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
Thurifer
Soen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chosen by temptation′s wicked ghost
Saviour of the young and of the fragile
Healer of the ignorant and poor
After every lighted pyre
Ashes fertilize the soil
Dig into your weakness for an answer
Cursing younger souls with your stigma
Yet protected by the house of god
And with every broken promise
There's a cold, well spoken word
Preach for solitude
Sin remission
Leave your will and your thoughts by the door
And surrender who you are
Preach for sanity
Strength and reason
Do submit to the lies that we teach
And enlightenment you will reach
Open your heart to divine oppression and for us stand and fight
Empathy for the ones graded higher
Apathy towards the ranked low
Trading guilt for mirrors and desires
Trading hope for favors and for wealth
Selling fantasy and fables
To the ones who need it most
Preach for solitude
Sin remission
Leave your will and your thoughts by the door
And surrender who you are
Preach for sanity
Strength and reason
Do submit to the lies that we teach
And enlightenment you will reach
Open your heart to divine oppression and for us stand and fight
Kiss the thorn
Devious ghost
Stand on your own
Be your meaning
Be your healer
Stand on your own
Say you′ll leave it
Say you'll leave it
Hold my hand one moment
Teach me how to see beyond the lies
Just a broken promise
Just an echo of a distant cry
The lyrics to Soen's song "Thurifer" delve into themes of desire, temptation, religious hypocrisy, and the manipulation of vulnerable individuals. The song paints a dark picture of a figure who is both savior and healer to the young and fragile, but also a curse to the innocent souls affected by their stigma. The lyrics suggest that this figure hides behind the facade of religious righteousness to protect themselves, while cold, well-spoken words and broken promises are left in their wake.
The first verse introduces the idea that after every bright and fiery display, symbolized by a lighted pyre, ashes are left behind to fertilize the soil. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the destructive nature of desire and temptation, and the subsequent consequences that follow. The chorus then beckons listeners to "preach for solitude, sin remission," encouraging them to abandon their own will and thoughts at the door and surrender their true selves. This highlights the manipulation and control exerted by the figure being described.
In the second verse, the lyrics contrast empathy for those seen as higher in rank with apathy towards the marginalized and less fortunate. Guilt is traded for vanity and desires, as hope is exchanged for favors and wealth. The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the submission to lies and false enlightenment that is being propagated. The bridge section, featuring the line "kiss the thorn, devious ghost," adds an element of both danger and deceit to the narrative.
In the final lines, the lyrics call for individuals to "stand on your own, be your meaning, be your healer." This can be seen as a call to reject the manipulative teachings and to find one's own truth and purpose. The mention of a broken promise and a distant cry further emphasizes the theme of betrayal and the longing for something more authentic.
Overall, "Thurifer" explores the dark underbelly of religious manipulation and the consequences of following blindly. It challenges listeners to question and reject the false teachings that only serve to control and oppress.
Line by Line Meaning
Stricken by the lightning of desire
Overwhelmed by a sudden and intense longing
Chosen by temptation's wicked ghost
Selected by the alluring and deceitful force of temptation
Saviour of the young and of the fragile
Protector and support for those vulnerable and inexperienced
Healer of the ignorant and poor
Mender of the uneducated and underprivileged
After every lighted pyre
Following the burning of each funeral fire
Ashes fertilize the soil
The remnants nourish the ground for new growth
Dig into your weakness for an answer
Explore your vulnerabilities in search of understanding
Dig until you find a reason why
Keep searching until you uncover the motive
Cursing younger souls with your stigma
Inflicting judgment and discrimination upon the youthful
Yet protected by the house of God
But shielded by the sanctuary of religion
And with every broken promise
With each unkept commitment
There's a cold, well-spoken word
A detached and articulate expression
Preach for solitude
Advocate for the importance of being alone
Sin remission
Absolution of wrongdoing
Leave your will and your thoughts by the door
Abandon your desires and opinions
And surrender who you are
Yield your true self
Preach for sanity
Advocate for rationality and soundness of mind
Strength and reason
Power and logic
Do submit to the lies that we teach
Comply with the falsehoods we impart
And enlightenment you will reach
Attain a higher understanding and awareness
Open your heart to divine oppression and for us stand and fight
Embrace religious domination and advocate on our behalf
Empathy for the ones graded higher
Compassion towards those with superior status
Apathy towards the ranked low
Indifference towards those with lower ranking
Trading guilt for mirrors and desires
Exchanging remorse for vanity and cravings
Trading hope for favors and for wealth
Swapping optimism for benefits and riches
Selling fantasy and fables
Peddling illusions and fictional tales
To the ones who need it most
To those who require it the most
Kiss the thorn
Embrace the pain and adversity
Devious ghost
Misleading spirit
Stand on your own
Rely on yourself
Be your meaning
Define your purpose
Be your healer
Become your own source of healing
Say you'll leave it
Declare your intention to abandon it
Hold my hand one moment
Take my hand temporarily
Teach me how to see beyond the lies
Instruct me in perceiving the truth
Just a broken promise
Only an unkept commitment
Just an echo of a distant cry
Merely a faint reverberation of a far-off plea
Writer(s): Lars Ahlund, Leif Stenberg, Martin Lopez, Joel Ekelof
Contributed by Arianna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
SoenOfficial
Stricken by the lightning of desire
Chosen by temptation’s wicked ghost
Saviour of the young and of the fragile
Healer of the ignorant and poor
After every lighted pyre
Ashes fertilize the soil
Dig into your weakness for an answer
Dig until you find a reason why
Cursing younger souls with your stigma
Yet protected by the house of god
And with every broken promise
There’s a cold, well spoken word
Preach for solitude
Sin remission
Leave your will and your thoughts by the door
And surrender who you are
Preach for sanity
Strength and reason
Do submit to the lies that we teach
And enlightenment you will reach
Open your heart to divine oppression and for us stand and fight
Empathy for the ones graded higher
Apathy towards the ranked low
Trading guilt for mirrors and desires
Trading hope for favours and for wealth
Selling fantasy and fables
to the ones who need it most
Preach for solitude
Sin remission
Leave your will and your thoughts by the door
And surrender who you are
Preach for sanity
Strength and reason
Do submit to the lies that we teach
and enlightenment you will reach
Open your heart to divine oppression and for us stand and fight
Kiss the thorn
Devious ghost
Stand on your own, be your meaning, be your healer
Stand on your own, say you’ll leave it, say you’ll leave it
Hold my hand one moment, teach me how to see beyond the lies
Just a broken promise, just an echo of a distant cry
SoenOfficial
Stricken by the lightning of desire
Chosen by temptation’s wicked ghost
Saviour of the young and of the fragile
Healer of the ignorant and poor
After every lighted pyre
Ashes fertilize the soil
Dig into your weakness for an answer
Dig until you find a reason why
Cursing younger souls with your stigma
Yet protected by the house of god
And with every broken promise
There’s a cold, well spoken word
Preach for solitude
Sin remission
Leave your will and your thoughts by the door
And surrender who you are
Preach for sanity
Strength and reason
Do submit to the lies that we teach
And enlightenment you will reach
Open your heart to divine oppression and for us stand and fight
Empathy for the ones graded higher
Apathy towards the ranked low
Trading guilt for mirrors and desires
Trading hope for favours and for wealth
Selling fantasy and fables
to the ones who need it most
Preach for solitude
Sin remission
Leave your will and your thoughts by the door
And surrender who you are
Preach for sanity
Strength and reason
Do submit to the lies that we teach
and enlightenment you will reach
Open your heart to divine oppression and for us stand and fight
Kiss the thorn
Devious ghost
Stand on your own, be your meaning, be your healer
Stand on your own, say you’ll leave it, say you’ll leave it
Hold my hand one moment, teach me how to see beyond the lies
Just a broken promise, just an echo of a distant cry
Anonymous
But what is the whispering?!
Roadie Ric
Respect for your powerful sound from Chicago. Rock on guys.
Daniel Rocha
What does it say in the whispering part???
Deby Soares
😍🙆❤❤❤
Ashley Arnold presents music's
Beautiful lyrics I love it 🙆😍😍🎶🎶🎶🎸👏❤❤
Walyd K
You guys are just mind blowing. I can not start to explain just how much I relate to your music. Each track you release is better than the previous one. Seriously, i dont think my life would be the same without SOEN. Please keep sharing this mastery!
Kitai
napim?
Luis Gerardo Solis Paniagua
Que clase de banda más increíble y brutal es Soen, esperándo verlos el otro año acá en Costa Rica. 🤘
Kitai
napim