Soen

Soen emerged as an experimental prog metal outfit from Northern Europe, with its output frequently and accurately labeled “melancholic bliss.” Lush production, melancholy atmospherics that persist even amid aggression, and instrumental melodicism define the group’s sonic palette, while Joel Ekelöf’s clean vocals convey psychologically intricate, spiritually searching, and sophisticated lyrics. The band’s 2012 debut long-player Cognitive revealed a multifaceted musical identity that impressed reviewers by deploying three separate approaches across three songs: nearly gothic post-punk on “Fraktal,” prog metal on “Fraccions,” and punchy, chug-and-churn riffage on “Delenda.” Its intense, theatrical concerts quickly built a devoted following. Tellurian, issued in 2014, redirected attention to a denser, rhythmically intricate, syncopated prog style without relinquishing attractive melodicism. Lykaia, released in 2017 and incorporating strands from both earlier albums, earned praise for its musical achievements.

Drummer Martin Lopez of Opeth and guitarist Kim Platbarzdis established Soen in Sweden during 2004, yet practical obstacles and prior obligations slowed momentum for several years. Bassist Steve DiGiorgio of Testament and Death, along with vocalist Ekelöf of Willowtree, entered the lineup in 2010; the quartet promptly issued “Fraccions,” which circulated widely online to strong approval. Following live shows, further songwriting, and refinement of their approach, the band secured a deal with Spinefarm and delivered Cognitive in 2012, earning critical notice for its distinctive take on post-metal and prog. Summer and autumn European tours followed, carrying the group’s dark aesthetic to audiences in Germany, Scandinavia, England, and Estonia. After a brief hiatus, Soen returned to the studio with alternating bassists Stefan Stenberg and Christian Andolf, who had succeeded the departing DiGiorgio, resulting in the intricate Tellurian of 2014 that was warmly received by press and listeners alike for its prog emphasis. Extensive European road work occupied the ensuing years.

Further stage and rehearsal work preceded Platbarzdis’s departure; Marcus Jidell assumed guitar duties for Lykaia, which appeared in February 2017. While the music garnered greater acclaim than prior releases, highlighted by viral video singles for “Opal” and “Lucidity,” reviewers and fans criticized the overly loud mastering. The band therefore remastered and reissued the album later that year as Lykaia Revisited, appending numerous live bonus tracks. Subsequent touring carried Soen to Spain and, for the first time, Latin America, where new keyboardist Lars Åhlund joined and receptive crowds greeted the performances. Material continued to develop both on the road and in rehearsal. After Jidell was replaced by guitarist Cody Ford, the group entered the studio with co-producers Inaki Marconi and David Castillo to complete Lotus. The unsettling yet resonant video for “Covenant” attracted attention, and the clip for follow-up track “Martyrs” provoked further discussion by confronting restrictive gender norms within heavy metal, alienating some traditional supporters while drawing fresh listeners. Ekelöf characterized the album title as conveying that “there is still strength, beauty, and purity to be extracted from what at times seems like an endless cycle of human regression.” Lotus surfaced in February 2019 and swiftly registered as the band’s strongest commercial and critical success, uniting intimacy with aggression, melodic invention, and hypnotic progressive momentum that expanded heavy metal’s boundaries. Two years afterward, the punchy and fervent Imperial arrived, addressing themes of struggle and the surmounting of oppression.