Genocide

The Japanese heavy metal outfit Genocide likely borrowed their moniker from a Judas Priest composition, an approach shared by numerous other acts, yet their sonic identity drew chiefly from the singular, instantly identifiable approach of Denmark’s Mercyful Fate. Formed in 1979, years before King Diamond and his irreverent satanic cohorts appeared, the band issued its first album, Black Sanctuary, only in 1988 following a two-year postponement. Though an under-recognized heavy metal artifact, the record showcased vocalist Toshihiro Takeuchi adopting Diamond’s piercing falsetto while guitarists Kazuo Amaya and Kouichi Kawakami, bassist Shigeo Kawasaki, and drummer Yasushi Kojima crafted distinctive arrangements that echoed Mercyful Fate’s independent ethos. The unconventional formula failed to attract sufficient listeners, prompting the group’s dissolution by 1990. A reunion with replacement rhythm players—bassist Hiroki Motono and drummer Takeshi Hattori—led to live appearances in 1999 and the subsequent concert release The Rites in 2001.