The HAKEN Survivor 2016 - Affinity: Round 1!

[Elite]

Results from last round:

Earthlings 7 (41.2%)
Crystallised 10 (58.8%)

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Restoration EP Results:

1. Earthlings
2. Crystallised
3. Darkest Light

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Affinity Results:

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2.
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8.
9.

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Haken Survivor Main Thread

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And here we finally arrive at the band's fourth album, the one they released in this year. Continuing the retro approach they started with on The Mountain, the band looks into 80's sounds and makes heavy use of synthesized sounds throughout the record, although usually with somewhat of a modern touch. This is best exemplified in the songs 1985 or in The Endless Knot.

The band released three videos for this album, for the songs Initiate, Earthrise and The Endless Knot and performed a large number of the songs live on the subsequent tour they did for this album. Of special notice is the addition of yet another guest musician. After having none other than Mike Portnoy 'featured' on the track Crystallised, on the longest song on this album Leprous main-man Einar Solberg delivers some guest vocals in what can be considered the climax of the song.

Although I have no idea what the album is about, the lyrics are interesting and fun in some places as well. I have the idea that the songs are slightly connected to each other, but I'm not sure at all. Maybe it's just a general 'feel' instead of an overarching theme or story.

 It's an enjoyable record for sure, and I'm very curious to see how this album will rank against the other Haken albums. I'd say the newness will have died off enough by now, since this album has been here for well over half a year. It should be doable to adequately rank these songs against the rest of Haken back catalogue. Let's do this!

Really, a vote for anything other than Haken's shortest  and only intro/segue track ever is unwarranted.
affinity.exe

24 hours.

[Zydar]

My album of the year, and their 2nd best ever so far (The Mountain is my #1).

affinity.exe

[home]

Oh shit, I accidentaly voted for 1985 it should be for infinity.exe obviously

[romdrums]

I will be surprised if there are votes for anything other than affinity.exe.

Edit: spoke too soon.

[Elite]

Oh shit, I accidentaly voted for 1985 it should be for infinity.exe obviously

ok.

[Train of Naught]

Oh shit, I accidentaly voted for 1985 it should be for infinity.exe obviously

Yeah, 1985's turn isn't for like 2 more rounds after this one

[Evermind]

Excited for this.

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9. affinity.exe

[BlackInk]

affinity.exe, obviously.

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9. affinity.exe

[jakepriest]

My ranking for this album will probably be extremely weird for a lot of you.

1.
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9. affinity.exe

[Crow]

1985

[RoeDent]

affinity.exe

Great as it is as an intro track (I absolutely love that drum build-up), that is all it is. An intro track.

[?]

affinity.exe

I haven't heard any other Haken album yet, so this is the only part of this survivor I can contribute to.

[ToT-147]

affinity.exe

Great as it is as an intro track (I absolutely love that drum build-up), that is all it is. An intro track.

Actually, somehow is even less than that.. Not for being the intro track it should be the worst, or least favorite.. I think of lots of examples, but regarding Haken, e.g., The Path IMO is not the worst track, and is only an intro track..

But either way, I think this round is pointless.. I wouldn't have given the option to vote this one out.. Track is like the Nomacs; I don't see the reason why compare it with the actual songs..

So yeah, well, you know what I'm voting..