Soen

Formed in Stockholm in 2010 around Uruguayan–Swedish drummer Martin Lopez and singer Joel Ekelöf, Soen entered the European progressive metal scene with a melodic, brooding style characterized by carefully worked structures and a prominent clean vocal. From their debut album, Cognitive (2012), Soen developed metal built on polymetric rhythms and tense atmospheres, evolving toward more open compositions on Tellurian (2014) and a more organic, direct approach on Lykaia (2017). With Lotus (2019) and Imperial (2021) the band honed a balance between rhythmic weight, catchy riffs and airier arrangements, incorporating elements close to alternative rock while remaining rooted in a progressive aesthetic. The release of Memorial in 2023 confirmed this shift toward tighter formats without abandoning Soen’s characteristic atmospheric dimension, while the album Atlantis (2022) revisited several repertoire tracks in a more intimate setting with enriched arrangements. Primarily active on club and festival stages in Europe and Latin America, Soen builds its identity around a tight group dynamic where guitars and keyboards support a vocal approach focused on nuance rather than showmanship.