"Hopes were running high for the return of 2ND FACE after their acclaimed debut album "Nemesis" hit the scene with a massive impact in 2017. To cut a long story short, mastermind Vincent Uhlig has far surpassed the already huge expectations with his sophomore full-length "utOpium", hitting the streets on May 12th. The German sound magician, who has finished his degree at the School of Audio Engineering with honours in the meantime, created a multi-layered masterpiece with the new album that does not just feed pure ear-candy to audiophiles as any headphone-test will confirm, but also thrills with excellent songwriting and lyrical depth. The sound of "utOpium" is equally transparent and detailed, yet at the same time aggressive and powerful, which perfectly fits the industrial genre that 2ND FACE operate in and push the limits. Uhlig has invested five years of blood, sweat, and tears into this monster of an album. His work displays an obvious respect for the history and tradition of the industrial scene. There are clear hints to the darkness of the Belgian school, but also notes of SKINNY PUPPY, and even a knife tip of avant-garde pioneers TOOL in the sound of 2ND FACE. Lyrically, "utOpium" takes a deep dive through the human mind and embarks on a philosophical journey to self-awareness. 2ND FACE also hold a subtle mirror to society, which is fragmenting while collectively opting for (social) media self-hypnosis in the face of climate change and war." - Dependent