For those not in the know, Soen - the Swedish progressive metal powerhouse spearheaded by Joel Ekelöf (vocals) and Martin Lopez (drums) - continue to find incredible new pathways into the spatial areas between light and dark, loud and calm, heavy and soothing.

And with its seamless march across deeply human emotional terrain, their forthcoming 7th studio album Reliance, Soen continues to explore the human mind, heart, and soul with a visionary duty of care, plus an extra edge of heavy.

With Lars Enok Åhlund (keyboards and guitar), Cody Lee Ford (guitar), and Stefan Stenberg (bass) standing shoulder to shoulder with Ekelöf and Lopez, the lush continual evolution of Soen’s sound soars. Take “Primal”, a barrel-chested roar detailing the existential fight between the human spirit and our current world, Ekelöf’s incredible vocals leading the heavy charge.

“Axis” is a resolute and defiant look into where humanity sits, propelled by Lopez’s relentless yet swinging drums, and then there’s the serene elegance of “Indifferent” a beautifully orchestrated modern lament on the loss of love which rides resolutely on the power of strings, piano, and Ekelöf’s marvelous voice.

With Reliance, Soen continue their extraordinarily raw and earnest lifetime exploration of the mental and physical boundaries which challenge humankind as it writhes and wrestles with itself in these challenging times. Thoughtful, provocative, beautiful and brutal, Reliance is a journey you need to take.

1. Primal
2. Mercenary
3. Discordia
4. Axis
5. Huntress
6. Unbound
7. Indifferent
8. Drifter
9. Draconian
10. Vellichor

With their sound being complex yet deeply human, woven together by intricate rhythms, nuanced melodies, and a lyrical depth that demands introspection, their new recording opens on the commanding metal-rock of the melodious Primal and the triumphant Mercenary, before we are gifted the veritably ethereal sounds of Discordia, the rocker Axis and the atmospherically-charged balladry of Huntress.

Along next is the propellent metal sounds of Unbound which is itself backed seamlessly by another effective ballad in the form of Indifferent, the mid-tempo rocker Drifter, the set rounding out on the forthright, one minute, balladry the next Draconian, coming to a close on the low slung, yet guitar soaring Vellichor.

www.soenmusic.com

SOEN - Primal (Official Video)