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"Soen achieves with "Imperial" the perfect synthesis between power and melody. The most accomplished album of the Swedes."
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5/5
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It took only four albums for Soen to reach the tops. So when a new production from the Swedes is announced, our eyes sparkle and the avid appetite of progressive metal fans is whetted in an instant. Fifth Joel Ekelof's band opus, "Imperial" is one of the most eagerly awaited releases of this beginning of 2021.
The thick riff of 'Lemurian' plunges the listener into conquered territory, but the Stockholm combo surprises us with the first verse with a swaying rhythm and an aerial guitar before the addictive chorus picks us up in mid-air. It's simply effective and the balance between power and melody is perfect, the solo is full of emotion and the expressive break vocals take us into the world of Soen. This introduction is the illustration of a band at the top of its art. It is representative of the whole album of which several titles have the same emotional and melodic assets or similar constructions ('Deciever', 'Monarch' or the excellent 'Antagonist').
The other part of the album develops a facet that Soen had hinted at on 'Lotus' with calmer tracks with languorous emotion vocal lines as on 'Fortune' or 'Illusion', a clone of 'Lotus', the eponymous title of the previous effort. The atmosphere is more melancholic, the guitars plaintive and Joel's vocals deeply intense. The two tracks are arranged to close each side of the vinyl edition, like the last page of each chapter. A word about 'Dissident', an atypical yet exciting title that synthesizes Soen's evolution and mastery of writing with an omnipresent rhythm, subtle melodic variations and a bridge of absolute beauty.
Relying on a flawless production, Soen delivers an album without frills and with a bluffing artistic maturity. Listen to it once and you will hear the immediacy of the melodies, the urgency of the powerful riffs, the emotion of the vocal lines and the simplicity of the arrangements. Listen to it a hundred times and you will feel as much emotion and pleasure. The chafing spirits will reproach a minimal risk taking or an originality at half mast. We prefer to see it as the exceptional maturity of a band that brings pleasure while obviously taking just as much. "Imperial" is the most accomplished album of the Swedes and a total success. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Lumerian
02. Deceiver
03. Monarch
04. Illusion
05. Antagonist
06. Modesty
07. Dissident
08. Fortune
LINEUP:
Cody Ford: Guitares
Joel Ekelof: Chant
Lars Åhlund: Guitares / Claviers
Martin Lopez: Batterie
Oleksii “zlatoyar” Kobel: Basse
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(1) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4.3/5 (6 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (6 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH SOEN
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LAST INTERVIEW
SOEN (DECEMBER 11, 2020)
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Without Martin Lopez, his usual sidekick, Joel Ekelöf, singer of Soen, came to present "Imperial", the new production of the Swedes, just for Music Waves!
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT SOEN
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