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Soen - Lykaia CD (album) cover

LYKAIA

Soen

Experimental/Post Metal

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Mind_Drive
5 stars Soen did it again! I couldn't have hoped for a more epic release. Since their second output "Tellurian" struck me (btw it still hasn't worn out!!), they have been one of my top 5 favourite bands. I revisited "Cognitive" and it was amazing, so I had high expectations for this one. Long story short: they managed to awe me again! I might even say that this is their best album until now, if only by a little.

It's hard to describe why, because Soen seems to me not the kind of band you name lots of outstanding tracks. It's more the big picture of the album as a whole plus the typical "Soen-feeling" you get when listening to them on every singe track! The wall of sound and the overall unique atmosphere they create is like a brutally honest but soothing ocean you wanna bathe in. It just feels like home to me. Yes it feels that magical. And yes I'm a total fanboy and not objectively at all here. But even when I let my feelings aside Lycaia is a solid 4 Stars for me in terms of musicianship, songwriting and production.

Considering how much joy this album has given me and surely will for a long time into the future, it's nothing less than a masterpiece in my ears (and heart <3 ). 5 stars!!

Report this review (#1688263)
Posted Friday, February 3, 2017 | Review Permalink
The Jester
3 stars Review #47. For those who aren't familiar with the name of Soen, I should tell you that is a band with experienced and very gifted musicians, that all of them participated in other famous bands before gathering up and form Soen. So, here you can find ex-members from Opeth, Amon Amarth, Iced Earth, Testament etc. Their discography consists of 3 studio albums, with Lykaia, being their brand new one. Since I found out very recently about them, I am not familiar with their previous works, so I cannot get into any comparisons. When I listen to some "new" Prog Metal bands, every time I found myself thinking how big influence was the music and the style of Tool, and Soen is not an exception. Their style - to my ears at least - sounds like a mix of Tool with Riverside. The truth is that Lykaia is a good album, but it simply feels like a lot of their ideas are redundant. The guitar playing, for example, is top notch, but on the other hand, we have many Prog Metal bands that can play equally well. But there are some "magical" moments that the bands "shines" and there you realize how good musicians these guys are. The album is a very good one, with nice compositions, great guitar solos, powerful riffs, clean vocals, but no new ideas unfortunately. In many cases, I found myself wondering, "Where do I know this from"? The main problem that this band is facing is the bitter reality that great musicianship does not equal great songwriting, and although they might have some very solid ideas to develop, they don't really have the ability to capture the listener for an extended period. But despite all those things, Lykaia is a good album. The fans of Prog-Metal will definitely enjoy it, not to mention the fans of Progressive Rock and Heavy Metal. I think I will give 3.0 stars.
Report this review (#1696391)
Posted Friday, February 24, 2017 | Review Permalink
Chalcobalt
3 stars This predominantly Swedish set of experienced musicians here deliver suggestive prog metal mainly oozing of Tool while including a sleeve of Opeth amongst the influences. The ingredients are a pounding bass and equally chugging guitars, setting up for a strong and powerful album. The three first songs are the most clearcut, with the memorable chorus of 'Secretarian' making it as close to a prog hit as it gets on this record. 'Orison' contains some immense riff sections, while the mellow and slow paced 'Lucidity' is actually a rather epic ballad with a gripping tone. The remaining songs are less interesting composition-wise but yet maintaining a consistent musical standard. The record sometimes moves towards the border to alternative rock, a direction which the heartfelt vocals contributes to set.
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Posted Saturday, April 15, 2017 | Review Permalink
BrufordFreak
COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars A multi-national band based in Sweden, this is SOEN's third album of LEPROUS/KARNIVOOL/VOTUM-like progressive metal music. Excellent sound production makes this album a joy to listen to--as do the variations in styles, yet there is something missing to bring this up to a level with the aforementioned masters of atmospheric prog metal.

01. "Sectarian" (5:55) vocals and heavy metal music sound very much like countrymates LEPROUS. A little too straightforward and monotonous. (7.5/10)

02. "Orison" (7:07) the sound here is very much like TOOL and then KARNIVOOL with the chorus. Nice lead guitar work--both the djenty riffing and the delicate picking. (8.5/10)

03. "Lucidity" (6:36) a kind of PINK FLOYD/AUTUMN CHORUS spacey folk mix, this is definitely a highlight for me. (9/10)

04. "Opal" (6:46) opens JUST LIKE the first song! The little multi-guitar riffs beneath the singing are rather annoying. The music and musicianship in the chorus sections are so simple. Despite the interesting guitar soloing in the fifth minute and the CY CURNIN-like singing over empty space in the sixth, this is nothing to write home about. (7.5/10)

05. "Jinn" (5:41) a nice change in the mix with the delicate sung voice more forward from the start. The music builds beneath and that works well. Nice chorus section, too. Lots of nice, interesting changes over the course of this song, including a few Middle Eastern flavors. A top three song from me. (9/10)

06. "Sister" (5:30) interesting for the heavy guitar parts contrasted with the use of a breathy, delicate singing voice-- at least until the "Sister" choruses. It works. (8.5/10)

07. "Stray" (5:38) nice sounds, structures, speed, excellent guitar work and great vocal. i love the delicate interlude in the second half of the fourth minute. Another top three for me. (9/10)

08. "Paragon" (6:25) slow, spacious, yet heavy, almost bluesy, with a soft, delicate voice used again for delivery of the lyrics. Organ solo before distorted guitar chords usher in the chorus and screaming GILMOUR-esque lead guitar solo. Perhaps a little too Floydian (until the end). (8/10)

09. "Gods Acre" (8:10) another slower paced, more spacious song that sounds very much like Australia's top notch TOOL-inspired band, KARNIVOOL, only not as nuanced or sophisticated. The song plays out more like a very straightforward, four-chord stoner-rock song. Their usual break-down, soft section at the two-thirds mark is getting a little too predictable and, thus, old. (8.5/10)

Though singer Joel Ekel'f has a top notch voice--with excellent clarity, diversity, and control--his deliveries of the lyrics are a little too straightforward. I'd like to see more quirks and ticks to help me take notice, otherwise he's just a white bread version of Ian Kenny or Einar Solberg. As a matter of fact, it feels as if all of these fine musicians are playing it a little too conservatively most of the time. I hope that in the future they will break out and add some fire and idiosyncracy to their recorded songs.

Three stars; a solid if straightforward collection of atmospheric metal.

Report this review (#1843656)
Posted Tuesday, December 19, 2017 | Review Permalink

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