Haken v. new single Nightingale (April 26)

[ariich]

SPOILERS IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS


No a capella sections like Cockroach King or Crystallised this time.
Yes plenty of really f-ing good vocal harmonies and generally epic Haken choruses.
Yes I have definitely formed an opinion and I absolutely love it. Took a handful of listens to really sink in.

I'll be publishing a review soon so can give more detail then!

[Onno]

SPOILER (just because I'm responding to Rich's comments)

Wow, harsh vocals by Einar, that's amazing! I'm really curious now!

[volwrath]

Album of the year -- Im calling it! Sorry DT!

[darkshade]

Is this new album the first recording with the new bassist? (I know no one's name in the band)

[jammindude]

Is this new album the first recording with the new bassist? (I know no one's name in the band)

It's the first *full length* release with Connor (the new bassist).   The Restoration EP was the first recording to feature him.

[ariich]

Is this new album the first recording with the new bassist? (I know no one's name in the band)

It's the first *full length* release with Connor (the new bassist).   The Restoration EP was the first recording to feature him.

It's also therefore the first entirely original material with Conner, as Restoration was reworkings of old demo songs.

[Estiui]

No a capella sections? 

Growls are back? 

But still Haken, the album is gonna be great, and we all know that... hard to be better than The Mountain, though.

[kaos2900]

Just curious but it may have been mentioned already, but doesn't this album not come for basically another 2 months? Did you guys get press copies or something?

[jakepriest]

No a capella sections?   

Growls are back?   

[ariich]

Just curious but it may have been mentioned already, but doesn't this album not come for basically another 2 months? Did you guys get press copies or something?

Press copies have started to go out I think, but literally only in the last couple of days so I'm not sure anyone else has got it yet. In my case, though, it's because I know the band.

[seasonsinthesky]

It's a bloody shame Visions isn't available on vinyl. What a masterpiece!

[ThatOneGuy2112]

SPOILER (I guess)

I'm actually somewhat bummed those a capella sections aren't making a comeback. Those parts of CK and Crystallized are among my favorite.

Regardless, this album gon be gud. Surpassing The Mountain is quite the task I imagine, but Haken have done nothing to make me doubt them so far.

[ariich]

I'm pretty surprised at the reactions to the lack of those a capella sections. I mean, they've only done two in their entire history. It's not remotely, in any way, a core part of Haken's sound.

Furthermore, there's a whole bunch of new styles and ideas on this album. In the same way that they introduced things like the a capella and others on the Mountain (and broadly stuck with that style on Restoration), they're continuing to introduce more new things as well.

[KevShmev]

SPOILERS IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS


No a capella sections like Cockroach King or Crystallised this time.
Yes plenty of really f-ing good vocal harmonies and generally epic Haken choruses.
Yes I have definitely formed an opinion and I absolutely love it. Took a handful of listens to really sink in.

I'll be publishing a review soon so can give more detail then!

THANK GOD!!!! :big grin:

I'm a fan of this band, but not a hardcore one like many of you. I'll still check this out for sure. 

[Crow]

this album is going to be

a haken album

[ariich]

this album is going to be

a haken album

SPOILERS!!!1

[King Postwhore]

Who wants this band to do the same thing every album?   I am very excited about it. 

[Dr. DTVT]

I'm pretty surprised at the reactions to the lack of those a capella sections. I mean, they've only done two in their entire history. It's not remotely, in any way, a core part of Haken's sound.

It's because people are being whiny little bitches.

I will take what they give and love it, like a prison bitch.

[GasparXR]

I'm pretty surprised at the reactions to the lack of those a capella sections. I mean, they've only done two in their entire history. It's not remotely, in any way, a core part of Haken's sound.

It's because people are being whiny little bitches.

I will take what they give and love it, like a prison bitch.

"IIIII'm Nappa. And this is Vegeta. He was a prison bitch."

On topic, le excitement!!

[Zydar]

I'm really looking forward to this album. TA didn't really live up to my expectations, so I guess this will be my Album Of The Year.

[erwinrafael]

There would be growls again? Maybe I will pass.

[ariich]

There would be growls again? Maybe I will pass.

Because of one short section in one song?

[Train of Naught]

There would be growls again? Maybe I will pass.

Your loss 

[Estiui]

Well, those a capella sections are not as "core" of the band as a distorted guitar sound, for instance, but they are somehow particular to them. And remember, the difference is always on the details.

That being said, I'm gonna listen to this album with my pants wet anyway.

[hefdaddy42]

Well, those a capella sections are not as "core" of the band as a distorted guitar sound, for instance, but they are somehow particular to them.

Particular to them.

And Spock's Beard.

And probably several others which currently escape me.

[me7]

We have a 10/10 review and ariich's word that the album is indeed great, yet some fans expect to be disappointed

[darkshade]

You can't hate on a band's new album until their 6th album, AND they've been around for at least 10 years. That's the rock and roll rules.

[erwinrafael]

There would be growls again? Maybe I will pass.

Your loss 

Love Visions and The Mountain. Can't listen to Aquarius because I am still bummed by how the song with my favorite melody, Streams, was horribly sidetracked by growls that do not make any musical or narrative sense.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

So a few seconds ruin the entire album for you? That sucks.

[erwinrafael]

So a few seconds ruin the entire album for you? That sucks.

It ruins the album-listening experience because I usually listen to albums in full. Normally, I am not bothered by a few seconds of music I don't like, but because it is in the song which has the album highlight for me, my negative reaction is magnified.

I listen to songs in Aquarius now on a per track basis, although lately it is just Drowning in the Flood. I often see Aquarius as Haken still learning to write good songs, throwing several ideas but not knowing when enough is enough. Or when a musical theme has played on too long, with no good sensenof pace or climax (which I find in Celestial Elixir). Visions, though, really clicked with me. Love love love that album.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I often see Aquarius as Haken still learning to write good songs, throwing several ideas but not knowing when enough is enough.

I guess I agree with that, to an extent, though I love Celestial Elixir. I don't have a problem with growls at all, but they were definitely poorly-performed/misplaced on Aquarius.

I'm pretty confident they'll do better this time around, though.

[erwinrafael]

As long as ariich would assure me that the growling in this new album is nothing like how they placed it in Streams, then of course I will give the album a chance.  I was just being hyperbolic after all.

Celestial Elixir is good, but it really just does not have that sense of having ups and downs, which I personally prefer when I listen to very long songs. It's what makes Visions for me much better than Celestial Elixir. Celestial Elixir just does not have a climax. It's also the reason why I prefer Falling Back to Earth over Pareidolia. I do appreciate drawing out a musical idea when the narrative calls for it. Deathless is a very good example.

My favorite, though, is still the unofficial "suite" of The Mind's Eye -> Portals -> Shapeshifter. A long "song" that does not dwell too long on specific musical ideas.

[ariich]

As long as ariich would assure me that the growling in this new album is nothing like how they placed it in Streams, then of course I will give the album a chance.  I was just being hyperbolic after all.

Obviously I've no idea how you'll find them, but they definitely don't SOUND anything like the growls on Streams (I wouldn't even call these ones growls, the pitch is higher). In my opinion, the placement works well too - The Architect has an amtospheric middle section that builds up to the harsh vocals bit. The flow is good IMO.

And I am with you that flow on Aquarius was not something they had mastered at that stage - even in Celestial Elixir the sudden jump into trad jazz was quite off-putting. That's why DITF is easily my favourite on the album.

[erwinrafael]

OK, you sold me.

[ariich]

OK, you sold me.

Just to reiterate my disclaimer that I've no idea whether you'll dig these or not. Only that, assuming you don't dislike all harsh vocals in general, those in The Architect are very different to those on Aquarius and so opinions of the former may well be very different to opinions of the latter.

There, I think I've covered myself for all eventualities.

Ugh this album is so good.