Haken v. new single Nightingale (April 26)

[RoeDent]

Listening to Virus now for the first time. Carousel is fantastic! I love the guitar solo in the middle, and the chord progression harmonising said solo.

[NoFred]

Puzzle Box
Carousel
Veil
A Cell Divides
Host
The Strain
Prosthetic
The Good Doctor
Canary Yellow
Invasion
Clear
Only Stars
Nil By Mouth
Messiah Complex

Of course Vector has time on its side, and main problem with Virus is MC just doesn’t work for me.

[ariich]

Tough, but let's give it a go.

Invasion
Host
Puzzle Box
The Strain
The Good Doctor
Canary Yellow
Only Stars
Messiah Complex
Prosthetic
Carousel
Nil By Mouth
Veil
A Cell Divides
Clear

[RoeDent]

Tbh, it's too soon to rank all of them, given Virus has the unfair disadvantage of having only been known to the majority of us for a single day.

[Elite]

Which is why I only ranked Vector (:

[Nick]

Carousel
The Good Doctor
The Strain
Canary Yellow
Puzzle Box
Messiah Complex
Invasion
Veil
Nil By Mouth
A Cell Divides
Prosthetic
Clear
Host
Only Stars

And to be ahead of the game:
1. The Good Doctor is one of their best songs and an amazing album "opener".
2. Host isn't good, neither was Red Giant, and Canary Yellow is a much needed amazing track in that vein.
3. I find Veil incredibly hard to place weighing my enjoyment of the song against what I see as the closest track they've ever had to Dream Theater.
4. I find Messiah Complex incredibly hard to place as it is the song that has probably bounced around the most as far as what I think of it.
5. A Cell Divides would have been several places higher before I saw it live and was not impressed with it.

[Elite]

And to be ahead of the game:
1. The Good Doctor is one of their best songs and an amazing album "opener".
2. Host isn't good, neither was Red Giant, and Canary Yellow is a much needed amazing track in that vein.
3. I find Veil incredibly hard to place weighing my enjoyment of the song against what I see as the closest track they've ever had to Dream Theater.
4. I find Messiah Complex incredibly hard to place as it is the song that has probably bounced around the most as far as what I think of it.
5. A Cell Divides would have been several places higher before I saw it live and was not impressed with it.

1. Okay, it's good, but not that good (doctor).
2. What? I find Red Giant amazing, and I think I enjoy both that one and Host more than Canary Yellow.
3. Which Dream Theater track? I find Veil has more resemblance structure-wise to Falling Back to Earth.
4. I can imagine. Only heard it twice myself so far.
5. Then place it higher if the goal is to rank studio versions.

[krands85]

Copied my Vector ranking from a couple months back:

1. A Cell Divides
2. Puzzle Box

3. The Good Doctor
4. Veil
5. Nil By Mouth
6. Host

7. Clear

Positions 3-6 are all very closely matched, not a lot to choose between them.

I've listened to Virus 6 or 7 times so far, but it's still too early for me to rank the tracks against each other, let alone against Vector tracks as well. I haven't even got an inkling which song is my favourite yet, which is a bit unusual for me.

One thing I can say, is that if I made a compilation of my favourite Haken tracks, nothing from Virus would feature. Nothings really jumping out at me yet, but hopefully that changes after a few more listens, as I certainly don't dislike any of the songs.

[me7]

A Cell Divides ... I saw it live and was not impressed with it.

Yes, the live performances I saw also failed to deliver.

[Evermind]

Host is amazing. Third best ballad from Haken besides Sun and Deathless.

[Revenge319]

And to be ahead of the game:
1. The Good Doctor is one of their best songs and an amazing album "opener".
2. Host isn't good, neither was Red Giant, and Canary Yellow is a much needed amazing track in that vein.
3. I find Veil incredibly hard to place weighing my enjoyment of the song against what I see as the closest track they've ever had to Dream Theater.
4. I find Messiah Complex incredibly hard to place as it is the song that has probably bounced around the most as far as what I think of it.
5. A Cell Divides would have been several places higher before I saw it live and was not impressed with it.

1. YES
2. I think Host is really good, but I can understand why you might not enjoy Red Giant.
3. There's a couple elements that seem Dream Theater-esque (like the guitar solo at 8:19) but as a whole I wouldn't really compare it to Dream Theater.

[Buddyhunter1]

Is it a hot take that Prosthetic is their best album opener? Yes, that's even if you include Atlas Stone and The Good Doctor.

[me7]

Atlas Stone somehow manages to be a great album opener and a satisfying single at the same time that represents the band. Good Doctor and Prosthetic are to one-sided to be great on their own.

[Skeever]

Listened to the whole thing, finally. Not my thing at all.

I also agree that there are nowhere near enough keyboards - for whatever reason. Maybe the band want to move away from them, or maybe the keyboardist just isn't into it anymore. Either way, I can sympathize. I'm not into this. They've lost their symphonic/theatrical/proggy side, and are now just making pretty bland, one-dimensional music.

Just my two cents, I'll bow out of this thread now as to not clog it with my negativity and leave it open for the people who enjoy talking about this music.

[Revenge319]

Is it a hot take that Prosthetic is their best album opener? Yes, that's even if you include Atlas Stone and The Good Doctor.

I wouldn't argue, I think every album opener they've done is great.

[Elite]

Everybody saying there's no keyboards seriously need to have another listen and, you know, actively listen. They're everywhere.
This is not a knock on you, Skeever, but I've seen this comment pop up so often that I wanted to post this.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

I tend to wait a few months before ranking the songs. So far my favorites by far are Carousel and Messiah Complex.

Will say that Carousel is exactly what I want to hear in a song called Carousel. Great composition.

[Buddyhunter1]

Atlas Stone somehow manages to be a great album opener and a satisfying single at the same time that represents the band. Good Doctor and Prosthetic are to one-sided to be great on their own.

I like Atlas Stone. I think The Good Doctor sucks, I only mentioned it because one could conceivably call Clear the opener for that album instead.

[cramx3]

Everybody saying there's no keyboards seriously need to have another listen and, you know, actively listen. They're everywhere.
This is not a knock on you, Skeever, but I've seen this comment pop up so often that I wanted to post this.

Definitely seems buried in the mix though, doesn't stand out like they do on other Haken albums.  Can anyone who had the early promo say if this album on release sounds the same?  Just wondering if the delay was because they changed any of the sonic elements to the album.

[ariich]

Everybody saying there's no keyboards seriously need to have another listen and, you know, actively listen. They're everywhere.
This is not a knock on you, Skeever, but I've seen this comment pop up so often that I wanted to post this.

Definitely seems buried in the mix though, doesn't stand out like they do on other Haken albums.  Can anyone who had the early promo say if this album on release sounds the same?  Just wondering if the delay was because they changed any of the sonic elements to the album.

There's been no change, I've had the album for a lot longer than the promos and it sounds identical.

And yeah there's keyboard everywhere but I agree it's mostly quieter in the mix than usual.

[Zydar]

The Carousel chorus is kicking my ass today.

"Holding on too tight to let you goooooo"

[Skeever]

Everybody saying there's no keyboards seriously need to have another listen and, you know, actively listen. They're everywhere.
This is not a knock on you, Skeever, but I've seen this comment pop up so often that I wanted to post this.

They are super low in the mix and the parts are so minimal that I listen to them in could just as easily imagine it just being some producer doing some stuff in post.

[emtee]

I've flipped on Messiah Complex. It's stunningly brutiful after about 5 spins.

These guys are amazing! Killer album. Drummer is off the charts.

[mike099]

The Carousel chorus is kicking my ass today.

"Holding on too tight to let you goooooo"

This song is a grower

[cramx3]

The Carousel chorus is kicking my ass today.

"Holding on too tight to let you goooooo"

This song is a grower

Indeed.  I figured a couple more listens and I'd start really liking it which has been the case

[Evermind]

Either way, I can sympathize.

With a cockroach I hope.

[Heretic]

i'd probably go with:

Veil
The Strain
Messiah Complex
Carousel
A Cell Divides
Puzzle Box
Invasion
Nil Mouth
The Good Doctor
Prosthetic
Canary Yellow
Host
Only Stars
Clear

Sad to see Veil placed lowly in other lists, I thoroughly enjoy it.

[Vintage Eyes]

One spin through so far and I am definitely a fan, looking forward to dissecting in the coming weeks.

[RoeDent]

The keyboards are far far less prominent in the mix than on previous albums. I would not be surprised if Diego is a bit miffed by that decision, whoever made it.

[FlyingBIZKIT]

Haken is quite good

[mike099]

Haken is quite good

Yes and no circus music

The album is really starting to click for me.

[King Postwhore]

The keyboards are far far less prominent in the mix than on previous albums. I would not be surprised if Diego is a bit miffed by that decision, whoever made it.

Nah, it will come around again.  Reminds me of Train of Thought.  All bands with longevity play with their sonics.

[NoFred]

I've flipped on Messiah Complex. It's stunningly brutiful after about 5 spins.

These guys are amazing! Killer album. Drummer is off the charts.

I’m warming to MC after a couple listens on it’s own. Still find it jarring in the album context like jamming A Change of Seasons between One Last Time and The Spirit Carries On... just tonally doesn’t match.

Songs 1-5 are all top notch, and Carousel is only getting better and better with more time, what a killer song.

[cramx3]

The keyboards are far far less prominent in the mix than on previous albums. I would not be surprised if Diego is a bit miffed by that decision, whoever made it.

Nah, it will come around again.  Reminds me of Train of Thought.  All bands with longevity play with their sonics.

I wouldn't put too much stock into this if the Deigo rumors weren't swirling around, it all makes me wonder wtf is going on within the band. 

[FlyingBIZKIT]

I think I missed whatever rumors were floating around but if Diego were to leave, that would be huge. He’s my favorite member and part of why I think they sound so great.