Romanian genre-bending metal band Genune is set to release their third full-length album, Infinite Presence, on May 17th.
The first track on the album, “The Sun Will Always Shine”, is a song to put the headphones on for and enjoy the 8:19 minute journey. It begins with what sounds like either a wave or a deep breath, before hitting you hard and fast with blast beats driven by crashing cymbals and steady tremolo-picked riffs. After the intensity, melancholy vocals open the track up into lush, atmospheric instrumentals, and before long, raw black metal screams take the lead. I also genuinely wasn’t expecting the joyful, nostalgic piano section toward the 6:30 mark, but this band defies genre, blending diverse sounds together. If you’re into post-black metal, blackgaze, psychedelic rock, and elements of synthwave and folk, you’ll definitely dig what they’re doing. “Little Fountains” carries the momentum forward, with a sound that’s catchy, richly layered, and dreamlike.
Record label Consouling Sounds writes “Infinite Presence was written between summer 2023 and summer 2024, conceived as both a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and a celebration of memory and gratitude. It’s an album about remembrance — and the presence that remains in absence.”
“Stay a Little Longer” opens with a distorted guitar hook, adds hypnotic drumming, and then brings in heavy, saturated screams. This track leaves an impression. Around the 4:45 minute mark, there’s such a dissonant synth piece that it actually makes me uncomfortable, but I’m reminded of the message of the album and reflect on difficult moments in life where you have to stick through, and I do stay a little longer, until the end of the track.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
The track “Infinite Presence” reflects the album title and offers a beautiful reprieve, showcasing intricately picked guitar work. The slides and sequence of the track make me feel reminiscent of the progression through life.
“Not to Grow Old” brings out arpeggiated synths in the final stretch of the track that remind me of old tracker music with its melodic, loop-driven feel. But here, it’s elevated with higher-level production and layered with the rest of the instruments in a way that feels dynamic, driving this band out of any box you might try to put them in.
“I Want You Here,” at 9:05 minutes and closing the album, is the track I hoped would bring together all the not-so-traditional elements from earlier songs. While it doesn’t quite do that, it’s still a treat. Around 4:20, there are distinct wave sounds that become audible, and I think back to the opening track, where I thought I maybe heard a breath, now I can’t tell. What really stands out in this track are the vocals: they are relentless, the emotion feels like it’s crashing around us. The drums and guitar intensify that feeling and carry us through to the end. When the wave sounds return, it feels like we’re being brought safely to shore after a storm.
Revisiting the theme of “…the fleeting nature of life…” present throughout the album, I particularly appreciated the inclusion of the wave field recordings (recorded at the Black Sea – Consouling Sounds). Infinite Presence successfully brings together different elements of metal with other genres in a way that feels exciting and fresh. This album is definitely one you’ll want to hear with headphones or a sound system.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
Infinite Presence is out on May 17th
Check out all the bands we review in 2025 on our Spotify and YouTube
