Professionally filmed video footage of SOEN — the Swedish progressive rock band featuring drummer Martin Lopez (ex-OPETH, AMON AMARTH), vocalist Joel Ekelöf (WILLOWTREE), guitarist Joakim Platbarzdis and bassist Stefan Stenberg — performing the song “Tabula Rasa” live in Graz, Austria during the group’s last tour can be seen below. The song is taken from the group’s sophomore studio album, “Tellurian”, which was released on November 4, 2014 via Spinefarm Records.
As “Tellurian” makes plain, SOEN is not concerned with the simple or the shallow; their musical journey takes an altogether more ambitious path, and the result is an expansive body of work, wrapped up in the stunning art of Mexican painter José Luis López Galván, that consistently challenges without being “clever-clever” or tough to enjoy.
The melodies are intricate, the playing muscular and the choruses soaring; overall, the feel is one of a band whose intent is very much in synch with the sort of core values — skilled musicianship, emotion over precision, importance of album artwork — that seem to be back in vogue.
Produced by Platbarzdis, mixed by the legendary Grammy Award-winning David Bottrill (TOOL, SMASHING PUMPKINS, MUSE, KING CRIMSON) and mastered at Bob Ludwig’s Gateway setup in the U.S. by Adam Ayan, also a Grammy winner, “Tellurian” sees SOEN taking the approach of their “Cognitive” debut (2012, Spinefarm) and pushing the boundaries in terms of musical scope, the whole thing shot through with the confidence of a band who have found their voice.
Rhythmic, experimental and flowing, and with the “muso” side never taking precedence over a good song and a telling chorus, “Tellurian” (“relating to, or inhabiting the earth”) will appeal to anyone with an ear for quality playing, and there’s further reward to be had below the surface, with the lyrics taking a more direct route than on “Cognitive”, and the construction of the material — including first single/video “Tabula Rasa” (“Clean Slate”) — allowing room for the raw emotion to shine through.
SOEN will embark on a European tour in early October with support from LIZZARD and SHIVERBURN.
The dates are as follows:
Oct. 01 – Euroblast Festival 2015 – Cologne, Germany
Oct. 02 – P60 – Amstelveen, Netherlands
Oct. 03 – Progpower Europe 2015 – Baarlo, Netherlands
Oct. 04 – Cafe Central – Weinheim, Germany
Oct. 05 – Arena Wien – Bezirk-Landstrasse, Austria
Oct. 06 -Rock Café – Prague, Czech Republic
Oct. 07 – Firlej – Wroclaw, Poland
Oct. 08 – Rockhouse Salzburg – Salzburg, Austria
Oct. 09 – Kiff – Aarau, Switzerland
Oct. 10 – Rock n roll Arena – Romagnano Sesia, Italy
Oct. 12 – Glazart Paris, France
Oct. 13 – Le Ferrailleur – Nantes, France
Oct. 14 – Sonora – Erandio, Spain
Oct. 15 – RCA Club – Lisbon, Portugal
Oct. 16 – Hard Club – Porto, Portugal
Oct. 17 – Lopez – Zaragoza, Spain
Oct. 18 – Le Poste à Galène – Marseille, France
Oct. 20 – Borderline – London, United Kingdom
Oct. 21 – Baroeg – Rotterdam, Netherlands
Source: Blabbermouth
