Haken v. new single Nightingale (April 26)

[cramx3]

The more I listen to this album, the more I hear a "Dream Theater" sound in the music. I'm really digging this album but I keep thinking it's Dream Theater with Ross singing.

I get that feeling from lots of their songs, definitely on Vector too.  I don't think it's too much like DT to be a turn off, but it feels like they have been inspired by them in their music overall though.  Which is cool with me being a huge DT fan.  I like it, feels more fresh than DT. 

Also, we already have DT with Ross, the Mike Portnoy Shattered Fortress show was really good with him singing.  I liked it much more than I thought I would.

[Train of Naught]

I see so much mention of djent, am I the only person here who isn't really hearing more than a couple short djent-y moments on this album?

[Evermind]

I see so much mention of djent, am I the only person here who isn't really hearing more than a couple short djent-y moments on this album?

I don't hear djent too, I like the album.

[gzarruk]

Don’t think this has been mentioned enough, so I have to say it again: Ray is the MVP on Vector. #JusticeForRay

[Ben_Jamin]

Don’t think this has been mentioned enough, so I have to say it again: Ray is the MVP on Vector. #JusticeForRay

I'd agree. He shines in Nil By Mouth.

[Mladen]

I've been away for two days and haven't had the opportunity to listen to Vector during my time off. Now that I came back to it, it sounds much better. The Good doctor / Puzzle box / Veil is quite a streak of songs. I already like the album better than Affinity, which was very underwhelming to me.

[cramx3]

The Good doctor / Puzzle box / Veil is quite a streak of songs.

Totally agree. Kind of another reason why I don't think it tops other albums though, from Veil on, the album goes a bit downhill for me.  Doesn't fall off the cliff, but doesn't reach new highs after that awesome threesome.

[ariich]

I see so much mention of djent, am I the only person here who isn't really hearing more than a couple short djent-y moments on this album?

Nope. Nil By Mouth is pretty djenty, and then there's the odd little moment elsewhere but that's it. I think it's mostly people who don't like/listen to djent who hear the influence at all and think it's the whole album (like how The Astonishing was entirely ballads).

Also surprised by the DT comparisons in a way. I mean Veil has some VERY DT-esque stuff, and there's one short section in Puzzle Box as well (the 2nd verse) but otherwise I don't hear any DT at all. So a similar amount to their last two albums.

[King Postwhore]

Funny you mention DT Rich.  I was thinking Vector is their TOT album.  Just the heavy aspect of it.  Not stylistically.

[axeman90210]

Yeah, Veil is as overtly DT-like as I think they've ever sounded.

[ariich]

Yeah, Veil is as overtly DT-like as I think they've ever sounded.

Sure, but no more so than they've sounded before. It's really similar to The Architect, including the DT influence (although to be honest I prefer Veil).

[Dublagent66]

I'm only a couple spins into it, but will give this album its just due.  Lots of things going on in this record.  Interesting.

[The Letter M]

Now that you guys mention it, the DT-influence gets more and more prominent the more I hear it, and given the band's participation in Portnoy's Shattered Fortress, it definitely makes sense why they might take inspiration from those songs and music and use it to mold the songs for Vector.

As for the album itself, I've given it a few good listen, and couple passive ones, and I have to say, it's grown on me. When I first heard it, nothing grabbed me quite like anything on their first four albums - it just sort of existed. Now that I've gotten more time with it, I think I like it a bit more, but there haven't been many standout moments on it for me yet, just good parts and a good vibe throughout the whole album. With albums like Visions and Affinity, and especially the Mountain, the songs tend to stand out and stand apart, while still contributing to the whole album, but with Vector, it just feels like everything blends together for me so far. Maybe in a couple of weeks, I'll get more used to the individual songs and recognize them apart from each other.

It's not BAD, per se, but it hasn't wow'ed me like Affinity did when it came out.

-Marc.

[jammindude]

I will echo the idea that this feels a bit like Affinity's "heavier little brother".    Some songs are better, some others don't quite match up.

The opening is better.   I grew to love Initiate, but I still think it's the weak link from Affinity.  The Good Doctor is a FAR better opener, and grabs you right away.    Puzzle Box is good...but it's no 1984.    I'm over the moon about Veil and think that it's quite a bit better than The Architect.    Nil By Mouth is the odd one out.  A great instrumental, but it doesn't feel like anything from Affinity that I can think of.   Possibly some resemblance to the instrumental version of The Endless Knot...but that's a stretch.    The album closes pretty good, but I agree that it feels a bit like a drop off.    Affinity has the best closer in the entire catalog, so I'm not sure anything will ever touch that in my book.

Vector opens stronger, Affinity closes stronger.     As a whole, it's a push.     Both are great albums.

[The Letter M]

I will echo the idea that this feels a bit like Affinity's "heavier little brother".    Some songs are better, some others don't quite match up.

The opening is better.   I grew to love Initiate, but I still think it's the weak link from Affinity.  The Good Doctor is a FAR better opener, and grabs you right away.    Puzzle Box is good...but it's no 1984.    I'm over the moon about Veil and think that it's quite a bit better than The Architect.    Nil By Mouth is the odd one out.  A great instrumental, but it doesn't feel like anything from Affinity that I can think of.   Possibly some resemblance to the instrumental version of The Endless Knot...but that's a stretch.    The album closes pretty good, but I agree that it feels a bit like a drop off.    Affinity has the best closer in the entire catalog, so I'm not sure anything will ever touch that in my book.

Vector opens stronger, Affinity closes stronger.     As a whole, it's a push.     Both are great albums.

Sure, it's not a Van Halen song, but is it a "1985"? 

-Marc.

[KevShmev]

After a few more listens, Puzzle Box and Veil are the clear standouts.  Veil took some time, but I am really liking that one now.  I love how the keyboard does that really cool understated lead under the riffing during what I would call the main theme, and then near the end the guitar does that theme almost as a solo. Very cool.

I just wish the rest of the album was as strong as those two songs.

One thing is for certain: the album sounds awesome.  Those guitar tones are absolutely killer.

[jammindude]

I will echo the idea that this feels a bit like Affinity's "heavier little brother".    Some songs are better, some others don't quite match up.

The opening is better.   I grew to love Initiate, but I still think it's the weak link from Affinity.  The Good Doctor is a FAR better opener, and grabs you right away.    Puzzle Box is good...but it's no 1984.    I'm over the moon about Veil and think that it's quite a bit better than The Architect.    Nil By Mouth is the odd one out.  A great instrumental, but it doesn't feel like anything from Affinity that I can think of.   Possibly some resemblance to the instrumental version of The Endless Knot...but that's a stretch.    The album closes pretty good, but I agree that it feels a bit like a drop off.    Affinity has the best closer in the entire catalog, so I'm not sure anything will ever touch that in my book.

Vector opens stronger, Affinity closes stronger.     As a whole, it's a push.     Both are great albums.

Sure, it's not a Van Halen song, but is it a "1985"? 

-Marc.

DOH!!!!

[Sir Walrus Cauliflower]

I love every second of the album, it just really disappoints me that it's so short. If this album was ~20 minutes longer and used that to fix the odd pacing it would probably be my favorite, provided it maintained the same level of quality. And half the songs were already released as singles, which made the whole listening experience less powerful imo.

[RoeDent]

As soon as it kicked in, the first time I heard the guitar solo in Veil, one word immediately sprang to mind: Petrucci.

[Cedar redaC]

So, a few days after the initial hype/expectation has worn off, I'm listening to Vector again. I think I enjoy it a bit more now. Veil, Host, and Puzzle Box are probably my three favorites, but there each track has something that I like. So, consider my previous 6/10 changed to a 7/10. It still doesn't replace Affinity as my favorite Haken album, but altogether, it is still quite good.

[Elite]

Finally had the chance to listen to this thing, as my pre-order arrived today. One listen in and I'm not feeling this one at all. I'm quite underwhelmed. Veil and especially Nil By Mouth struck me as actually bad, which is not exactly a nice thing to say. Host was enjoyable, as was The Good Doctor, the other two (three if you count Clear, which I thought was an awesome opener) are 'alright' at best right now. Keep in mind this is after one listen. I can hear a lot if interesting stuff going on, but nothing has really grabbed me yet.

Rankings, because we do that shit at DTF:

1. The Good Doctor
2. Host
3. Clear
4. A Cell Divides
5. Puzzle Box
6. Veil
7. Nil by Mouth

[YtseJamittaja]

Okay, a bit controversial opinion but here's my ranking:
1. Puzzle Box
2. Nil By Mouth
3. The Good Doctor
4. Veil

5. A Cell Divides

6. Host
7. Clear

[Zydar]

1. Puzzle Box
2. The Good Doctor
3. Veil
4. A Cell Divides
5. Host
6. Nil By Mouth
7. Clear

[King Postwhore]

1. Host
2. Veil
3. Puzzle Box
4. A Cell Divides
5. The Good Doctor
6. Nil By Mouth
7. Clear

[me7]

I'm glad to see some appreciation for Clear as an intro. Openers of that kind are often throwaway tracks (remember affinity.exe), but Clear is surprisingly enjoyable on its own.

[ariich]

I like Clear and particularly the way it uses one of the themes from Host, but I wouldn't say I love it. It's definitely pretty cheesy in a theme-park-rollercoaster-queue sort of way.

[me7]

...theme-park-rollercoaster-queue sort of way.

Say, have you heard of Haken? They are famous for their circus music

[King Postwhore]

...theme-park-rollercoaster-queue sort of way.

Say, have you heard of Haken? They are famous for their circus music

You really don't know who you are talking to don't you.  LOL  Get ready to have your mind blown.

[ariich]

...theme-park-rollercoaster-queue sort of way.

Say, have you heard of Haken? They are famous for their circus music

You really don't know who you are talking to don't you.  LOL  Get ready to have your mind blown.

Pretty sure he does know and was joking around.

And yeah the stuff that gets described as "circus music" on Aquarius I also find quite cheesy.

[King Postwhore]

 

Well damn.  He typed that with a straight face!

[Destiny Of Chaos]

I love Clear. I think it could have been improved with some samples of people screaming and such, basically the scene described with the first few lines of The Good Doctor.

[KevShmev]

Clear is a cool intro, but it feels weird to rank it amongst the other songs. 

Also, first night of the tour is tonight! Someone please post the set list.

[gzarruk]

Also, first night of the tour is tonight! Someone please post the set list.

Yes! Very interested to see what’s the setlist

[Metro]

(From Reddit, I wasn't at the show)

Clear

The Good Doctor

Falling Back To Earth

Puzzle Box

Nil By Mouth

1985

Veil

Encore: Crystalized

[El Barto]

Seven songs?  At an hour-ten that's pretty weak.