Soen - Reliance (2026)
Reliance feels like Soen finally leaning into their strengths with real conviction. This is still melodic progressive metal built around control, restraint, and emotional weight rather than technical excess, but the songwriting here lands with more confidence than on some of their recent work. The band sounds locked in: riffs are firm without being overbearing, choruses are expansive without tipping into sentimentality, and the pacing rarely drags.
What works best for me is the balance between immediacy and atmosphere. Tracks unfold cleanly, with strong vocal melodies carrying much of the emotional load, while the rhythm section gives everything a grounded, almost physical presence. There’s a sense of cohesion across the album that makes it feel less like a collection of singles and more like a single, sustained statement. The production reinforces this — polished, but not sterile — allowing dynamics to matter.
That said, Reliance still plays it relatively safe. The band rarely steps outside familiar structures, and while the material is consistently solid, only a handful of moments truly linger after the album ends. I sometimes wish Soen would let sections breathe longer, or take one or two real compositional risks instead of resolving ideas so neatly.
Reliance stands as a strong, mature release: emotionally resonant, well-executed, and clearly purposeful. It doesn’t redefine Soen, but it refines them — and that refinement makes it one of their more satisfying listens in recent years.
Genre: Progressive Metal
Country: Sweden
Final Verdict: 70% (Very Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 4th / 37
Highlight: Huntress (added to 2026 best of)
Made me think of:
Opeth
Leprous
Pain of Salvation
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