On May 28, 2010, the formation of Soen was announced, its lineup consisting of former Opeth drummer Martin Lopez, ex-Death, Testament and Sadus bassist Steve DiGiorgio, Willowtree vocalist Joel Ekelöf and guitarist Kim Platbarzdis. The group's first song, "Fraccions", was released on the band's official website on October 2010. Their first video, for the song "Savia", was posted on their Facebook page on February 2012. Their second video is a moody acoustic version of the song "Ideate". The band's third video is for the song "Delenda".
Drummer Martin Lopez has described Soen's music as "melodic, heavy, intricate and very different than everything else." Their debut, Cognitive, was released in February 2012 to positive critical reception, the members' technical proficiency receiving most praise, though many reviewers noted extreme stylistic similarities to the music of Tool.
Martin Lopez commented on the Tool similarity: "We are inspired by Tool but I consider them not only a band but a genre. Besides that, I really don’t think there’s anything to argue about, we make good music whoever it would remind you of. Some people tend to dislike rather than like and are looking for faults instead of seeing music for what it is, good or bad".
Cognitive was released on Spinefarm records on February 15, 2012. The album was mixed by David Bottrill (Tool, Coheed and Cambria, Silverchair, The Smashing Pumpkins, Muse etc.) and mastered by João Carvalho. There's also a bonus track on the Japanese edition called “Writhen”.
As of their fifth album "Imperial", released in 2021, the band members are:
Oleksii "Zlatoyar" Kobel – Bass
Cody Ford – Guitar
Lars Åhlund – Keys, guitar
Joel Ekelöf – Vocals
Martin Lopez – Drums, percussion
Last Night
Soen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A harmony confounding, a capture moving in distress.
It keeps me chasing closure, preventing me from finding peace it holds me back from leaving this vicious circle I am in.
I'm becoming what I thought, what I shouldn't be, what I fear the most
Let me stay here for a while,
It feels like I have journeyed for ages without getting there
The path of endless distance, the road of comforting despair.
I'm becoming what I thought, what I shouldn't be, what I fear the most
Let me stay here for a while,
I depend on this, it's my only light.
The lyrics of "Last Night" by Soen might seem cryptic at first, but upon further analysis, one can understand the depth behind the words presented. The opening lines talk about a "dead note sounding among the tones of restlessness" and a "harmony confounding, a capture moving in distress." These lines metaphysically represent the inner turmoil that the singer is going through. The dead note indicates that there is something wrong within, which is giving rise to restlessness, and the harmony represents the search for peace. However, it is confounding and distressing the singer, making it a bitter-sweet journey.
The lyrics then progress to talk about how the singer is dependent on the turmoil present within themselves, and how it's impossible to break free of the vicious circle they are in. It goes on to say "I'm becoming what I thought, what I shouldn't be, what I fear the most. Let me stay here for a while, I depend on this, it's my only light." These lines reveal that the individual is surrendering to their fears and becoming someone they never wished to be. This "light" is the turmoil present within, making them believe that it is their only source of hope.
The last set of lines talks about how the journey has been long, but there is no end in sight. The path that they are on is one of despair, but it's comforting nonetheless. The final lines re-emphasize the point that the singer is dependent on the turmoil within and cannot leave it behind. The song, in essence, is a lament about being stuck in a cycle of inner turmoil and the impossibility of breaking free.
Line by Line Meaning
hear a dead note sounding among the tones of restlessness
I can sense something off-putting among the anxieties and unease around me, like a melody that doesn't fit in.
A harmony confounding, a capture moving in distress.
The jarring tune seems to be trapped in confusion, as if it's struggling to break free from its own turmoil.
It keeps me chasing closure, preventing me from finding peace it holds me back from leaving this vicious circle I am in.
The dissonance acts as a constant reminder of my own struggles, making it hard for me to move on and find inner peace.
I'm becoming what I thought, what I shouldn't be, what I fear the most
The inner turmoil is changing me in ways that terrify me, turning me into something I never wanted to be.
Let me stay here for a while, I depend on this, it's my only light.
Despite the pain and fear, I feel an odd comfort in the dissonance that I don't want to let go of, and it's become my only source of hope.
It feels like I have journeyed for ages without getting there
The struggles seem unending, and I'm not sure if there's a way out or a destination to aim for anymore.
The path of endless distance, the road of comforting despair.
The journey seems long and never-ending, and even the sense of hopelessness has become a strangely familiar and almost comforting sensation.
I'm becoming what I thought, what I shouldn't be, what I fear the most
The inner turmoil continues to shape and transform me, leading me further away from who I wanted to be and what I believed in.
Let me stay here for a while, I depend on this, it's my only light.
Even though I know that staying in this state is not healthy or sustainable, I still cling to the dissonance because it's my only source of validation and comfort.
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.