Soen have rolled out “Mercenary,” the second taste of their upcoming seventh studio album, Reliance, arriving January 16, 2026, via Silver Lining Music. Produced, recorded, and mixed by Alexander Backlund at Fascination Street Studios and mastered by Tony Lindgren, the single extends the band’s steady evolution rather than blowing up their foundations.
Fronted by Joel Ekelöf and driven by Martin Lopez, Sweden’s progressive heavyweights keep threading that familiar needle: tensile riffs and wide-screen melody, catharsis and restraint. Reliance looks set to press harder into those contrasts, finding purpose in the friction between serenity and severity, and “Mercenary” is the clearest early signal.
“‘Mercenary’ is about the violence we inherit, which then sees hatred seeping into lives — and life — which in turn shapes generations,” comments Joel Ekelöf.
“It also addresses betrayal, about how that can see us ‘crowning vultures into kings,’” furthers Martin Lopez.
“At its heart, ‘Mercenary’ speaks to the cost of belief,” Ekelöf adds before Lopez affirms that “musically, it carries the essence of Soen — heavy yet melodic and built on power and precision.”
“For us, it’s about more than just aggression,” continues Joel Ekelöf. “It’s about encouraging people to find that fire again, to reconnect with passion, and to take those steps out of the darkness together.”
Pre-order Reliance here
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