Year: 2020
Total Time: 36:51
Label: Pest Productions

          UTKENA from Athens, Greece started their musical journey in 2013 as SEPTAGRAM only to break up in 2017 and return two years later under the name UTKENA. They released their debut in the same year with the remarkable EP “The Firmament’s Hand” but nothing had prepared us for this year’s full-length album entitled “Nex Forex”.

          Their new album represents a huge synthetic leap compared to their EP, as the band gives us a dark creation of six compositions of atmospheric Death/Black Metal with some post influences. Songs such as “Hierophant” and “Lethe” build a massive musical entity with their atmospheric Black Metal through their aggression and the Death Metal influences that remind us of ULCERATE. “Erich Zann” with its ambient aesthetic is the ideal introductory bridge for “Temporal Sea”, which enchants us with its barbarity and melodic breakdown while revealing the influence of MGLA on their sound. Next comes “Pillars” in which Death Metal influences are quite intense and evoke a rather sickening atmosphere. The album ends on an aggressive tone with “Sulfuri” which moves on a faster tempo while its paranoid riff is pinned to your mind.  We should also mention the impressive vocals by Defiant (DIZZINESS) that transfuse a rather raw, dark feeling to the songs while the impeccable production brings out the high quality of the compositions and their dark character.

        UTKENA with “Nex Forex” dare to explore demanding musical paths and invite us to join in an inner quest for nature, darkness and death. The impressive riffs with their nightmarish, abstract feel and Death/Black Metal reverence create a black imagination giving us one of the genre’s best releases for 2020. Those who love the sound of SELBST, AVERSIO HUMANITATIS, GAEREA etc. listen to “Nex Forex” and immerse in its musical magic.

Rating: 7.5/10
Editor: Nikos Manousis
Related Link: UTKENA – Facebook Page