The HAKEN Survivor 2018 - Enter the 5th Dimension: Round 1!

[Elite]

Previous round results:

n/a

Songs not mentioned here received zero votes.

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Enter the Fifth Dimension (Demo 2007/2008) Results:

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Haken Survivor Main Thread

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Like in previous years, we'll do a small survivor for the band's demo EP, which consists of 6 songs recorded in 2007 & 2008. Three of these songs got reworked on the Restoration EP and all three of these retain some key qualities, but the songs on this EP are noticably different nonetheless.

This weekend I listened to this CD twice, to prepare for the survivor and to revisit it once again and I'm always surprised at how strong the compositions are. Granted, the sound is of demo quality, but there's a lot of good stuff to be found on here. I was also surprised at how 'Haken' this thing sounds, and that you can hear stuff in this EP that wouldn't sound out of place on even their latest album. Even the songs that the band reworked are great to listen to on their own. 'Blind' lost a lot of its circus music in Darkest Light, something the band expanded on further on their debut album, and 'Snow' is a lot heavier than Crystallised ever gets.

The whole CD is an interesting listen for sure and contains some great moments. There's a couple of misses as well, as far as I;m concerned, mostly in 'Black Seed' - which just sounds unpolished compared to Earthlings - and in Sleeping Thoughts Wake, which has some compositional problems and quickly become a plodding mess of unfinished ideas. I think my first vote will go this last track.

Please - refrain from voting if you haven't heard this EP. The results of this survivor will have no impact on the rest of the survivor whatsoever.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

I only know (and LOVE) Snow. I shall abstain.

[Evermind]

Heard it twice but don't know the songs well enough to vote. I'll also abstain.

[Crow]

instrumehtal

[ariich]

On balance probably Sleeping Thoughts Wake. Has some amazing stuff, but I agree about the compositional issues. The dirty instrumental is completely out of place (similar issue that slightly holds Crystallised back for me).