Here's my perspective as a person who just listens to a few Haken songs but tries to get into the hype every album and always fails
Vector for me really just had Puzzle Box and maybe Nil By Mouth as songs I would continue to listen to, and I seldom feel any need to listen to the album as a whole. For me songs like The Good Doctor doesn't work at all. I always lack a bit of pure beauty when listening to Haken. You know those moments when there's just a piano playing something beautiful without any need for overly complex "cool" stuff going on.
Back to Virus. I actually like this. This is maybe the best album I heard from Haken even. I am not sure if this will be the first album where I go back and listen to it over and over in it's full glory but I really hope so. Maybe it's even the album that got me into the band? That's not to say I have some gripes with it.
The album is more or less full of "crazy", "cool", "crazy", "crazier", "cool", "craziest", "coolest" moments and very dense. I really lack a "slow", "beautiful" or "atmospheric" in there. Honestly I believe this album could cure hunger around the world because it's so dense I stop feeling the need to eat. There's never any good breathing ground or strong build up to the crazier moments.
Prosthetic is a good opener but nothing I will put on repeat really. However it's full of twists and turns and keeps the energy going. A lot better than The Good Doctor imo that just put me off Vector instantly. I think the main chorus isn't for me but just when I am about to get a bit boored there's some cool change that keeps me listening.
Invasion sounds like something I hear on every Haken album. "Why is there bla something problem blaaaaa". I must have heard this before. Something about the melody and the way the singer sounds like a keyboard sample that just reminds me of other Haken songs. Anyway it's pretty ok but the overall melodies aren't that memorable. Actually makes me think that Haken could need a good Petrucci solo now and then. Maybe that's swearing for Haken fans but if Petrucci would pull of a soaring guitar solo near the end there I would honestly like this a bit more.
Anyway
Carousel is where it starts getting more interesting! This is much more memorable in some ways. Strong melodies and good flow / variation! Not that typical Haken thing where melodies get 5th priority and crazy stuff gets 1, 2, 3 and 4th priority. I love how the guitar is working beneath the vocals just before the chorus. The songs has some great breakdown moments before it gets back at full speed. Good stuff!
The Strain maybe needs some more time for me but I like the change near the end where it get's a bit calm before going back to speed. Sometimes I feel Haken should just let those calm moment last a bit longer. Are they in a hurry? Great transition into
Canary Yellow and some stronger melodies once again. It's a good calmer song with some unusually nice vocal parts.
Messiah Complex. Haha, honestly I am not even close to give my final thoughts on this one. I hear the recurring themes from other albums but honestly don't know the concept. It's just filled with tons of crazy stuff but I do feel excited every time Yellow Canary finishes. Good sign! Sometimes Haken feels so good at the crazy stuff that most songs feels like they follow the same template. This however has so many different sections that really stands out. Disjointed, but cool sections. Ivory Tower has a great melody! However there's these Nintendo sounds with a reprise of a melody, from some Vector I think, and that really sounds off.
Overall this album feels like it delivers on a consistently high level. Just that it's loud, crazy and dense. It's strange how Dream Theater almost feels light, super melodic and even a bit simple after listening to an album of Haken. But also understand that this can be a criticism! Haken should really calm down sometimes and just try to incorporate more simple, strong melodies and just stay away from crazy a bit more. It's like suspense. If you use it all the time it won't be as dramatic. Haken is soooooo good at crazy they do it in their sleep, but since it's there all the time it takes a way bit of the magic. The slower moment doesn't even last a minute before it's back to crazy. I can't even imagine how good this would be with more build ups to those moments.
I really like BTBAM Parallax 2 and somehow that's the best reference I have to this album. It starts of with a calm intro before going into the melodic Astral Body that perfectly builds up to Lay Your Ghosts to Rest, which is just complex, heavy and crazy. This is what I need more of here. Parallax 2 has a far better flow and variation than this album from what I can tell. When the crazy hits it hits so damn hard because it built up to it and I am ready.
Will come back to Messiah Complex again when my brain understands a bit more of it. Also, can someone please tell me what the story is here? I understand it's about Cockroach King, but what is the story there? Are all albums connected? Vector and Virus obviously seems connected.
Topic: Haken v. new single Nightingale (April 26) (Read 443892 times)
