OUTBURN ONLINE
9/10
MODERN PROG ROCK: Swedish prog metal purveyors, Soen, have been carving out a unique niche within the metal subgenre since originally forming in 2004. On its fifth full-length album,
Imperial, founding members Joel Ekelöf (vocals) and Martin Lopez (drums), along with Lars Enok Åhlund (keyboards and guitar), Oleksii “Zlatoyar” Kobel (bass), and Cody Ford (lead guitar), have created eight crisp and dynamic tunes. Often compared to Tool, Anubis Gate, and Opeth, the quintet has always thought way outside the box of what prog metal is supposed to sound like.
Album opener “Lumerian” begins with crunchy riffs, stuttered/truncated time signatures and heavy syncopation including fast double kick drum patterns, followed by a wave of soothingly melodic passages and emotive vocal harmonies that envelopes the listener. From here on out, the entire record flows extremely well with a vibrant atmosphere. While “Illusion” and the Tool-esque “Modesty” slo