SOEN

Lotus

SILVER LINING MUSIC Melancholic metallers lose the ‘supergroup’ tag, stay super

Four albums into a career that’s seen the band’s roll-call of luminaries come and go, from Steve Digiorgio (Death, Testament, Sadus, etc) to ex-avatarium/evergrey guitarist Marcus Jidell, Soen can no longer really claim to be a supergroup. With only former Opeth sticksman Martin Lopez remaining as the ‘famous’ person in Soen, they are solidifying themselves as a band in their own right. Lotus is an album of crystalline and emotionally-charged tones that lilt and flourish between light chaos and subtle melancholy like latter-day Katatonia. As always Joel Ekelöf’s vocals are mesmerising and reminiscent of Mikael Åkerfeldt. There are clear developments in the overall tone thanks to new guitarist Cody Ford’s technique coming into focus on an expansive, technically brilliant collection of songs that show a maturation in Soen’s career.

■■■■■■■■■■

FOR FANS OF: Tool, Uneven Structure, Opeth