2023-08-28 07:00:37
(c) Jeremy Saffer
Once an apparent sideshow for progressively interested musicians, might Say have long been on their own two feet and are now among the hottest stocks of classic, yet challenging sounds. With “Imperial” they even cracked the top 20 of the Austrian album charts at the beginning of 2021 and have therefore ‘arrived’ accordingly. They now want to build on this success. „Memorial“ wants to deal aggressively with social problems and in doing so follows familiar, yet fresh paths.
First of all: The concluding ballad “Vitals” is a matter of taste and ventures into very shallow realms. A little less kitsch would have been nice, but the emotional final third still impresses. Much more typical is a track like “Unbreakable”, which really gets going and hits more modern tones. Guitars and drums in particular are complex and cerebral, but at the same time catchy enough to get stuck. Joel Ekelöf crowns this balancing act with oiled vocal cords and an impressive presence. Only in “Hollowed” does he allow himself to be supported, appropriately to the solemn, once more (semi-)balladesque sounds – just worlds fresher and more complex than the finale.
The best moments bridge the gap between prog tones and more catchy music anyway. “Incendiary” has a welcome touch of modern metal, but at the same time lives from that atmosphere that makes Soen so special. A reduced breakdown with Pink Floyd vibes is out of the ordinary, but still makes sense. The opening “Sincere” flexes the muscles, building volume with hooks and sensitivity. “Violence” actually tries to be a bit heavier all around, before mid-tempo and emotion set a dark counterpoint. The bulky “Icon” also doesn’t get out of your head so quickly and dares to venture into rough-metallic realms more than ever.
All in all a bit calmer and more accessible, but by no means well-behaved: More than ever, Soen squeeze their Prog sound into more catchy, more compact patterns, which suits them very, very well. “Memorial” is – mind you, in the best sense – offensively catchy tune without shedding more complex gimmicks. It’s still regarding atmosphere and surprises, regarding ominous heaviness and heavenly lightness. Soen bring some freshness to their music and evolve it in installments – an exciting, entertaining affair from start to finish.
Rating: 8/10
Available from: 01.09.2023
Available from: Silver Lining Music (Warner Music)
Website: soenmusic.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SoenMusic
Category: Magazin, Reviews
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#Soen #Memorial
