SOEN - Antagonist Official Bass Playthrough by Zlatoyar

Please join us in warmly welcoming Oleksii 'Zlatoyar' Kobel to the SOEN family, as an introduction we give you an official bass playthrough of 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓 by Zlatoyar!

We would also like to take this time to thank Stefan Stenberg for all his dedication and continued friendship. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours 🖤

#soen #IMPERIAL #antagonist

The provocative, imperious and engaging Swedish-based metal group SOEN will unveil their fifth album, IMPERIAL, via Silver Lining Music on January 29th 2021. Founder members Joel Ekelöf (vocals) and Martin Lopez (drums), along with Lars Enok Åhlund (keyboards and guitar), Oleksii “Zlatoyar” Kobel (bass) and Cody Ford (lead guitar) have never shied away from challenging our perceptions of life and humanity, and IMPERIAL continues SOEN’s unique journey through the psyche of our species and the conundrum of our times. Eight crisp, sharp, and supremely constructed songs spanning frustration, reflection and hope, IMPERIAL is the most direct fierce? and dynamic release of SOEN’s journey, one which continues to be deeply therapeutic for both the group’s dedicated followers and the band themselves.

“In my life I try to be as real as possible, but I think that the music, and nature, of SOEN are the only place that I really, really feel I can be myself,” explains Martin Lopez “When you’re home, doing music, writing lyrics, that is where you really get to express yourself without any judgement and with total freedom.”

Produced by Iñaki Marconi and the band, IMPERIAL was mixed and mastered by Kane Churko, who has worked with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Bob Dylan, giving songs such as ‘Illusion’, ‘Modesty’ and the epic closer ‘Fortune’ a dimension and richness which will reach yet more ears and minds. The sheer power and poetry of SOEN’s dynamics are more completely executed and honed than ever before, something which is perversely a product of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It has obviously been a crazy, terrible thing for everyone, and for us as a band it has been really frustrating not being able to play shows,” says Martin Lopez “but also it has given us a clear window of opportunity to realise this album completely. We were able to spend 12 hours a day for many months bringing IMPERIAL to the place we truly wanted, mainly working on the groove and flow of the album.”

Lead single ‘Antagonist’ storms through the gates with a massive heavy riff of intent, followed by an epic blend of strength, beauty and defiance of all the world’s darkest powermongers, captured in the lyrics ‘Dependency dampens the wild / Inequity weighs down the motion of progress / Life isn’t just to survive.’

“We will always be a band that has the old will to fight for freedom and all the important things in life, the people, the underdog,” furthers Lopez “You have to take on the big question marks such as what the fuck are we doing with our lives and where’s the empathy. Why do we keep on testing and crushing ourselves as a species?”

IMPERIAL is an album which will engage the listener immediately and sustain long after this crazy time has passed, its rich details destined to make it a classic metal album of this era.

“As we continue, we find inspiration in the sad fact that the world is getting more and more polarized, that it’s more complex and it’s not consensus or people getting along.” says Ekelöf “We continue to try and understand why and how that will affect us all.”

SOEN are an undeniable cypher for all which swirls around us, something which will continue to set them apart from their peers for years to come, and IMPERIAL is the latest potent, unmissable commentary from their journey.

IMPERIAL Track Listing:
1. Lumerian
2. Deceiver
3. Monarch
4. Illusion
5. Antagonist
6. Modesty
7. Dissident
8. Fortune

IMPERIAL CREDITS:
All songs written by SOEN
Produced and recorded by Iñaki Marconi
Vocal editing by Ricardo Borges
Vocals on track 1 to 5 and drums recorded and produced by David Castillo
Mixed and mastered by Kane Churko
Cover design by Enrique Zabala
Art Design by Wriliya
Cover photo by Mark Laita

SOEN - Official YouTube Channel

SOEN:
Joel Ekelöf - Vocals
Martin Lopez - Drums
Lars Enok Åhlund – Keyboards and Guitar
Oleksii “Zlatoyar” Kobel - Bass
Cody Ford - Lead Guitar

FOLLOW SOEN:

[ratjockey]

more bass in the upcoming album please, dont turn it down

[codyhansonbass]

Agree with other commentors. Please return to having more bass present in the mix for subsequent albums!

[MoDeSt]

That's the cleanest fretboard I've ever seen!

[The_Eno]

honestly i wish they mixed more lower end into their bass layer. Love their bass players contribution but I feel like they really don't get as much appreciation as they could based on how they mix it down. Great cover!

[mauriciomiranda]

Con ese volumen debería sonar en el álbum !!!

[Bruno-osmn]

VERY NICE!! WE WANT SOME DRUM PLAYTHROUGH TOO!! LOPEZ ROCKS!!

[xszsolti]

Your bass helps you, lifts you up, builds you up! I wish you continued success! 🤘🙂

[shapeshifterboogie]

Yeah this is what is missing in the mix. The bass guitar! Time for a remix!

[craigdines]

Awesome man!!! Love the modern bass tone without using a pick.

[exploringmypotenital]

When a track produces tears in your eyes, you know it’s hitting you in the feels \m/ absolutely gorgeous bass line

[janszczepanski_]

Just amazing and beautiful to watch this three-finger-pertection!!

[marcelsfbr]

Hope you'll guys use this mix in the Album! This is GREAT, like a massage to the brain.

[abassalary]

I think one of the most important things about Soen's music was their bass lines. you can see how much it evolved through out the years and to be honest? Now its near damn perfection!

[alvi]

Just saw them last night in Baltimore. Best live show I’ve seen in years and had the privilege to see Oleksii play right in front of me. Amazing bassist and killer tone. Can’t wait to see them live again.

[Koyaanissparris]

I'm quite new to metal, and this really opened my eyes up to the bass as an instrument. I've never before realised the percussive effects of it, and it was a true delight to watch your skill in playing it. Also, I loved finding details in the variations between verses that I've not noticed before. Thank you, Zlatoyar! I would love to see more videos like this, from the other band members as well!

[yevgenkozar]

Вау!!! Чоловіче, як цей гурт без тебе раніше жив? НЕЙМОВІРНО!!!

[MichaelGlaun]

This is absolutely awesome!! Literally made me fall in love with bass playing. I've listened to this mix more times than the album version.

[BlattidaeKimiKon]

Олексій, щиро вітаю з приєднанням до такої крутої команди! Бажаю успіхів) Трек качовий!

[deltakilopapa]

Still can't play this after 3 years! Love trying though

[Lorzordi]

Sad to see Stefan go but it looks like Oleksii is a great replacement! Awesome playthrough