Ghost Cult Keefy welcomes back in Martin Lopez of Soen (also ex – Opeth and ex-Amon Amarth) for our third interview ever! With the just released new album “Memorial” – Martin discusses the evolution of the band over the years, new songcraft techniques used by the band, and much more! Continue reading
“Niiiiiice”, says Louis Balfour – you know, the jazz critic in The Fast Show comedy sketches. Well, Soen’s Memorial (Silver Lining Music) is niiiiiice – a decidedly serious sandwich full of delights, earworms, and all-around expertise.
Analyzing the evolutive process of an artist of a band tends to be a journey full of debacles and details that are indeed interesting. Taking into consideration the personal issues that every artist deals with while writing an album is a very impactful and important aspect of how the final product comes out and one thing is for certain, COVID-19 and all that we lived through 2020 will be a heavy influence in all the albums that we listen to this year. Soen’s Imperial (Silver Lining Music) is no exception. An album as captivating as their last effort Lotus (Silver Lining Music), the Swedish band is expanding what could already be considered their signature sound: strong, beautiful, and catchy ballads that mix heavy sections here and there. Maybe, as mentioned, it is because of all the different situations that everyone went through last year that made the band go through a route that is perceived as sentimental but, more than anything, it feels real.
Martin Lopez is a progressive metal and drumming legend, with his many projects including a long stint in Opeth and his current band, Soen. Soen’s new album Lotus is out now via Silver Lining Music. The band has been prolific writers over the years and Lotus is a masterpiece, so the band is ready to share it with the world. Check out our chat with Martin now! Podcast produced by Omar Cordy for Ghost Cult.Continue reading
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Featuring, at various times past and present, former members of Opeth, Testament, Death, Willowtree, and Sadus, Swedish Progressive Metallers Soen are one of that rare breed of ‘supergroup’ that actually makes good music and isn’t just a disappointing ego trip. Soen have spent their career balancing Tool atmospherics and Opeth’s staccato shredding and clean moments to create a style all of their own that is full of light and shade and a back catalogue filled with quality. With their fourth album, Lotus (Silver Lining) the band have crafted their most enjoyable record yet.Continue reading
Throughout Soen’s career, the comparisons and similarities to Tool and Opeth have been consistent across 2012’s Cognitive and 2014’s Tellurian (both Spinefarm). And it’s completely understandable. Founder and drummer of Soen, Martin Lopez (ex-Opeth and Amon Amarth) notes Tool to be among one of his major inspirations for their musical style. Continue reading
Progressive metallers Soen, who released the stunning Cognitive two years ago, are back with Tellurian this November from the Spinefarm label. Soen features Martin Lopez (ex-Opeth, ex-Amon Amarth) along with vocalist Joel Ekelöf (Willowtree), guitarist Joakim Platbarzdis and bassist Stefan Stenberg (replacing Steve DiGiorgio). The first album a critics and fan favorite and the prospect of new music from this vital band is exciting. More details and music coming soon!
From The Press Release:
The melodies are intricate, the playing muscular and the choruses soaring; overall, the feel is one of a band whose intent is very much in synch with the sort of core values -skilled musicianship, emotion over precision, importance of album artwork- that seem to be back in vogue.
Produced by Platbarzdis, mixed by the legendary Grammy Award-winning David Bottrill (Tool, Smashing Pumpkins, Muse, King Crimson, etc.) and mastered at Bob Ludwig’s Gateway set-up in the U.S. by Adam Ayan, also a Grammy winner, Tellurian sees SOEN taking the approach of their Cognitive debut (2012, Spinefarm Records) and pushing the boundaries in terms of musical scope, the whole thing shot through with the confidence of a band who have found their voice.
Rhythmic, experimental and flowing, and with the “muso” side never taking precedence over a good song and a telling chorus, Tellurian (“relating to, or inhabiting the earth”) will appeal to anyone with an ear for quality playing, and there’s further reward to be had below the surface, with the lyrics taking a more direct route than on Cognitive, and the construction of the material – including first single/video “Tabula Rasa” (“Clean Slate”) – allowing room for the raw emotion to shine through.
SOEN make music for the head and the heart.
