Well, well, well, here we are again, folks. The prodigal son, 2ND FACE, returns, fresh from the ashes of their explosive 2017 debut, “Nemesis”.
We all recall how that one rattled our ear drums, don’t we? Now, their mastermind, that audacious German audio sorcerer, Vincent Uhlig, has dared to outdo himself with the sophomore effort, “utOpium”.
The man’s been busy, clearly, not just crafting another album but also racking up accolades at the School of Audio Engineering. The result is a lavishly constructed soundscape that doesn’t merely serve up sonic delights – although let me tell you, it’s a veritable feast for the ears – but also entices with its literary depth and the craftsmanship of its songwriting.
Line-up
Vincent Uhlig – vocals, arrangements, sound design, lyrics
Maxagon – live drums
Martin Sane – live keyboard, vocoder
You’ll find “utOpium” a blend of clarity and complexity, assertiveness and power – an industrial symphony that both respects and expands its genre’s boundaries. Apparently, Uhlig’s been toiling away for five years on this behemoth, and his efforts are nothing short of a tribute to the industrial legacy. There’s a bit of the Belgian gloom here, a dash of SKINNY PUPPY there, and even a smidgen of TOOL’s avant-garde influence. And yet, Uhlig isn’t one to play the mimic. No, sir. His individuality shines through, for instance, in his use of the EMS Synthi AKS and PPG-300 modular system, bequeathed to him by his father, krautrock trailblazer Wolf-Rüdiger Uhlig (of MURPHY BLEND, HANUMAN fame).
In terms of lyrics, “utOpium” plunges headfirst into the labyrinth of the human psyche, embarking on a philosophical trek towards self-realization. 2ND FACE also take a moment to give us a reality check, reflecting our fragmented society that’s busy burying its head in the (social) media sand amidst looming climate change and war.
Uhlig’s brainchild, 2ND FACE, came into being in the German city of Mainz back in 2014. After a flurry of demos and a self-released single, “First of His Name”, they caught the eye of Dependent. Their debut album, “Nemesis”, made quite the splash in the industrial pool and was hailed as the ‘newcomer of the year’. The subsequent EP “Nihilum” (2018) solidified their standing as the genre’s shooting stars.
Now, with “utOpium”, 2ND FACE have catapulted themselves to new heights, setting a new standard in the industrial genre. So, brace yourself, crank up the volume, and prepare for the sonic boom that is “utOpium”. It’s about to go off.