Soen has unveiled “Mercenary”, the second single from their forthcoming studio album Reliance, set for release on January 16, 2026, through Silver Lining Music. The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by Alexander Backlund at Fascination Street Studios, with mastering handled by Tony Lindgren.
With Reliance, their seventh full-length record, the Swedish progressive metal group—led by Joel Ekelöf on vocals and Martin Lopez on drums—continues to explore the emotional and sonic space between light and shadow, intensity and calmness, weight and melody.
At the core of the album lies a sense of honesty, where emotional depth and raw energy coexist without pretense. This dual nature defines Soen’s signature sound: confronting darkness not for drama, but for understanding. That essence is especially vivid on “Mercenary”, a song that captures the burden of inherited violence and the emotional toll of conviction with piercing clarity.
Ekelöf explains: “”Mercenary” is about the violence we inherit, which then sees hatred seeping into lives — and life — which in turn shapes generations.”
Lopez expands on the song’s meaning, adding: “It also addresses betrayal, about how that can see us crowning vultures into kings.”
Ekelöf continues: “At its heart, “Mercenary” speaks to the cost of belief,” while Lopez concludes, “Musically, it carries the essence of Soen — heavy yet melodic and built on power and precision.”
Reliance will be released in multiple formats, including CD, 12-inch vinyl in both black and colored editions, digital platforms, and exclusive direct-to-consumer bundles.
