Year: 2021
Total Time: 42:04
Label: Silver Lining Music

Two years ago, progressive metallers SOEN with “Lotus” gave us the best album of their career and one of the best albums of the year. They turned a lot of eyes on them and made a lot of people get involved with them. So, it makes a lot of sense now to ask the question of how they would continue after this success. Would they continue to refine their sound even more, or would they try something different?

If you have followed the course of SOEN, you will have noticed that from album to album they were getting better and better, while maintaining their characteristic style. So here with “Imperial”, they chose to challenge themselves and create something even better. If with “Lotus” the Swedes raised the volume to 11 (p.p. SPINAL TAP joke), on their new album this year they cranked it up to 12!

How did they do that? First, “Imperial” is the heaviest SOEN album. The heavy parts are solid heavy and quite angry I would add. They grab you from the first second and invite you to headbang with them. This was massively supported by the excellent work of Inaki Marconi and Kevin Churko in the production and mixing, respectively. Second, the band’s distinctive style with the difference in dynamics between heavy and calm moments is present here too, better than ever, ready to lure you on an emotional journey. The Swedes have become real masters of this art. Thirdly, Joel Ekelöf’s voice has really taken it to another level. Experienced and confident in his vocal abilities, he is the perfect expressive conduit to channel the emotions of the songs. Listen, for example, to the amazing chorus of the opening “Lumerian” and his emotional performance in the magnificent “Fortune” that closes the album and try not to shudder!

Then we have something I love very much about SOEN. Each song contains a part that is unique and does not repeat itself. This can take the form of a melody on guitar or vocals, an extra solo, an extended chorus, strings, or an extra heavy part. The ending of “Monarch” is a typical example of what I describe, with its wonderful climax. This is something that elevates the tracks and shows how much the band works on their music and how dedicated they are to create the best they can.

Of course, I can’t help but mention the rest of the band, with leader Martin Lopez consistently delivering groove seminars with his drums. The new members, Cody Ford (excellent solos once again) and Oleksii ‘Zlatoyar’ Kobel, on guitar and bass respectively, have fully synced in with the style of the band while Lars Åhlund continues to fill the sound of SOEN beautifully with his keys – as for example in the wonderful “Modesty” recalling their compatriots KATATONIA.

The Swedes continue to deal with human nature, the oppression of the weak and the “outcasts” of society. Undoubtedly influenced by the events of recent years, the compositions of “Imperial” reflect the despair, sadness and anger experienced by those on the receiving end of the consequences of the modern social and political background.

SOEN smartly once again kept the number of songs below ten, avoiding fillers and maintaining a proper balance between their heaviest tracks and their most mellow ones. Despite the obvious influences, the Swedes have shaped their personal sound, which they complement with elements from PINK FLOYD (the wonderful “Illusion”) but also with more modern elements that personally reminded me of bands such as SYSTEM OF A DOWN – the outburst in “Dissident” or the ala “Aerials” melodies of “Fortune”.

If we want to do some nit-picking, we can say that SOEN are starting to repeat themselves a little bit. Some riffs (compare “Lumerian” with “Opponent” from two years ago), track structures and even styles (e.g., “Illusion” is quite similar to the self-titled song from “Lotus”) sound quite familiar without offering any surprises. However, the end result has such a quality that any flaws seem negligible.

Listening to the album for the first time, I found myself constantly comparing it to “Lotus.” Wrong move, as “Lotus” was released in 2019 and I had already established in my mind as the best of SOEN. But the more time I spent on it, the more I found it hard to stop listening to it. The choruses are so addictive, I can’t tell which one I like the most.

For those wondering, “Imperial” is just as inspired as its predecessor! It is fresh, timely and is another gem in the discography of the band. But here comes the big question: What awaits us in the future from SOEN? Are they going to try something different in their next album or not? Until then, let’s enjoy one of the best releases of the year.

Rating: 8.5/10
Editor: Dimitris Benetatos
Related Link: SOEN – Official Page