Black Sanctuary [Import]

Genocide (Nippon) (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 27, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Phantom Sound & Vision
• ASIN: B002L3E2TY
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,665 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered and expanded two CD edition of the 1988 album from the Japanese Metal band including bonus tracks. The 80's Japan Heavy Metal scene is loaded with a ton of great bands and some of those bands are some of the very best bands in the world. To keep it simple this re-issue is for all the die-hard Mercyful Fate fans out there. There are very few vocalists in the world that have an acrobatic ability like Toshihiro Takeuchi. Talk about dynamics, this guy has it all; melodic, imagination, crazy, high falsetto, and he does it in English and Japanese in the same song. That's not all this band is good for though. The guitar players here are unbelievable! This reissue will include reissue artwork requested by the band although the original cover is on the flip side of the booklet. Remastered sound with a booklet of photos, lyrics, and a full band history from the 70's to today.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars classic metal album, December 3, 2010

By 

Alan F. Paredes "alzn" (vallejo, ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Sanctuary (MP3 Download)

Had this on cassette when it came out. Then I found a CD and then I downloaded the MP3s. Some really good Mercyful Fate worship gone Japanese style with the insane Japanese type of vocals and mystical ominous darkness. Guitarists are from the Michael Schenker school. Awesome playing and riffs.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Epic Of Horrifying Power, January 21, 2010

By 

Löst Jimmy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Sanctuary (Audio CD)

Black Sanctuary is the 1988 debut album release by cult Metal band Genocide (Nippon). It has been given the classic reissue treatment thanks to Shadow Kingdom Records and from the moment you hear the extraordinary vocals of Toshihiro Takeuchi you know you are in for one Hell of a journey!
I was going into this review intent on Subdued reflection but no, I just cannot hold back, for this stupendous metal magic is worthy of excited exaltation!
For a start there is the breathtaking album cover replacing the original art, featuring what only can be described as a maniacal Ronin in the throes of demonic fervour killing Yokai by the dozen. Brilliant!

Musically, what you get on this shiny slice of possessed plastic (it is actually a two CD set, the bonus disc carrying raw demo versions of the main album) is an epic of horrifying power. A heady mix of sinful origins which talk to me of Mercyful Fate at the height of their powers, classic Judas Priest (pre-British Steel) and prog-Scorpions influences but with a battering ram blend all of their own. This really is a cult album spewing out the finest selection of tracks, unharnessed and truly unrelenting, i'll wager you will not have heard such a devout slab of heavy metal this pure in aeons. Audibly mesmerising you just have to hear the Metal mindbending of the infectious axe frenzies of Kazuo Amaya and Kouichi Kawakami. It is heavy, melodic and above all riff-tastic from start to finish, no adjectives could ever capture the exciting essence of Genocide!

Every single track on the CD is a winner, standouts for me has to be the title track, the wonderfully haunting Landscape of Life and Living Legend.

The darkest of Metal arts are at work on this album, a doom laden soundtrack that is more often than not catalysed into searing ferment by the astonishing guitar duo, the sold rhythm section and one of the greatest metal vocalists ever!
No, really!

Now go, worship at the altar of Genocide Nippon your soul (& your ears) demands it!