“Lykaia Revisited” is really just a re-release of Soen’s 2017 album, “Lykaia,” so don’t get too excited about a brand new Soen album. Do get excited, though, if you missed it the first time around. This is damn fine Prog Metal. Sure, there are some filler tracks, but the ones that work are well worth your attention, manage to fuse beauty and technicality in one package. This is clear in the opening seconds of track one: “Sectarian.”

Soen call themselves a supergroup, which is fair, since they were founded by Martin Lopez, formerly of Opeth and Steve Di Giorgio, formerly of Testament and Death, but they’re really as much a Frankenband as many other bands. Di Giorgio has left, leaving the highest-profile current member, Lopez, as the drummer and face of the band.
There’s of course some Opeth to their sound, but their closest kin would be Katatonia. Let’s add David Gilmour’s solo and Pink Floyd stuff (meant as a high compliment), along with some Spock’s Beard, Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree. Soen singer Joel Ekelof, also known for his work with Willowtree, definitely recalls the sound of Jonas Renske of Katatonia, but he has a compelling power all his own.
This special “Revisited” edition features the original album, plus live versions of the three best songs: “Sectarian,” “Jinn,” and the truly great, “Lucidity.” Not for everyone, but a treat for fans of clean singing 21st Century Prog Metal.