Soen - Lotus (2019)

Ever since ‘bumping’ into their set at ProgPower USA in 2018, we have been quite taken by Soen and their mixture of Progressive Rock/Metal music. With “Lotus”, the band opens up 2019 with a captivating release filled with crafty melodies and soaring vocal arrangements. If you like proggy/dreamy music, this is definitely the band for you.

Opening the release, “Opponent” sets a very playful and yet somber tone. Intricate guitar melodies perfectly intertwined with a pulsating bass guitar line and tight drumming. As “Lascivious” and “Martyrs” roll, we are intoxicated with the versatile vocals of Joel Ekelöf and how they are perfectly complemented by crafty percussions and very subtle keyboards. The band’s ability to craft unique songs with a proggy foundation and a very dramatic mood is exactly what makes them stand out from the rest.

With dark pieces like “Lotus”, the band delivers a certain lounge-y feel that is quite refreshing and showcases their versatility. For those looking for the more traditional Progressive songs, “Covenant” and the ethereal “Penance” are two brilliant pieces filled with complex passages and very well placed atmospheric elements that shake things up, keeping the songs interesting and engaging. Martin Lopez drumming in this release is stellar, perfectly setting the pace for such crafty songs, in particular epic pieces like “Rival”.

The release ends with the playful percussions of “Lunacy”, one of our favorite tracks in this release. Filled with tons of heavy guitars, lush atmospheric moments, and some of the best clean vocals we have heard in quite a while, “Lotus” is one hell of a release that will catapult Soen into bigger stages. All song in this release have a superbly high replay value thanks to their expertly crafted musicality. It might be too early to say, but this release is already feeling like a solid candidate for the top of 2019 albums.

Label: Silver Lining Music

Release: February 1st, 2019

Genre: Progressive Metal/Rock

Country: Sweden