Soen

PROG-METAL-NORTHERN LIGHTS

Led by Joel Ekelöf (vocals) and Martin Lopez (drums), Swedish prog-metal outfit Soen return to Pratteln with their new album “Reliance” (2026), once again inviting Swiss fans to immerse themselves in emotionally charged sonic realms and embark on a breathtaking journey through fascinating soundscapes.

Soen, the Swedish progressive-metal powerhouse, continually discover incredible new musical paths in the space between light and dark, loud and quiet, heavy and soothingly gentle. Exploring the deepest human emotions, Soen delve into the human mind, heart and soul on their seventh studio album, “Reliance”. With visionary care and an added touch of heaviness. Alongside Ekelöf and Lopez, Lars Enok Åhlund (keyboards & guitar), Cody Lee Ford (guitar) and Stefan Stenberg (bass) take the ongoing evolution of Soen’s sound to entirely new heights. Take “Primal”, a powerful outcry led by Ekelöf’s incredible voice that describes the existential struggle between the human mind and the world we live in today. “Axis” offers a determined and defiant look at the state of humanity, driven by Lopez’s relentless yet swinging drums. And then there is the quiet elegance of “Indifferent”, a beautifully orchestrated modern lament for the loss of love, carried by the power of the strings, piano and once again Ekelöf’s magnificent voice. Like its two predecessors, “Imperial” (2021) and “Memorial” (2023), “Reliance” also came out on top in the Metal Hammer Soundcheck and was named “Album of the Month”: “Somehow, Sweden’s prog-metal wunderkinds manage to combine Opeth’s aesthetics and ambition with an incredible instinct for hooks and emotion turned into music, giving Katatonia’s finest moments a run for their money,” writes the critic. “The result is radiant, moving prog-metal northern lights that are bigger than the music itself.” Once again, Ekelöf proves that he is one of the finest singers in the genre, while the instrumentalists are every bit his equal. Diebuehrers.com experienced just how perfectly the songs translate to the stage at the last concert in Pratteln in 2024: “When Soen left the stage after just under 90 minutes and two encores, no one really wanted to leave. The hall was buzzing with enthusiasm and the band received the ovation they deserved. That evening, Soen once again proved why they are one of the most outstanding prog-metal bands of our time.”