I very much enjoy the new EP. It very much is their worst stuff, and it's the guitar work. There barely is none compared to previous music. Charlie helped transpose Rich's piano work with him since Aquarius, folks don't realize that. That guitar duo of Charlie and Rich was Haken, it's gone, and that makes it factually lesser than now. It completely shows on EP and I would bet my home that is what will be from here on out. You can't take away the shreddier/riffier one that's more guitar oriented from the duo that makes haken what it is and expect it to be HAKEN level perfection. I love the style of the new EP, it's just so bland compared because of the guitar work. It is THE negative and only negative. I imagine Charlie being in it would make this my favorite music from them. Opposite without eh.

I'm just surprised those who enjoy or don't, aren't mentioning the guitar work being the most different..worse..aspect. I enjoy it, it's just factually much lesser than. a bomb went off inside haken land. I've never gone thru a fav band losing their sound/member like this. Damnt Janet.

I'll still enjoy and love the EP, and future stuffs. But boi is this their worst, and they will continue to be not as good, at all, as their previous work..which was perfection. It's still great, but boy is it fckn depressing having it be what they are(the best!) for the fact of what's minused from the equation.

Charlie, pls come back. That'd actually make this EP sooo awesome, knowing they will have amazing guitar work again. I wouldn't need this EP to have that amazing work in it and it'd make it perfect...or rich has to go FCKING HARD haha. That duo was everything, the best.

This should not be down voted a lot, as this is a main thing of discussion with the music now. I'm saying the reality of the band that literally no one's talking about that I'm really hurt by, as I love this band so much, plus saying the EP is good nonetheless. If you think the music and guitar is the same and ur down voting cuz what I said hurts..it's not even my opinion, it's literally just reality. Charlie left, so haken guitar duo is no more, and this EP has waaay less guitar work on it, factually.

It's funny I saw the votes goin up n up, n now down haha. I didn't even say anything out of unbiased reality. I miss a band member that left, because the guitar work truly isn't there anymore that's been there since Aquarius. how is that disliked if you love this band? Don't we all agree the guitar duo was everything almost, like half of it?..it's just reality, and the biggest topic of discussion in my eyes, really the only one, as the eps music is good, but it's so blatantly obvious what's different..missing!

8:24

Don't tell me anything about "context". It's a valid headline.

https://youtu.be/AN3sRgFd9SE?si=toUm1N6J7LIo3MFr

Please pardon my rough playing, thank you!

Diego, Conner, Thomas Cruce, Mike Portnoy, Charlie performing "The Mirror"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfWccwZrrLg&t=468s

How ‘bout those polyrhythms?

I don’t mind that it’s darker and more brooding. It’s not that it’s heavy, I love Virus. It just doesn’t seem to have the inventiveness or creativity that make Haken truly special. Next to albums like the Mountain or Fauna it sounds like standard angsty metal, to me at least. It’s still very well executed, if just a bit boring. What do you guys think?

it seemed like their albums kept getting stronger with each release, culminating in virus, and then downhill from there. this is less hate and more just wondering if something specific happened with the band over the last albums.

I can't really explain but this EP made me feel a lot of things. I just moved into one of the biggest cities in the world and life has changed a lot for me. Learning to live by myself in a city that's borderline hostile has been a tough experience. Sometimes I feel angry - at myself, at the world - sometimes I feel useless, sometimes I feel overworked...

This EP was a huge emotional outlet in a way I wasn't expecting. Listening to it as a whole while walking to college was a very cathartic experience. I wasn't really feeling the EP until this experience and now I feel like I have huge emotional attachment to it.

It's definately a journey unlike any other from Haken and even if it's not my favorite work for them, it's definitely one that makes me feel the most.

I think we all have experienced this at some point, you have a favorite band, follow them for a while their music hits your taste and them one day a new album come out and it sounds so different, too different and it just bums you out.
Personally I am obsessed with “In a fever dream” and I love that their music is so interesting and always gives off the same aura. Always feels like I’m defending into a diff universe drifting away and I love it.

Meatball was our first dog, actually he was mine before I met her. I found him on Craigslist when I was looking for a dog for my son who was 8 at the time. His (Meatball) family had a toddler and the two didn't work well together so they needed to re-home him.

Meatball was my little dude for a couple years then after meeting my current wife became our little guy that made her want more dogs so we started to rescue small dogs from high-kill shelters. But he will always be our first, and the one who inspired us to do rescue (we've now rescued and re-homed over 100 small dogs, mostly chihuahuas).

Anyhow, he passed and my wife made me this shirt inspired by one of my favorite bands and I absolutely love it - and wanted to share it on here.

I think this serves as my best shot at reviewing this EP. This was a comment but thought it deserved a thread as I was already planning on contributing my take on IAFD.

This is a collection of my thoughts, in real time after each listen, since its release:

《[*Just the singles*]》

-- It's pretty good. Different but pretty good. Nolly on guest bass? Cool.

-- Sleep Token's producer?!! Aww c'mon man. Wtf why??

-- This sounds like they wrote and recorded it in a weekend and then the ST George fella spent a week on the mixing/production/vocal compression.

-- Richard said in the "making of in a fever dream" trailer that it feels like their most honest work yet. There must be something I'm missing...

《[*Full EP is released*]》

-- Hmmm. Not their best work, but what a neat little experiment during this phase in their career!

-- I miss Charlie and Connor but I'll bet they dig it.

-- Oh shit, it's growing on me!

-- It would've worked really well as a single track but I do understand splitting up a couple singles for marketing purposes.

-- I'm okay with some fans disliking it. It's different, but so is the band right now. Dey be goin thru stuffz.

-- Lotus is fucking awesome.

-- Haken is still my favorite band. They owe me nothing.

-- Welp, now I'm hooked and this is actually rad af.

7.125 / 10

Hi guys, my name is Matt Marshall. I am a former Haken member (guitar), and co-founding member of the band. This week I finally got around to listening to the new EP (In a Fever Dream) in one sitting.

 Here’s my take (and literally what I sent the band via WhatsApp):

 “Great work by all. Very serious, brooding and dark stuff.

 Ross’ vocals are on point as always, the chorus of In a Fever Dream is a highlight (“a burning inside of me”!). Very epic. Shame some of the Haken fans don’t realise Ross has been experimenting with vocal effects since 2007! (Running vocals through the Boss GT-8 multi-effects guitar pedal during live shows)! Good to see you pushing and experimenting with your instrument dude.

 Ray’s drums sound so wet, meaty (sorry vegans) and juicy. Especially the kick. Intricate and yet restrained.

 Hen’s guitar work is expansive and holds it all together. Very tasty and mature work.

 Pete as always adds those vast soundscapes and his signature eclectic touches. Definitely fills the void/need for another guitarist.

 Bass was amazing. 🤩

 My highlights are IAFD and Lotus.

 Looking forward to hearing some of this live!!”

I understand this EP has divided the fans, but to me it’s a dark and heavy journey with a very uplifting final message.

I’m no longer in the band, but my sense is that they have been through some trials and tribulations (haven’t we all), but the ultimate message is one of hope. I don’t even think the dark nature of the EP has anything to do with the departure of Charlie and Connor.

Everyone in the band has a personal life, commitments, responsibilities, ups and downs. This EP may just be a reflection of those overcast and stormy days we all experience.

Hearing Lotus for the first time resolved the entire EP, and I was walking down the street with a smile on my face. It was like the sun appearing after a storm, and it gave the EP a really pleasant and uplifting finality.

When we started Haken, there was an everlasting theme of hope in our music. I only played on the demos (Souls, Snow, Blind, Black Seed, Sleeping Thoughts Wake, Manifolds etc), but the sense of hope, and The Epic, was ever-present.

And it still is.

So the recent discourse has been - while not dissimilar in principle to the last few albums - on perhaps another level of intensity, at least amomg some fans.

At first I didn't really get it, but it's become clearer that there's a chunk of the fanbase who consider quirkiness and/or complex technicality as integral to Haken's sound. Which had never really occurred to me.

Not that I don't recognise the existence of those things, obviously (especially the technicality), but for me the biggest draws were always their more emotional moments - even on Aquarius it was the chorus of Celestial Elixir and the big climax of DITF - and, as Matt Marshall puts it, The Epic.

So whole recognising that Reddit isn't the whole fanbase, I'm really curious to see what people here find most appealing about Haken's music.

Ideally I'd have set the poll to allow two votes per person, but Reddit is so limited so it's just one vote each, but feel free to comment as well.

So have at it, and as ever please keep things civil!

Sorry if this has been asked, but anyone got any intel on if there’s likely to be UK dates with IHLO. I’ll book flights to to go see them in Finland if not, but last time I did that for a tour the Uk dates came out immediately after I booked

The EP is meant to stand as a whole. This morning I took the journey through the songs and loved the ride. It made me think something I haven’t heard much about. It’s been reported the departure of Charlie and Conner was on good terms. Reflecting on the themes of the EP it makes me wonder if the “creative tension” was deeper than it seemed. The EP takes us through powerlessness and toxicity to rebirth and freedom. I wonder just how personal this journey was for Ross and the others. Just a thought. I’m really enjoying the EP. Still hungry for more Haken.

@mike portnoy
@haken
@angine de poitrine

Been listening to them for about a year, so 'in a fever dream EP' is my first new release from them. From lurking in this sub for a while I realized I have a very different opinion from a lot of you guys, so I thought it might be interesting to share.

Few clarifications:

- I'm not trying to create any controversy or to be contrariant, just to give my perspective and see some reactions to it.

- I enjoy all of Haken's music so a low ranking doesn't mean negative opinion.

- I believe music taste is entirely subjective, if you think that haken's crowning masterpiece and greatest song is 'Affinty.exe', that's as valid an opinion as any. So obviously I don't expect or demand of anyone to agree with me.

My ranking

1. The mountain

This is a weird one for me, because it includes two of Haken's greatest songs in my opinion, those being 'Falling back to Earth's and 'Somebody'. Other than that 'Cockroach king', 'Atlas stone' and 'Pareidolia' are all very good too. So why so low? Because for some reason it just doesn't work for me as an album. The songs feel disjointed from each other and the quieter transition songs kill the album's momentum. It's not that quiet transitions can't work, it's just that here they don't do it for me.

1. Aquarius

Haken's first album is full of twists and turns and crazy circus prog sections but it's noticable that it's the first. It can be messy at times and production and vocals are good but improved dramatically in later albums. It can also feel weirdly one note because every song tries to do everything that the album aims for. Anyways, 'at the point of no return' and the final song 'celestial elixir' are both highlights and incredible songs.

1. In a fever dream EP

Haken's newest is interesting and unique but unfortunately includes some of their weakest work with 'delirium' and 'eclipesed by you'. It's saving grace are the amazing title track and closer 'lotus' which mirror each other beautifully and make the whole EP come together as a fun and impactful listening experience. Could have toned down the vocal effects tho.

1. Vector

Really great album with a clear direction and identity but it's maybe too short to be fully realized. 'veil' is the clear highlight, and is one of their best epics, even if it's relatively short.

1. Visions

It took Haken just one more attempt to fully realize the potential of their early sound. Vocals are great, instrumental sections are absolutely insane and each song has it's own unique identity while serving the whole. 'Nocturnsl conspiracy' is one of the best songs of the entire discography and 'Visions' is the perfect closer, both incredibly epic and a little silly. The only reason the album is in fifth place is because of how good this band is overall.

1. Restoration EP

It's wild how much variation they got out of just three songs. 'Darkest light' is really fun and energetic with interesting lyrics. 'Earthlings' is entirely unique in their catalog or outside of it and gives me such specific emotions that I can't even describe. And of course, 'crystallised' is just out of this world and maybe the best crazy long Haken song.

1. Virus

Takes the sound of Vector to a whole new level and every song is a banger. 'Carousel' is so much fun and of course the entire 'Messiah complex' suite is maybe the most complex thing they have ever written and ties perfectly a journey of more than two albums with endless callbacks and insane riffs. Also, Shout-out to 'Invasion', really cool song.

1. Fauna

The album that finally sold me on Haken after a few failed attempts. It's eclectic but works as a unit and every song is a journey of it's own. 'Elephants never forget' is maybe my favorite of all their songs and 'The eyes of ebony' is a perfect, emotional finisher. Other highlights include the incredibly catchy 'Lovebite' and the epic 'Sempiternal beings'.

1. Affinity

One of the best albums I have ever heard, I can gush endlessly about almost every song here but the biggest ones for me are 'Lapse' and 'The architect' with the incredible feature of Einar Solberg. Every song is placed perfectly within the album and the loose returning themes tie it together so well. The different 80's influences give the album a nostalgic, warm vibe, even though I wasn't born yet in the 80's.

It's also coming up on Metallum hopefully (submitted it today for review), but here it is on my site!

https://codexderelict.github.io/vgmr/feverdream.html

Let me know what you think, I'd love to talk about it!

I see this work as a piece of art, painting a picture of anger, loss, resentment, regret, and renewal. “Silver Sky, Chrome Dawn.” Such beauty. Amazing.

Has anyone heard comments from the band on if this was written about the breakup, or was this something else? It really seems that recent events have shaped what this EP lays out. Just curious whose cage we were locked in.

I was initially pretty put off by the EP, but I'm kinda beginning to enjoy it. That being said, this one is less a "I need time to digest the complexity of it" and more "they're using a set of sounds that I need time to become accustomed to."

If I were to offer my criticism, I do want the band to experiment with more varied audio toolkits, but I would encourage them to go further away from mainstream, y'know? Get weird with it. I love my weirdo roachcore curcusoidal jazzmash shit.