Author Topic: The Haken thread v. Restoration (Read 418546 times)

pogoowner · « **Reply #525 on:** November 09, 2011, 12:44:51 PM »

Quote from: Nel on November 09, 2011, 11:43:36 AM

This album does nothing for me. Granted, it took Aquarius a year to click, and when it did, it did hard. But nothing on Visions is really all that memorable to me. I've listened to the title track about five times already, and that "I bet you don't, remember me" section is too wacky for me to take the rest of the song's beauty in.

Come back to me in a year, I'll probably love it.

I like the album, but I agree with you on the "I bet you don't, remember me" section. I really don't care for most of the goofy, quirky stuff they do.

ariich · « **Reply #526 on:** November 09, 2011, 12:59:46 PM »

The quirky stuff in the title track is probably my favourite stuff on the album!

But then I like a lot of quirky music.

faemir · « **Reply #527 on:** November 09, 2011, 05:52:50 PM »

I think Haken are the only "wanky technical" band I enjoy nowadays (well I enjoy Dream Theater, but they're not on the rotation any more which is a bit sad in retrospect), which is quite the achievement.

I still bitterly regret buying aquarius on itunes though.

Nel · « **Reply #528 on:** November 13, 2011, 01:15:04 AM »

Listening to Insomnia and only just now noticing that little video-game-music section halfway through the song.

That was actually pretty awesome.

Global Laziness · « **Reply #529 on:** November 13, 2011, 09:23:09 AM »

Quote from: Nel on November 13, 2011, 01:15:04 AM

Listening to Insomnia and only just now noticing that little video-game-music section halfway through the song. That was actually pretty awesome.

So much fun!

Crow · « **Reply #530 on:** November 15, 2011, 10:33:37 PM »

track by track:

Premonition - Good, solid opener. Instrumental song, which they didn't have on the first album at all so now it's even proggier right? :V

Nocturnal Conspiracy - I like this song a lot, especially the chorus, but it kinda ends up feeling like two songs to me.

Insomnia - 8-bit section? Sure. About the most memorable part of this song, but it's still a good song overall. The middling songs all seem to get lost between the longer songs for me though.

The Mind's Eye - Probably my least favorite on the album, though it's not bad at all... just not anything special

Portals - Hey look some prog. Yeah okay I do like this one, great stuff, diverse, and not overlong either.

Shapeshifter - They really liked their 6/8 on this album didn't they... I think that the Mind's Eye reprise at the end comes too soon on the album though... hasn't been 15 minutes since we've heard it last. Like I said a lot of these middling songs are basically one giant thing to me, partly because the last three segue into each other.

Deathless - Oh hell yeah, something different. This song is beautiful, definitely a nice change of pace, too... wish it came a bit sooner on the album, though.

Visions - Mmhmm, this one's probably worth the price of the album on its own... great melodies, and it really captures the spirit of an "epic" too, IMO. The two "weird" vocals sections both work really well in my opinion... I love them. I pretty much have no criticism of this song really... maybe a bit too much abuse of 6/8 but eh.

Overall it's not a bad album, in fact, it's still really good, but yeah Aquarius was better. I think they should've waited a bit longer to release their second album... this one seems a bit stale at times. Not as diverse as Aquarius... shorter runtime, too. It doesn't feel like it drags, though, due to the title track being so fantastic, but I can hardly remember much of the songs even after having the album for two weeks now.

Or maybe it just needs more listens. Eh. I've been spinning it a lot, trying to wait for it to all click, but it really hasn't... I loved it my first few listens but found it getting less enjoyable since then, besides the last two tracks which get better every listen.

shadowfex · « **Reply #531 on:** November 16, 2011, 01:05:23 AM »

I'm really enjoying Visions but i'm not sure if it will top Aquarius.

Very solid album still.

ariich · « **Reply #532 on:** November 16, 2011, 01:28:42 AM »

Parama, in relation to your comments on Shapeshifter, tracks 4-6 are a single suite, which is why they flow into each other and why they reprise themes.

Crow · « **Reply #533 on:** November 16, 2011, 07:49:15 AM »

They're the "This is where I lose interest" suite, then :/
I figured they were a suite but that doesn't really change my opinion of the songs overall.

Perpetual Change · « **Reply #534 on:** November 16, 2011, 07:56:55 AM »

Gotta say, Haken lose me quite a few places on this album. I thought I'd get more familiar with the instrumental sections the more I listened, but nah. The instruments parts are simply too aimless, and not sticking with me. Still like the album though. It won't be my AOTY like Aquarius, but it might still crack this year's top 10 or 20.

ariich · « **Reply #535 on:** November 16, 2011, 04:34:27 PM »

Well, interestingly I find the instrumentals much more accessible on here than on Aquarius, largely because they have their own tracks. I mean there are guitar solos and stuff in other songs, but I like that the big long instrumentals are separate tracks rather than being the middle of other songs. Down to personal taste though I suppose!

faemir · « **Reply #536 on:** November 17, 2011, 03:44:53 PM »

Visions is the best Dream Theater album since Six Degrees.

Nekov · « **Reply #537 on:** November 17, 2011, 05:54:02 PM »

Quote from: faemir on November 17, 2011, 03:44:53 PM

Visions is the best Dream Theater album since Six Degrees.

missedthepoint · « **Reply #538 on:** November 24, 2011, 01:47:23 PM »

I absolutely love Visions! I can't listen to it enough.
It's a struggle to pick a favorite track as they are all equally awesome and solid songs but i think i'll go with Insomnia for now, mainly for the history/mystery/symphony backing vocals; pure genius.
Another vocal highlight for me is from visions, the 'As for the boy' section, the last note of it slays me every time.

This album was my intro to Haken so i figured i'd go back and listen to Aquarius. Oh dear, i didn't like it at all

Still to make a second album this strong, these guys are gonna be sooo awesome in the future.

Nekov · « **Reply #539 on:** November 24, 2011, 01:54:16 PM »

Don't give up on Aquarius yet. Listen to it a couple more times.

missedthepoint · « **Reply #540 on:** November 24, 2011, 01:59:03 PM »

Oh i will don't worry.

The theme feels a little comical to me really, and the vocals seem to just meander through the songs a little too much.

But yeah, i'll transfer it to the old portable audio device and give it a few listens on my travels, i do my best listening on a bus

ariich · « **Reply #541 on:** November 30, 2011, 04:14:15 PM »

New merch available:

(For anyone who doesn't know, it's a rip-off of the Heineken beer logo)

Elite · « **Reply #542 on:** November 30, 2011, 04:26:48 PM »

Saw that in their facebook post, definitely thinking of getting one!

Zook · « **Reply #543 on:** November 30, 2011, 05:36:35 PM »

I'd buy that.

Nekov · « **Reply #544 on:** November 30, 2011, 07:27:44 PM »

I want one too!

Gadough · « **Reply #545 on:** December 05, 2011, 10:09:32 PM »

Hey, you know what would be awesome?

A wallpaper-sized version of the Aquarius album cover.

I think that would be pretty awesome.

hintity hint hint

rumborak · « **Reply #546 on:** December 06, 2011, 01:21:27 AM »

So, I gave it another listen the other day, and my judgment is a bit kinder now, even though the original criticisms still stand, albeit not as weighty.
PC, I can see the argument of them doing "prog by numbers" as being a plus instead of a minus, since there's in general a pretty good market for bands strictly playing by the rules of the genre. It's not what I personally look for in a prog band, but I totally can see how it could go both ways.
I still think though that they will need a bit more identity to move to the next level, something that sets them apart from the others.

rumborak

Slain · « **Reply #547 on:** December 06, 2011, 03:25:37 PM »

Finally checked out both albums, and I have to say, I'm thoroughly enjoying this band. There are a lot of prog metal bands out there that sound way too much like a subpar version of Dream Theater that I can't get into. This is non-DT prog metal at it's best

I'm not sure I'd say both albums are better than ADTOE yet though, but I could see them growing on me a lot more.

Nekov · « **Reply #548 on:** December 06, 2011, 04:31:16 PM »

I can say it for you. Both albums kick the shit out of ADTOE.

faemir · « **Reply #549 on:** December 06, 2011, 06:42:24 PM »

Yeah I have twice the plays of this over ADToE

Gadough · « **Reply #550 on:** December 29, 2011, 02:55:23 AM »

So judging by the lyrics of Visions, it's got to be a concept album. Does anyone know what the story is?

*stares at Rich*

Anyone?

While we're on the subject, what's the rough outline of Aquarius as well?

Nekov · « **Reply #551 on:** December 29, 2011, 03:13:46 AM »

As far as Aquarius goes, it's this story about a mermaid that gets trapped by some kind of circus. Then a guy tries to free her but a flood comes in and kills lots of people. The girl dies to save them all and blah.

I'd say it's about Jesus.

ariich · « **Reply #552 on:** December 29, 2011, 04:06:04 AM »

Quote from: Gadough on December 29, 2011, 02:55:23 AM

So judging by the lyrics of Visions, it's got to be a concept album. Does anyone know what the story is?

*stares at Rich*

Anyone?

While we're on the subject, what's the rough outline of Aquarius as well?

As far as I'm aware it's not a concept album in the sense of having a story or narrative, but all the songs are based around the theme of dreams, and there are some links (both musical and lyrical) between songs. I really like the fact that it's a bit more subtle than the concept/lyrics of Aquarius.

Gadough · « **Reply #553 on:** December 29, 2011, 04:08:49 AM »

Alright Rich, that makes sense. I noticed several lyrical links when listening to it earlier and it made me think there was some sort of narrative. If not, it's still cool.

Quote from: Nekov on December 29, 2011, 03:13:46 AM

As far as Aquarius goes, it's this story about a mermaid that gets trapped by some kind of circus. Then a guy tries to free her but a flood comes in and kills lots of people. The girl dies to save them all and blah.

I'd say it's about Jesus.

Progmetty · « **Reply #554 on:** December 29, 2011, 02:03:19 PM »

Just got Visions, my first introduction to the band. Kicks major ass.

Heretic · « **Reply #555 on:** December 29, 2011, 03:39:27 PM »

I like Visions sooooo much more than Aquarius.

Nekov · « **Reply #556 on:** December 29, 2011, 04:39:50 PM »

Quote from: metty on December 29, 2011, 02:03:19 PM

Just got Visions, my first introduction to the band. Kicks major ass.

Bacong · « **Reply #557 on:** January 10, 2012, 03:59:57 PM »

hearing Visions for the 2nd time. There's a riff in Nocturnal Conspiracy that is SO DT. :3

Bacong · « **Reply #558 on:** January 10, 2012, 04:16:34 PM »

oh, and the production is pretty shitty

ariich · « **Reply #559 on:** January 10, 2012, 04:26:08 PM »

Quote from: Bacong on January 10, 2012, 04:16:34 PM

oh, and the production is pretty shitty

WAT

And yeah there's quite a few riffs that are fairly DT-esque.

News: Track-by-track video for Fall Into the Light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ezfzdMpRc0

Author Topic: The Haken thread v. Restoration (Read 418546 times)