DARK TRANQUILLITY & SOEN

Dark Tranquillity is one of the original and most influential melodic death metal bands to emerge from Sweden in the early 1990s; along with  In Flames and At the Gates, they essentially created the explosive subgenre that combined death metal’s intensity, progressive elements, and Gothic experimentation with hooky, melodic, groove-oriented riffs and twin-guitar lead lines. Dark Tranquillity were one of the earliest and most prominent practitioners, as evidenced by their 1993 debut long-player Skydancer. They were prolific during those years and toured constantly; when they were home, they issued strings of singles, splits, and EPS including 1995’s Of Chaos and Eternal Night. 1999’s Projector proved controversial for early fans due to its pronounced use of electronics, but the group shifted back again on 2000’s ultra-heavy Haven. By 2002’s Damage Done, they had emerged with a mature sound that wed both approaches. 2005’s Character proved their commercial breakthrough; it peaked at number three in Sweden and charted across Europe. They doubled down on that approach for 2007’s charting Fiction (and spent 22 months on the road) and 2010’s We Are the Void. 2013’s Construct mixed black metal with melodic death riffs and gothic rock. Following another 18 months of roadwork and a handful of singles, Dark Tranquillity released Atoma in 2016, their first without guitarist Martin Henriksson, who had retired from music. Moment was released near the end of 2020 and marked their first outing without founding guitarist Niklas Sundin.

 

SOEN emerged from the shadows of Sweden’s progressive metal scene, not with a whisper but with an uncompromising clarity and resolve. Born from the vision of drummer Martin Lopez, previously known for his tenure with the iconic Opeth, and the introspective voice of vocalist Joel Ekelöf, SOEN swiftly carved out a unique identity, their debut album Cognitive (2012) immediately establishing them as a formidable presence.

Their sound is complex yet deeply human, woven together by intricate rhythms, nuanced melodies, and a lyrical depth that demands introspection. The band’s lineup soon solidified, anchored by the versatile multi-instrumentalist Lars Enok Åhlund, guitarist Cody Lee Ford, and the steadfast rhythms of bassist Stefan Stenberg. Over the years, former members such as guitarist Kim Platbarzdis, guitarist Marcus Jidell, and bassist Zlatoyar have also left indelible marks, contributing significantly to the band’s sound and evolution.

Together, they pushed further into uncharted sonic territories, each album marking a deeper exploration of human fragility and resilience. Tellurian (2014) and Lykaia (2017) followed, each record marking a fresh phase of artistic bravery, exploring rawer, more organic territories, and delving deeper into the complex textures of human emotion. But it was perhaps Lotus (2019) and Imperial (2021) that most vividly encapsulated their ability to marry technical sophistication with profound explorations of societal fractures and personal vulnerabilities.

Yet it is in live performance that SOEN truly captivate, their concerts intense rituals where music becomes an emotional catharsis. Audiences don’t just listen, they experience a raw, unfiltered encounter with passion and precision, vulnerability intertwined with strength.