The Haken thread v. Restoration

[Onno]

Must... resist... samples...

I'm resisting them too. I'd rather wait for the album.

[senecadawg2]

Resist all you want, they are fantastic!

[krands85]

Must... resist... samples...

[BlackInk]

I know there aren't enough material in the snippets to make any solid predictions, so I'll just make one anyways. I think Somebody will be my favorite track.

[Dr. DTVT]

I know there aren't enough material in the snippets to make any solid predictions, so I'll just make one anyways. I think Somebody will be my favorite track.

Then get the special edition, you'll like Nobody even more.

[BlackInk]

Then get the special edition.

Oh I most certainly will   

[Orthogonal]

Amazon better update their listing, there's no way to tell if it's standard or special edition. I will cancel at the last minute if I'm not sure and find the special edition elsewhere if necessary.

[me7]

Ragrding the bonus tracks: does the album have some proper closure track (like the previous two albums had)? Do the bonus tracks ruin the finale, like on Leprous' album Coal? Or is it like Symphony X' Iconoclast where the special edition is the proper album as intended by the band and the regular edition is just a botch job by the record company?

[Dr. DTVT]

To be honest, I didn't realize that the last two tracks were bonus tracks until I wrote my review.  They fit seamlessly into the rest of the album, so I wouldn't worry about it being a tack on, and Iconoclast is the only album I know of that is a butcher job of a proper album.

[HarlequinForest]

Pareidolia >>>>>> Atlas Stone

[Lucidity]

Atlas Stone >>>>>> Pareidolia

FTFM

[Heretic]

Atlas Stone ===== Pareidolia

FTFM

[BlackInk]

Pareidolia >>>>>> Atlas Stone

Absolutely this all the way.

[Nick]

Pareidolia >>>>>> Atlas Stone

Absolutely this all the way.

When I first heard the tracks I felt this way, but now it's simply: Pareidolia > Atlas Stone

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Pareidolia >>>>>> Atlas Stone

Absolutely this all the way.

When I first heard the tracks I felt this way, but now it's simply: Pareidolia > Atlas Stone

Wait a minute.....

[Liampie]

The iTunes samples sound promising. Cockroach King might already be my favourite track... So weird and awesome!

Haken!

[Elite]

Do the bonus tracks ruin the finale, like on Leprous' album Coal

Uh, what? Bury is awesome.

[BlackInk]

Question for the reviewer: Are there any 8-strings on this album? Maybe there is on Atlas Stone or Pareidolia but I don't really notice those things.

[Onno]

Do the bonus tracks ruin the finale, like on Leprous' album Coal

Uh, what? Bury is awesome.

I didn't even know there was a special edition, so I got the normal one (Well, for Leprous, that is)

[me7]

Do the bonus tracks ruin the finale, like on Leprous' album Coal

Uh, what? Bury is awesome.

The quality of "Bury" doesn't matter. "Contaminate me" closes the album. There can be no tracks after it. It's like Haken's "Celestial Elixir" and "Visions".

[Elite]

Do the bonus tracks ruin the finale, like on Leprous' album Coal

Uh, what? Bury is awesome.

The quality of "Bury" doesn't matter. "Contaminate me" closes the album. There can be no tracks after it. It's like Haken's "Celestial Elixir" and "Visions".

Apparently there can be. Bury closes the album I have and I love it that way.

[Syzzle]

I just got done listening to the new album, and this might just be their best album yet. It's definitely the album of the year.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

I just got done listening to the new album, and this might just be their best album yet. It's definitely the album of the year.

If I may ask, how did you get hold of the album so early?

[BlackInk]

I'd just wait until it's actually released guys..

[Nekov]

Technically as long as no-one says where they got it everything's cool.

2b. With regard to "leaked" material, you are not allowed to discuss the leaking or sharing of an album by any artist, or that an album has leaked.  In addition to the above, with regard to Dream Theater and side-projects by the members of Dream Theater, you may not discuss the leaked material whatsoever.  For other bands, you can in most cases discuss the content of the leaked material as long as you do not reference the leak, where you obtained the material, or sharing the leaked material.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Just to clarify, I was not assuming he got a leaked version or anything like that. For all I know he could be a music journalist or something. So no need to jump to conclusion.

[me7]

The album will be released on the 30.08. in some European countries. Some preorders could already be sent out. Let's just say that he got his preorder early.

Anyway: Because it's there (tears of joy)

[Heretic]

Yeah, easily Haken's best album. Absolutely beautiful in every regard.

[Lolzeez]

Imho,this isn't as good as the previous two. BUT,It's almost as good as Aquarius.

[GasparXR]

I really can't wait for my copy to arrive so I can listen. I hope there's an online stream of the album at some point before release.

[ariich]

This album is blowing me away so far. In ways it's much heavier than what they've done before, but also more delicate and beautiful as well. It's amazing to see the music maturing so much and so quickly!

Can't wait for my copy to arrive next week, it's not often I get excited about all the artwork, lyrics etc. but this is easily my album of the year so far.

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the bonus tracks, other than the fact that they're really nice of course, but I'm not sure they both add much. I think I've decided now that my definitive version of the album is to keep The Path Unbeaten as a closer, because the orchestral arrangement is really nice, and rounds off the album in the same way it started. Whereas Nobody is basically just an acoustic version of the song that closes the main album. So I think I might just treat Nobody as a b-side separate from the album.

[Liampie]

Lots to love about this album. The Path and Atlas Stone are a good combo, and if you listen to Atlas Stone using proper headphones you'll immediately notice how great this album sounds. The production is perfect. Cockroach King is a lovely song, I especially love the weird first two minutes. That's ace. Another highlight on the album for me is Somebody's outro. I didn't know Hans Zimmer collaborated on this album, which was a pleasant surprise. So epic.

I'm not feeling Because It's There and As Death Embraces yet, which keeps me from putting this album in the same league as Aquarius and Visions. But time will tell, anything can happen! It's definitely a 8+ album. The first this year.

[ariich]

Interesting you say that, as I find Because It's There to be absolutely stunning. The intensity of In Memoriam followed by the beauty of Because It's There just works so well, probably Haken's best short songs in my opinion.

As Death Embraces didn't do much for me at first, but after a few listens it's growing on me, definitely a nice interlude.

[Dimitrius]

Cockroach King is so fun!

[Zydar]

Cockroach King is so fun!

Great song