Haken v. new single Nightingale (April 26)

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Dubstep metal.

[mikeyd23]

I liked the instrumentation on that track, but honestly the vocals felt really forced and only stuck out as something I could grab onto during the chorus. Still a pretty cool song though, and I'll definitely check the album out.

[Cedar redaC]

What a great song! On a scale of one to ten, my hype would have to be at eleven!

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I liked the instrumentation on that track, but honestly the vocals felt really forced and only stuck out as something I could grab onto during the chorus.

Even though I love Haken with all my heart that's something that I find in their music a lot that's not entirely to my liking. Because most of their songs are in weird time signatures and such, lots of vocal melodies feel forced to me because they get accented often with the odd signatures. I get used to them after a while, tho.

[Zydar]

Nice one!

[Elite]

That's more like it, yes! Awesome track.

[ariich]

I liked the instrumentation on that track, but honestly the vocals felt really forced and only stuck out as something I could grab onto during the chorus.

Even though I love Haken with all my heart that's something that I find in their music a lot that's not entirely to my liking. Because most of their songs are in weird time signatures and such, lots of vocal melodies feel forced to me because they get accented often with the odd signatures. I get used to them after a while, tho.

I sort of know what you mean in general, though I don't find that myself, but I have to say I love the vocal melodies in this song and not just the chorus. The vocal lines in the verses are dark and brooding (my favourite part being "Confronting facts to prove the fiction, right to the point of mass extinction"), the pre-chorus is nice and the chorus is a typically huge Haken chorus.

EDIT: Oh and on the point about the vocal lines being awkward because of the strange rhythms, I do agree about that on first listen, but once you know the rhythms, it's f***ing awesome.

Except the rhythms for the intro, where I've heard the song like 25 times and I still have no idea what's going on.

EDIT 2: Also, there's a recurring theme that I had totally failed to notice before until I saw the lyric video was that the bridge section halfway through recalls the chorus from 1985 - not really melodically, but lyrically. I therefore missed that from my review.

[Enigmachine]

I sort of know what you mean in general, though I don't find that myself, but I have to say I love the vocal melodies in this song and not just the chorus. The vocal lines in the verses are dark and brooding (my favourite part being "Confronting facts to prove the fiction, right to the point of mass extinction"), the pre-chorus is nice and the chorus is a typically huge Haken chorus.

Yeah, I agree. Song is awesome.

[mikeyd23]

I liked the instrumentation on that track, but honestly the vocals felt really forced and only stuck out as something I could grab onto during the chorus.

Even though I love Haken with all my heart that's something that I find in their music a lot that's not entirely to my liking. Because most of their songs are in weird time signatures and such, lots of vocal melodies feel forced to me because they get accented often with the odd signatures. I get used to them after a while, tho.

I sort of know what you mean in general, though I don't find that myself, but I have to say I love the vocal melodies in this song and not just the chorus. The vocal lines in the verses are dark and brooding (my favourite part being "Confronting facts to prove the fiction, right to the point of mass extinction"), the pre-chorus is nice and the chorus is a typically huge Haken chorus.

EDIT: Oh and on the point about the vocal lines being awkward because of the strange rhythms, I do agree about that on first listen, but once you know the rhythms, it's f***ing awesome.

Except the rhythms for the intro, where I've heard the song like 25 times and I still have no idea what's going on.

Yeah, its definitely the sort of thing that improves upon further listens (it has for me with some of their older stuff), I think its just that syncopated feel when the vocals accent right along with the music that throws me off sometimes. Cool song though, chalk full of awesome playing.

[Estiui]

Dat dubstep-metal minisection, tho. 

[Sacul]

It's OK I guess. Don't really digging this new direction shown by the singles.

[YtseJamittaja]

Sounded really interesting on first listen! Needs more spins to say an opinion.

[Crow]

alright, i like this a fair bit more than initiate on first listen
still kinda djenty though but it's done better here

[Nekov]

It's Ok. I feel like they are going more towards the music that they did on The Mountain than on their previous releases and that bugs me a bit cause I don't like that new style but I'll wait to hear more of the new album before coming to any conclusions.

[Nick]

You guys have a lot more yet to come. 1985 and The Architect especially go in directions not even touched on during these two tracks. And of course, I <3 The Endless Knot.

[Enigmachine]

alright, i like this a fair bit more than initiate on first listen
still kinda djenty though but it's done better here

Nothing wrong with a bit of tasteful djenting.

[GasparXR]

Really cool track! I love the direction it's going in so far.

[Estiui]

I like Initiate more than this one. However, that dubstep-like break is one of my favourite parts in the album. As is that jazzy keyboard solo in Lapse. Some great moments in this album, which is overall below The Mountain, IMO.

[Implode]

Endless Knot only gets better and better with each subsequent listen. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being my favorite on the album. 

[ElliottTamer]

Wow, what a song! Maybe it's just because it's new, but I quite love this. After way too many listens, it may be one of my favorite Haken songs. The drums in particular put in so much work! Oh, and that dubstep moment, followed by that solo... Just wow.
Also, I quite like the vocals throughout, they feel more like an instrument than just someone singing, which makes it sound kind of unique to me.

[BlackInk]

I like Initiate more than this one. However, that dubstep-like break is one of my favourite parts in the album. As is that jazzy keyboard solo in Lapse. Some great moments in this album, which is overall below The Mountain, IMO.

Even though I think the Mountain is great, I must say that I like Affinity a lot better. It might be my favorite Haken album yet, even beating Aquarius which I was beginning to doubt they ever would.

I liked the instrumentation on that track, but honestly the vocals felt really forced and only stuck out as something I could grab onto during the chorus. Still a pretty cool song though, and I'll definitely check the album out.

The chorus is actually my least favorite part of The Endless Knot. Like arrich said, once you get to know the weird rhythmical vocals melodies it's really really awesome.

[Implode]

The chorus is actually my least favorite part of The Endless Knot. Like arrich said, once you get to know the weird rhythmical vocals melodies it's really really awesome.

And that's exactly the opposite for Initiate. The song got so much less interesting once I just realized it was just (mostly) in 7. Still good though.

[jakepriest]

The chorus is actually my least favorite part of The Endless Knot. Like arrich said, once you get to know the weird rhythmical vocals melodies it's really really awesome.

And that's exactly the opposite for Initiate. The song got so much less interesting once I just realized it was just (mostly) in 7. Still good though.

I'm glad I don't give a shit what time signature music is in so it doesn't ruin songs for me as it does for you. 

[BlackInk]

I loved it before I understood the time sig, and I still love it just as much after. Don't know why figuring that out would change anything other than make it better.

[ariich]

Really glad you're digging Affinity so much, BlackInk!

Have to say, for me I think it's on a par with The Mountain which I already absolutely adored and didn't think they'd top. First 5 listens, maybe more, I didn't think it was quite as brilliant but it really grows once some of the more unusual stuff sinks in and you get to know it.

[Big Hath]

it's actually a measure in 3, a measure in 6, and then a measure in -2.  Does that help, Implode?

[BlackInk]

Really glad you're digging Affinity so much, BlackInk!

It's pure magic.

[Implode]

it's actually a measure in 3, a measure in 6, and then a measure in -2.  Does that help, Implode?

 

No, no. Guys. I don't mean to say I hate the meter or anything. But it was a lot more fun for me when the chugging seemed kind of random. It's kind of like the same thing that happens when you listen to a song too many times. You already know everything, there's fewer things to grab your attention, and you tired it out. I don't mean to say it makes the song worse or anything. I still love the song; it's not ruined for me by any means.

[BlackInk]

Also, I'm about a week into it and Red Giant still messes with my mind.

[Heretic]

EARTHRISE IS SO GOOD

[Crow]

can we not keep talking about the album until it officially releases

[jakepriest]

can we not keep talking about the album until it officially releases

just don't come here until the album comes out if it's such a huge problem for you

easy fix'd

[ariich]

EARTHRISE IS SO GOOD

YES YES YES

[Implode]

AFFINITY IS SO GOOD

FTFY

Also, I've been mostly quiet and waiting for the album to come out, but I'll say this. I was so nervous that this album wouldn't even be close to The Mountain because it was just so good, not to mention, all of Haken's albums so far have been anywhere from great to amazing. I was almost skeptical as to how long they could continue this caliber of quality output.

Affinity showed me that I should never doubt them again.

[me7]

+1 on all that Implode said.