Reliance
Silver Linging, 2026
9/10
The Swedish prog-rockers Soen are back with a 7th album, where their hard hitting ways balance light and dark, loud and calm, and heavy and soothing with incredible attention to detail.
“Primal” starts the listen with the band’s inimitable abrasive presence, where Joel Ekelöf’s harmonic voice is met with dense guitars and Martin Lopez’s thundering drums, and “Mercenary” follows with Stefan Stenberg’s precise bass adding much to the thick grooves and melodic backdrop that employs dreaminess, too.
Halfway through, the grungy “Huntress” pairs soft ambience with abrasive bouts, while “Unbound” chugs intensely thanks to Cody Lee Ford’s meticulous guitar licks.
Landing near the end, “Draconian” allows for Lars Enok Åhlund’s mature keys to lead into rugged yet tuneful alt-metal, and “Vellichor” exits with a pretty demeanor that floats gently before building into a powerful, swirling finish.
Whether this is your first time or you’ve been following along for a while, Soen are going to impress you, as few bands that exist today are playing prog-metal as great as these Swedes.
Travels well with:Dark Chapel- Spirit In The Glass; Soen- Memorial