🎶 Soen
🌎 Sweden
📀 Reliance
® Silver Lining Music
📅 16/01/2026

There are bands that, no matter what they release, you know it will be good. Without necessarily following their familiar style. One such band is SOEN, favorite of the Greek audience, who will release their seventh full-length album, “Reliance,” in a few days.

They may no longer surprise us as they did with “Cognitive” almost fifteen years ago. Or they may not reintroduce themselves as they did with the amazing “Lotus.” They are doing something equally important for a band that has come a long way. They maintain high standards, slowly but steadily evolving their compositions while keeping their influences apparent, and they weigh down their sound even more to match the “heaviness” of their lyrics and themes. In this sense, “Primal” is the ideal opening for “Reliance” as it gets straight to the point and tackles with anger and momentum socio-political issues that have been increasingly preoccupying the world lately. “Mercenary” follows the same pattern, talking about all the hatred we are imbued with from the moment we are born. The tone then drops somewhat with the atmospheric and somewhat dark introduction of “Discordia” which, however, goes on to offer emotional and musical ups and downs. Keyboards, electric guitars, drums… take turns in the leading role, accompanied perfectly by Joel Ekelöf’s wonderful voice. “Axis” does not deviate from the album’s course so far… heavy, angry, and with a wonderful guitar solo halfway through.

With “Huntress”, we see a slight shift toward more mid-tempo and atmospheric paths, which continues with “Unbound”, guided by piercing guitars and keyboards in the more melodic passages. “Indifferent” is the reason I love SOEN so much. Emotionally charged, it speaks courageously about lost loves. A simple accusation to the other side that turned love into heart breaking indifference. A song that could easily be performed live with a piano, Eckelof’s voice, and dozens of lighters lit in the audience.

In “Drifter”, we return to the usual with characteristic riffs and changes in rhythm and intensity, while “Draconian” emphasizes SOEN’s progressive side. The album closes with the ballad-like and light “Vellichor”, which includes a few almost jazz-like guitar solos.

“Reliance” treads fairly safe ground for SOEN without repeating their past to an alarming degree. It took me a few listens to start picking out songs or even specific parts, as I don’t think it includes what we would call a “catchy hit”. But then again, SOEN’s music has this characteristic. It speaks to the listener’s soul and takes time to digest make it your own.

★ 8/10
✍🏻 Kostas Boudoukos