LOTUS

"Lotus" released in 2019, the fourth album by Swedish prog metal band Soen, is a beautiful album, not only in terms of music but also with intriguingly beautiful artwork. Black shades are combined with copper-colored lines, all presented in an exciting fold-out cover. It can't be any other way than the music being equally fantastic.

The band consists of vocalist Joel Ekelöf, keyboardist/guitarist Lars Åhlund, bassist Stefan Stenberg, lead guitarist Cody Ford and last but not least, founding member Martin Lopez, the former Opeth drummer. These men create prog metal with a typical Scandinavian touch of melancholy, resulting in atmospheric music. Compared to their excellent predecessor, "Lykaia", there have been noticeable sound changes on this exciting album. Let me take you through the nine tracks of this captivating album so I can explain what I'm talking about.

In the opener, Opponent, it's immediately clear that the ominous music is wonderfully driven by Lopez's deep drum beats. His prominent role is surrounded by tasteful reverb, a constant feature throughout the album. Opponent comes across as a prelude to what is to come. Although it's an excellent song, the real magic happens afterward, where it should be noted that Soen doesn't focus on lightning-fast solos, blistering drum salvos, or high vocal ranges. Think in terms of atmospheric albums like Opeth's "Damnation" or Riverside's "Love, Fear And The Time Machine". Despite "Lotus" sounding heavier than these examples, the album is no less melancholic. Soen presents their own interpretation of virtuosity.

The subsequent track, Lascivious, demonstrates how the band combines dynamic shifts with catchy vocal lines. Joel Ekelöf's voice has a warm quality reminiscent of Mariusz Duda from Riverside, making him the absolute standout in Soen. The timing with which he sings the refrains in Lascivious is magnificent. Not only does he have a pleasing voice, but he also fits perfectly into the band's sound.

All the shades of gray on the album are apt because gray it is. Take the impressively accompanied music video for Martyrs, which showcases Soen at their heaviest, then transitions into a dark section with piano. In the title track, the focus is also on atmosphere, and creating that atmosphere is clearly the band's main business. Cody Ford is an incredible guitarist. Just joining the band, he showcases his skills in this wonderfully constructed song. Covenant and Penance continue the Soen sound with their dynamic variations. Both songs are mid-tempo, with bombastic and powerful outbursts, with the keyboards not forgetting to be beautiful. The ballad River, with its lyrical guitar work, is also one of my favorites. After the heaviest track on the album, Rival, it's up to Lunacy to conclude the whole album. What are we actually hearing here? Is it alternative rock or psychedelic metal? Soen presents their own unique twist without veering off track.

If we sum up the achievements Soen has reached with "Lotus", we hear a more captivating band sound with a more prominent place for drums and keyboards. They've won me over.

Originally posted on www.progenrock.com