Soen - ATLANTIS (2022) [Official Digital Download 24/48]

The engaging, enchanting, cutting, yet beautiful Swedish metal supergroup Soen will release (via Silver Lining Music) "ATLANTIS", featuring thirteen of the group’s most popular compositions reinterpreted with live orchestral accompaniment.

The perfect way for Soen to celebrate a decade together; "ATLANTIS" was created within the mystic and magical confines of Atlantis Grammofon Studio in Stockholm, Sweden, which has seen a wide range of international artists record, from Quincy Jones to Lenny Kravitz to Green Day. Formerly a movie house in 1941, it went on to become Metronome Studio (during which time ABBA was born) before becoming Atlantis Grammofon in 1983.

"On 10 December 2021, the Swedish supergroup around Willowtree singer Joel Ekelöf and ex-Opeth and ex-Amon Amarth drummer Martín López gathered at the venerable Atlantis Grammofon Studio in Stockholm to make (band) history. Together with an eight-piece orchestra (four strings, two backing singers, a pianist and an upright bassist), they played their way through brilliantly rearranged, wonderfully melancholic versions of a dozen of their classics - from "Antagonist" to "Lotus", from "Monarch" and "Lucidity" to "River" and "Jinn", "Modesty" or "Lascivious". In addition, they served up a brand new track with the equally intense and thoughtful "Trials", the highlight of which is a breathtaking guitar solo, somewhere between David Gilmour and Gary Moore. And as a surprise, there is also a heartbreakingly emotional Slipknot cover with "Snuff". The sound of the whole recording is fantastic - wonderfully warm and atmospheric, yet crystal clear and transparent."

"All the songs show so much more depth, and singer Joel Ekelöf's demanding lyrics come into their own so much more. Songs like "Illusion" are performed very soulfully and get under your skin. Very beautiful how Joel sings here, and the solo guitar is dripping with emotion. The song reminds me a lot of Ray Wilson. It's great how the two guitarists Lars and Cody play these soulful solos again and again. The same goes for the wonderful "River". The symbiosis of the acoustic guitar, the strings and Joel's voice is great and makes you dream. On 10 December 2021, Soen was at Atlantis Grammofon Studio in Stockholm, a former cinema where Green Day have also performed. Recording and mixing were in the capable hands of David Castillo, who has also worked with Leprous and Kreator. You can see here that the prog songs of the Swedes also work very well in this quiet guise. And so you can enjoy the album as well as the concert recording to the fullest and let the 14 wonderful, alternative versions take effect on you. Great cinema, what the Swedes offer here."

Tracklist
01. Antagonist
02. Lunacy
03. Monarch
04. Trials
05. River
06. Jinn
07. Illusion
08. Modesty
09. Lucidity
10. Savia
11. Fortune
12. Snuff
13. Lascivious
14. Lotus