Haken v. new single Nightingale (April 26)

[The Letter M]

I only get the 80s vibe from the song 1985. In other songs I get a much more contemporary feeling. Am I missing something?

There are some 80's prog moments, particularly some 80's King Crimson feels here and there.

-Marc.

[LordCost]

Affinity is not doing nearly as much to me as I had hoped.

To be honest, even for me.
If I were a reviewer I would give not less than a 9\10, there's not even a moment with unoriginal ideas in the whole album. But I don't want to listen to it, I prefer listening to other recent discoveries of this year as the albums of bands like The Mercury Tree, British Theatre, Ihsahn and Black Peaks at the moment.
Maybe I don't like much the more modern sound they had introduced with Restoration.

[Implode]

I only get the 80s vibe from the song 1985. In other songs I get a much more contemporary feeling. Am I missing something?

Also the few measures before the first verse in The Architect.

[darkshade]

If you consider the 80s King Crimson influences on the album as "80s vibes" then it's on more than 1985.

[EraVulgaris]

There are some King Crimson inspired moments, the part of The Architect that leads into the growling sounds a lot like something from Discipline. In addition, and I know that this might sound weird, the 80's feel kind of bleeds into the other songs for me, especially the ones with the more spacey feel (Red Giant and Bound by Gravity).

[Elite]

Affinity is not doing nearly as much to me as I had hoped.

To be honest, even for me.
If I were a reviewer I would give not less than a 9\10, there's not even a moment with unoriginal ideas in the whole album. But I don't want to listen to it, I prefer listening to other recent discoveries of this year as the albums of bands like The Mercury Tree, British Theatre, Ihsahn and Black Peaks at the moment.
Maybe I don't like much the more modern sound they had introduced with Restoration.

Exactly. The album is good, I can not deny that, but I don't really feel any strong urge to listen to this record after having heard it only 3 times. I didn't like Restoration (in fact, I believe it's by far their weakest release), but I don't necessarily hear a continuation of that particular style on this record. I really, really want to like Affinity and enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the older Haken records, but this could very well a case of me having grown out of or tired with this style of progressive metal. Not to sound bitter or anything, but I have known Haken for 6 years already - the 'newness'-factor has long since worn off. That said, I can definitely hear that it's freaking awesome. I'm actually rather sad that I can't enjoy this music as much as I used to. Perhaps in half a year's time when I listen to it again I can find joy in listening, but for now it doesn't do a lot to me.

[me7]

There are some King Crimson inspired moments, the part of The Architect that leads into the growling sounds a lot like something from Discipline. In addition, and I know that this might sound weird, the 80's feel kind of bleeds into the other songs for me, especially the ones with the more spacey feel (Red Giant and Bound by Gravity).

1985 is the song where the whole band goes 80s for almost 10 minutes, but the 80s keyboard patches are all over the album. Some of the sounds are a bit buried and easier to spot on the instrumental version.
Some drum sounds on Endless Knot are also very 80s, as are some guitar tones in Earthrise the vocal delivery in the verses. There's nuggets to be discovered everywhere.

[Tomislav95]

I call that keyboard melody in 1985(around 5:46) the Rocky riff

[Implode]

I call that keyboard melody in 1985(around 5:46) the Rocky riff

Has anyone posted that video here yet? 

[BlackInk]

I think so 

[Tomislav95]

I swear I didn't see it watching it now

[Prog Snob]

There's a bit o cheese in there but it's oh so fucking good.

[The Letter M]

"1985" is just so amazing to me because, as a child, I grew up with the 1986 Transformers animated film, which had some of the best OSTs ever, composed by Vince DiCola, and "1985" is pretty much a love-letter to him and his work on the TF movie, and on Rocky IV. Great stuff, and it tickles that 80's-nostalgia part of my musical heart.

-Marc.

[jammindude]

I don't have a timestamp...but one of the keyboard solos it TOTALLY a patch from The Final Countdown.

[GasparXR]

I don't have a timestamp...but one of the keyboard solos it TOTALLY a patch from The Final Countdown.

Maybe you could give us a timestamp from before the solo and make it a literal countdown.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

It's a brass-like synth lead. It was fairly common in the 80s!

[Tomislav95]

It's a brass-like synth lead. It was fairly common in the 80s!

Rocky riff in 1985

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

It's a brass-like synth lead. It was fairly common in the 80s!

Rocky riff in 1985

That's the stuff.

I friggin' love 1985, it just keeps growing on me.

[mike099]

Here is hoping that Haken travels to some US cities close to Atlanta after the upcoming prog festival.  We have plenty of places in the under 1K attendance range in Nashville.  It would be awesome to see these guys play a full set in a more intimate setting.

[Sir Walrus Cauliflower]

Initiate is a weird track for me. I thoroughly enjoy every track on the album, though some more than others. By itself, Initiate is a Middle ranking track imom but when I pair it with Affinity.exe, it's close to being my favorite. Somehow it becomes so much more impactful. Absolutely epic when I listen to it as the album opener rather than just a track.

[Nel]

To my aggravation, they were only selling the 2-CD at the record store, so... yeah. Bought that one.

[The Letter M]

To my aggravation, they were only selling the 2-CD at the record store, so... yeah. Bought that one.

But...but...the Media Book is so gorgeous!

-Marc.

[Dublagent66]

To my aggravation, they were only selling the 2-CD at the record store, so... yeah. Bought that one.

That's the one you want.  No aggravation required. 

[Bacong]

I wonder if Dream Theater knows they've been dethroned by a cheeky London prog band

[Bacong]

I wonder if Dream Theater knows they've been dethroned by a cheeky London prog band

this labum rules

[Bacong]

I tried editing and I couldn't do it

i am sorry

cordially,

bacong

[Nick]

Well, considering Jordan regularly praises them, has played with them, and is having Diego teach at his keyboard workshop, I'd say they are aware of the competition.

[ariich]

I wonder if Dream Theater knows they've been dethroned by a cheeky London prog band

this labum rules

durnk?

[Mebert78]

I wouldn't say they've been dethroned, personally.  DT most recently played at Radio City (capacity 6,105) in NYC, while Haken most recently played at  The Webster Underground (1,200 capacity) in NYC.  Maybe in 5-10 years time that could be the case. 

[BlackInk]

I honestly don't expect Haken to ever dethrone DT in that sense. But in terms of who makes the best music, yeah Haken all the fucking way.

[goo-goo]

I wouldn't say they've been dethroned, personally.  DT most recently played at Radio City (capacity 6,105) in NYC, while Haken most recently played at  The Webster Underground (1,200 capacity) in NYC.  Maybe in 5-10 years time that could be the case.

Unfortunately, I don't see this happening anywhere in the near or far future. And this is not a diss at Haken, and I do hope they make it big...But it seems like the big bands are going away (except for the Arena bands like Journey, Poison, Kiss, etc..). I think DT might be one of the last "big bands" out there...Seems like the trend for bands not (that are not big) is playing in 1k - 3k venues with the 6k size venue here and there or as a one time gig.

[Sacul]

I honestly don't expect Haken to ever dethrone DT in that sense. But in terms of who makes the best music, yeah Haken all the fucking way.

And Leprous, Riverside, BTBAM, and others have taken DT's crown long time ago imo.

[darkshade]

Steven Wilson dethroned DT in the prog world IMO.

Haken might dethrone SW, Haken are still a young band.

[KevShmev]

Steven Wilson dethroned DT in the prog world IMO.

This.

Haken might dethrone SW, Haken are still a young band.

And a giraffe might fly out of my left ear tomorrow...

[King Postwhore]

 

Oh Kev and everyone else.

Hey, I absolutely love the new Haken album.  They need to have 20 yea Rd s under their belt moving into 2000 to 3000 seat arenas.   I love what they are doing now.