SOEN have always understood that the most powerful moments in heavy music exist in the spaces between extremes. Their latest single ‘Discordia’ proves they’re still masters of that territory.
The track, released ahead of their seventh studio album Reliance (out January 16 via Silver Lining Music), finds the Swedish progressive metal outfit exploring what drummer Martin Lopez describes as “darker textures to capture the descent from self-protection into isolation.”
It’s a fitting description. ‘Discordia’ moves between moments of crushing weight and passages of genuine beauty, never settling long enough to let you catch your breath. Vocalist Joel Ekelöf delivers with the emotional precision that’s become his signature, navigating lyrics that sit “in the tension between wanting connection and building walls to avoid pain.”
The current lineup sees Lopez and Ekelöf joined by Lars Enok Åhlund on keyboards and guitar, Cody Lee Ford on lead guitar, and Stefan Stenberg holding down bass duties. Together, they’ve crafted an album that promises to push further into the emotional territory SOEN have been charting since their formation.
Reliance follows the already released singles ‘Primal’ and ‘Mercenary’, each showcasing different facets of the band’s sound. Where ‘Primal’ offered a barrel-chested roar against existential dread, ‘Mercenary’ channelled the weight of inherited violence with unflinching clarity.
The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by Alexander Backlund at Fascination Street Studios, with mastering by Tony Lindgren.
SOEN have also announced an extensive 2026 touring schedule, including a 16-date headline run across Scandinavia beginning in February, plus summer festival appearances at Rockharz, Alcatraz, Summer Breeze, and more.
Reliance is available for pre-order now on CD, vinyl (black and colour variants), and digital formats via Silver Lining Music.
