For some years friends of mine have been raving about this Swedish Progressive Rock band called SOEN. They love the studio albums, enjoy the live shows and assure me that this band is amazing in very possible way. So, on that note I ask our chief editors to send me the latest album. Well, they have listened to me, and I have listened to "Atlantis". And yes, I do get their admiration, but I also have some questions. Okay, I do know that they released their debut album "Cognitive" back in 2012, and that they have released five studio albums to date. And just like with the latest THE PINEAPPLE THIEF ("Nothing But The Truth"), I didn't realise that this is a live album until I read it somewhere. "Atlantis" doesn't have any audience to roar, clap, sing along or whistle during or after the songs.

The fact that this is live makes my whole demeanour change considerably, as if this would have been a studio album I would have questioned the lack of aggression, of inventive intermissions. Now I understand that they have chosen to play their songs in an intimate way, making it feel like a living room concert. You can imagine yourself enjoying a whisky and a snack whilst sitting back and undergoing the magic that SOEN is unleashing on "Atlantis".

I also know that some of the band members used to be in other well-known bands, like OPETH, but I feel that hasn't had anything to do with the amount of success these guys have had. It might have given them an easier start, but to achieve what they have acquires writing, playing and recording good music, and apparently SOEN have achieved that in spades. What sets them apart is using a song by an extremely heavy band and turning into an orchestral masterpiece. Just listen wat SOEN has done to the SLIPKNOT classic "Snuff". Any band who can do that has a lot to offer. "Atlantis" certainly does that. So, thank you, my friends, for pointing me towards SOEN. I will now have to bow to your wisdom and look up the other albums.

There you have it, an old dog like me can still be taught new tricks. That is also why I still write reviews whilst being in my sixties. I really do love discovering new bands, or in this case, bands that have been around for a while but have escaped my attention until now. This gives me a chance to correct that. After having experienced BARK for the first time in 2022 it is now SOEN who have caught me in their web. I will see them live next time. I need to.