Album Review: Dead by Uktena Kult
So, you’re scrolling through Bandcamp late at night (we’ve all been there), and this album called Dead pops up. It’s by some mysterious French project called Uktena Kult, under the equally enigmatic label The Eagle Stone Collective. Now, I’m not gonna lie—this isn’t your typical “throw it on at a party” kind of record. Nope. This is more like that eerie soundtrack to your brain when you can’t sleep because you just watched too many horror movies. But hey, if you’re into experimental electronic vibes with shades of ambient, drone, and dark ambient, stick around.
First off, let me tell ya—the guy behind this whole thing is Caleb R.K. Williams. He wrote, composed, recorded… basically did everything short of inventing electricity to make this happen. And honestly? You can feel it. The tracks are minimal but layered in a way that feels intentional, like every sound has its own little story to tell.
Now, onto the music itself. There are only two tracks here: B and A. Yeah, super creative titles, right? But don’t let that fool you—they pack a punch.
Let’s talk about B first. This one stuck with me because it starts off so quietly, almost like background noise you’d ignore while doomscrolling. But then BAM—it builds into this low, rumbling drone that feels like standing near power lines at midnight. Creepy, right? Yet somehow soothing too. Like, if anxiety had a lullaby, this would be it. I kept coming back to it because it’s got this hypnotic quality, like staring at clouds and realizing they look like monsters after a while.
Then there’s A, which hits different. It’s darker, grittier, almost like someone took a field recording from an abandoned factory and gave it a heartbeat. The track doesn’t rush itself; it lets things unfold slowly, which makes it even spookier. At one point, I could’ve sworn I heard whispers—or maybe that was just my cat judging me—but either way, it added to the vibe. If B is the calm before the storm, A is the storm rolling in.
What’s wild about Dead is how immersive it feels despite being so stripped-down. It doesn’t try to impress you with flashy beats or catchy hooks. Instead, it sits in the shadows, whispering secrets you didn’t know you wanted to hear. Listening to it feels less like entertainment and more like stumbling across something ancient and forgotten.
Oh, fun fact: France might be known for croissants and berets, but clearly, they’ve got room for spooky soundscapes too. Who knew?
Anyway, wrapping this up—I think Dead is perfect for anyone who digs weird, atmospheric stuff. Honestly, it’s the kind of album that makes you question whether music even needs lyrics sometimes. Just don’t play it alone in the woods unless you’re ready to join Uktena Kult yourself.
Final thought: If silence had a nemesis, it’d probably sound like this. Give it a spin—you won’t regret it (probably).
