Haken v. new single Nightingale (April 26)

[YtseJamittaja]

lol that lamp 

[GasparXR]

Oh my god I am so excited for this album now just from that! It is SO very Haken but still fresh and new!

[wizard of Thought]

Actually, I`m suddenly really excited for what Haken comes up with! I love The Mountain, so I`m ready for the next album I think!

[Crow]

actually i just realized, that sounds a lot like this song's first bit  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkX_r1COE6Y

[me7]

actually i just realized, that sounds a lot like this song's first bit  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkX_r1COE6Y

That sounds really interesting, need to check that band out.

[hefdaddy42]

Nice

[KevShmev]

Finally coming around a little on this band.  I like most of The Mountain, with Atlas Stone, Pareidolia, Because It's There, and (especially) Falling Back to Earth all being highly enjoyable.

Still need to give a good listen to those first two albums and last year's EP.

[ariich]

I would guess at the first two being less your thing, but the EP is not dissimilar in writing style and approach to The Mountain. Glad you're coming around though!

[Train of Naught]

Our first snippet of H4KEN!

https://www.facebook.com/HakenOfficial/videos/vb.102787549743/10153801801064744

Totally missed this, but I love it! Can't wait to hear more.

[KevShmev]

I would guess at the first two being less your thing, but the EP is not dissimilar in writing style and approach to The Mountain. Glad you're coming around though!

Out of curiosity, how so?

I ask, because I gave Celestial Elixir a whirl last night, and that song sounds pretty awesome to my ears.  Some of the instrumental sections are totally bad ass.

[King Postwhore]

The Mountain was less out their Kev.  Got to say, seeing them live upped my love for them.

[ariich]

I would guess at the first two being less your thing, but the EP is not dissimilar in writing style and approach to The Mountain. Glad you're coming around though!

Out of curiosity, how so?

I ask, because I gave Celestial Elixir a whirl last night, and that song sounds pretty awesome to my ears.  Some of the instrumental sections are totally bad ass.

I could be totally wrong, of course. Just that I would say that, quirky as they are, the first two have a bit more of what critics would call "prog wankery" and "circus music" about them. Then again, you liked Celestial Elixir so that bodes fairly well!

[KevShmev]

The Mountain was less out their Kev.   

Gotcha.

  Just that I would say that, quirky as they are, the first two have a bit more of what critics would call "prog wankery" and "circus music" about them. Then again, you liked Celestial Elixir so that bodes fairly well!

Not that they really sound like Spock's Beard, but I've heard enough of their stuff now to say that they do enough quirky, like SB, to where it sounds natural when they do it, not shoehorned in (which DT is guilty of at times, I think). 

Of the three long epics, my early thoughts are that it is close call between Crystallised and Celestial Elixir as to which is the best of them; both are pretty great to me after only a couple listens each.  Visions seems solid, but not as good.

[ariich]

Not that they really sound like Spock's Beard, but I've heard enough of their stuff now to say that they do enough quirky, like SB, to where it sounds natural when they do it, not shoehorned in (which DT is guilty of at times, I think). 

Very true, and one of the reasons I find Haken that bit more consistent than DT, for my tastes anyway.

[Nick]

Of the three long epics, my early thoughts are that it is close call between Crystallised and Celestial Elixir as to which is the best of them; both are pretty great to me after only a couple listens each.  Visions seems solid, but not as good.

Dammit Kev. Not only are you getting into Haken, but you're with me on the correct ordering of the epics. This is scary.

In related news, on Cruise to the Edge I got to see Haken shows #5 and #6, and continue to love them more and more. At this rate, if the new album lives up to expectations, I plan on taking a big leap for the US tour in September. My two tattoos now are Rush themed and DT themed, and the next one may very well be a Haken tattoo. I'm hoping that if I do it, they give me something good to work with in the artwork of the next album.

[KevShmev]

Damn it, where's that edit post button...?

[KevShmev]

Not that they really sound like Spock's Beard, but I've heard enough of their stuff now to say that they do enough quirky, like SB, to where it sounds natural when they do it, not shoehorned in (which DT is guilty of at times, I think). 

Very true, and one of the reasons I find Haken that bit more consistent than DT, for my tastes anyway.

Nowadays, that is kind of an unfair comparison, since DT is about to be 13 albums in, and Haken is only 3 (plus an EP) in.  Most bands are at their best and most consistent early on, as you say Haken is, and as Dream Theater was early in their career as well.

[ariich]

Oh totally, only time will tell.

[King Postwhore]

This discussion is too British.  Now take your monical off Rich and stop agreeing. 

[Enigmachine]

Nowadays, that is kind of an unfair comparison, since DT is about to be 13 albums in, and Haken is only 3 (plus an EP) in.  Most bands are at their best and most consistent early on, as you say Haken is, and as Dream Theater was early in their career as well.

I actually think that if I'm going to compare the bands at a similar stage in their career, Haken would beat Dream Theater.

Aquarius >>>>> WDaDU (Not even close)

Visions < IaW (Hard to go up against a classic, but Visions is still surprisingly close)

The Mountain = Awake (Both are godly, this is too hard )

Restoration >> ACoS (In terms of value for money as an EP, Restoration dominates as it has 10 more minutes of great original material while ACoS is followed with live covers as filler)

If Haken release 2 or 3 more albums, I think they could take over DT as my favourite band.

[KevShmev]

Okay, but what are the odds that they keep making album after album at this supposedly high level?  Very few bands have done it, without a hiccup in there somewhere.

For the record, while I am getting more into them now, I am finding much more of the material to be good rather than having the wow factor.  The really good songs are really good, but they are in the vast minority.  That is a major contrast to DT, who pretty much wowed me non-stop from 1992-2002, with only several tracks from FII not being particularly great.  The Mountain is very good, but no way can I say it is better than the best six or even seven albums by DT.  But that's me.

Oh totally, only time will tell.

[Mosh]

Restoration definitely has the benefit of 3 original songs, as opposed to one brand new original song on ACOS, but I would take ACOS over all 3 songs on Restoration. It was a good EP, but didn't wow me. Also, funny coincidence that both DT and Haken's 4th studio releases were EPs featuring reworkings of older material.

As for Haken's longevity, it's really impossible to say. I'd say right now they're just as good as DT were in their prime, so the test is how long will that last. Few bands have kept me interested into their 13th album, so it's not super likely but possible. With that said, topping The Mountain is going to be extremely difficult.

[Crow]

i'unno the only DT album I like more than The Mountain is Awake, personally

[KevShmev]

I don't think making an album where the least best song is better than Cockroach King, which I still find annoying as hell*, will be difficult.

*Vocally; musically, it is fine, but man oh man, those vocal melodies are cringeworthy.

[Train of Naught]

Those vocals were a perfect case of so bad they're good for me, especially after watching a live version where they hand out the puppets from the music video 

[jammindude]

Those off kilter harmonies in the bridge are the greatest moment of the ENTIRE ALBUM imo.   Just amazing!

[Nick]

Restoration definitely has the benefit of 3 original songs, as opposed to one brand new original song on ACOS, but I would take ACOS over all 3 songs on Restoration. It was a good EP, but didn't wow me. Also, funny coincidence that both DT and Haken's 4th studio releases were EPs featuring reworkings of older material.

One important distinction that should be made; Dream Theater were re-working a song written during their second album. Haken were re-working songs from PRIOR to their first album. It would have been very interesting had Dream Theater essentially taken tracks from the Majesty Demos and turned them into something new.

[BlackInk]

For me there is no doubt, Haken is a much better band than DT is or was.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Let's put it like this: I have enjoyed Hakens albums more than i've enjoyed DTs 3 latest albums however the biggest problem I have with DT these days are JLBs vocals, I just can't stand JLB whenever he goes highpitched live. Even though Ross might not be the most original vocalist his voice and vocals are much more enjoyable to listen to.
I still have tremendous respect for each member in DT including JLB as musicians and i'm very intrigued hearing DT13.

[ariich]

This discussion is too British.  Now take your monical off Rich and stop agreeing. 

Okay, but what are the odds that they keep making album after album at this supposedly high level?  Very few bands have done it, without a hiccup in there somewhere.

For sure, this was what I meant as well. And things change over time - Hen started out as the primary songwriter and even on The Mountain came up with most of the initial ideas that the band then developed, but as I understand it they are going more and more in the direction of full-band writing.

[Nick]

Yeah, I was actually talking to Hen about that on the cruise. They are definitely being more collaborative this time around.

[Crow]

I don't think making an album where the least best song is better than Cockroach King, which I still find annoying as hell*, will be difficult.

*Vocally; musically, it is fine, but man oh man, those vocal melodies are cringeworthy.

cockroach king is like top 3 on the mountain but ok

[Nick]

I don't think making an album where the least best song is better than Cockroach King, which I still find annoying as hell*, will be difficult.

*Vocally; musically, it is fine, but man oh man, those vocal melodies are cringeworthy.

cockroach king is like top 3 on the mountain but ok

I'd say top 1, but who's keeping score?

[Crow]

it can be #2 or #3 depending on my mood but I don't think anything is beating Falling Back to Earth

[jammindude]

Basically, tracks 1-6 are about as close to progressive perfection as you can possibly get.