Scenius – 13 Billion Dark Years (Digital/CD Album – MMXX Records)
The English–French duo Scenius released their third full-length album at the end of last year. Steve Whitfield (UK) and Fab Nau (France) have crafted a ten-track record, with several singles previously serving as warm-up releases.
The band remains rooted in Electro-Pop, infused with a necessary sense of melancholy and a distinctly 80s aesthetic. This is clearly an aspect in which the group has progressed. Greater attention has been paid to sonic textures, resulting in a warmly vintage sound. The songs are sung in English, though Fab Nau also adds occasional French fragments. While the previous albums lacked a true climax, this one does include a slightly heavier, more club-oriented track that stands out.
There is still a sense that Scenius have more potential than what is fully realized here, but the duo are undeniably moving forward. (Rating:7½).
Listen to “Guesswork”:
Read the news on ‘13 Billion Dark Years’.
About Scenius
Scenius is the studio-to-stage project of UK producer Steve Whitfield (Leeds) and vocalist Fab Nau (Angers, France), formed in 2020. Whitfield is known for earlier studio work with The Cure and The Mission. The duo debuted with the album “Enough Fears”, followed by the live EP “Live in Angers” in 2022 and the second album “Life Is A Thing” in 2023, with early releases on MMXX Records. Their sound draws on synth pioneers and post-punk, from Kraftwerk and John Foxx to Joy Division and New Order. “13 Billion Dark Years”, released in October 2025 on MMXX Records, is their third album and is reviewed here.
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