Genocide Kommando (2002-2003) left us only one album, the Moribund Records released ‘Black Metal Supremacy’ from 2002. The title of that album suggests a lot, but although it is still a solid record anno 2024/2025, I wouldn’t dare speak of supremacy. It is that my first review for Vampire-Magazine was for that album, but despite that, not much really stuck with me. Thereby I have apparently been asleep, because I had totally missed the fact that the band, albeit in a different line-up, had its second coming in 2022 with an album on Kommander Noktu’s own Drakkar Productions. So, ‘Third World War’ is the band’s third offering, this time presented to us on Osmose Productions.
Of course, for the sake of being able to comprehend this newest feat I revisited ‘Black Metal Supremacy’ and listened to the band’s second album as well. Conclusion of sorts: not much has changed. In a way that is pretty comforting. It means that some things just stay the same. The relative simplicity of ‘Black Metal Supremacy’ and ‘Anthems Of Mass Massacre’ is also found on ‘Third World War’ and with that comes the charm of those early 00’s hate-drenched and vengeful Black Metal records that are free from any bells and whistles.
Of course there are obvious differences too, mainly to be noticed in the overall sharper sound and tighter playing, but the true essence remains untouched. Fast Black Metal with croaking vocals, free from any trends or melodic finesse. Of course, the question is to what extent there is still much demand for this in the present day, but I find the no-frills approach quite refreshing on occasion. Genocide Kommando, in addition to Kommander Noktu now assisted by Diktator Spektr (a prominent figure in the French underground scene), stays rather safely on the trodden paths of mid-00’s Black Metal but does so quite convincingly. ‘Third World War’ might not spark a real world war and perhaps it will not appeal to the ones who demand a bit more of their Black Metal, but those who lived through those 00’s might feel the same way. Sometimes it is just great to hear an album that is unpretentious and just gets you on a entertaining ride. There is no need for everyone to reinvent the wheel or for everyone to approve: “just good” is fine too.
