It is again Swedes who return to the front of the stage but this time, not in melodic hrd-rock but in progressive metal and we can say that with each release of an album, 'Soen' sets the bar a little higher and that this latest opus 'IMPERIAL' is what we can do best in this style and after the very good 'Lotus' released in 2019 that I had discovered quite late, the Swedes made use of the period of confinement, their tour obviously being canceled due to the health crisis, to write and record their fifth album with at the key, certainly their best production.
First of all, we can no longer limit 'Soen' to progressive metal because the atmospheres deployed in 'IMPERIAL' mix rock and metal with this talent to make coexist within each title of the differences of intensity and tempo while keeping melodic lines that are accessible, an approach that can be found, even if the style is decidedly different, among the English of 'Threshold'. 'Lumerian' which begins the album is the perfect illustration of this with its explosive guitar riffs which coexist with much more relaxed parts and with a chorus which immediately grafts itself into the head. You can also store titles like 'Deceiver', 'Dissident' or even 'Antagonist' (see the very original video here) in the same style in which the intensity breaks are numerous, the rhythm section contributing remarkably to these multiple changes. But 'Soen' are also compositions with slower tempos and, we can mention the magnificent 'Monarch' (see video above) and 'Modesty' which, even if the atmosphere remains rather heavy overall, bring lines melodic which softens the whole. We find this lighter side of the Swedes with ballads that are 'Illusion' or 'Fortune', the first approaching a progressive rock hovering with magnificent interventions of 'Gilmourian' guitar, the second and placed in last position bringing an emotional level at its peak with this final text which ends on a positive note with 'Joel Ekelof' which sends us a poignant message : "And one day I know you’ll understand that your happiness depends on you". Because it is also necessary to underline that the texts of 'Soen' are particularly turned towards the crisis which we live with in the background this shocking cry concerning the deprivation of liberty which transforms the Man whose very essence of the life is to take risks, in a person gradually losing their humanity by simply surviving, 'Martin Lopez' emphasizing that beyond music: "we will always be a group that has the will to fight for freedom and all the important things in life : the people and the oppressed".
In summary, no need to draw you a picture, this latest Swedish baby of 'Soen' is in every way admirable (I did not mention the remarkable talent of each member of the group and the production that is irreproachable) and will undoubtedly be one of the major releases of the year 2021 in progressive, all styles combined, which makes 'IMPERIAL' an album that should very quickly reach the ideal CD collection of any fan and any fan of rock and progressive metal... | |
