am i the only one who feels like haken just isn't very good? Technical ability aside, I just never find a reason to listen to them over any other band in the same vein.

Haken are incredible lol

New song is weird. Seems like Vector/Virus are more or less going to be their own contained thing in terms of sound. This new one is a lot more poppy. I dig it and like this one more than Nightingale

It feels very Leprous inspired. Don't mind the more poppy sound and Nightingale shows this album is still going to have some more proggy stuff on it so I'm not worried.

I agree with NoXoR, these guys have always had great technical ability, but I've never been able to get into them. For me, it's the vocals.

Great technical ability but this band is a snooze fest

"am i the only one who feels like haken just isn't very good? Technical ability aside, I just never find a reason to listen to them over any other band in the same vein."

Well, I wouldn't say they're bad or anything, just very overrated. I actually like the new songs very much. Thankfully they abandoned the heaviness. I found it quite tiring

Seeing them live with Symphony X this year was epic. Virus was solid, so I have moderately good expectations for this.

Love these guys, they've scratched that prog-metal itch for me over the last decade. Super consistent band too, glad they're sticking to their guns and aren't afraid to push the envelope with their sound.
They haven't ever quite created a "masterpiece" (The Mountain was close) but I think they've got it in them. Either way, this album is looking to be another sweet offering and I'm moderately excited. Nightingale is one of their best songs, and this is a bop as well.

I know people like The Mountain very much, but wonder if anyone agrees that it isn't/isn't close to a masterpiece. It just never appealed that much to me

The Mountain certainly is their masterpiece in my book.

It might be "their" masterpiece, like, for their standards, but it's still an objective 3.5

You can have your opinion of course. I am just stating facts

They're very competent musicians, but the vocals are very one dimensional, so it gets grating very fast listening to them.

The Mountain and Vector/Virus are modern classics. One of the most consistent bands in prog history.

Mountain is a modern prog masterpiece that skyrocketed Haken to the elite of the prog bands of the '10s (the others oc being Leprous)

Affinity is *the* prog jam that is actually progressive in terms of songwriting and envelope-pushine sounds.

Vektor/Virus was dece but not as high as the previous ones. Nightingale is entertaining while it lasts, but I can't for t,he sake of me remember how it goes. Haven't listened to the new track, but I am thrilled by the cover art, it's awesome

It goes...

"Niiiiiiiiiightiiiiiiiiiinggaaaaaayllllle I dreeeeeeeeem in daaaaaaaaaaylight."

Loved the album Virus. Not feeling this new single all that much. I like their heavier elements and this song is lacking that. I’m sure the album will be great though. Nightingale was solid and that song will be on the album.

@WalrusTusk

Oh shit, damn, you're right

Took me a few listens, but after initial disappointment I got to say I really like the track. The last 2 albums were amazing, hope the new one doesn't disappoint.

Track is not so poppy to be likened to Big Generator tho

Since when did Haken start to sound like queer Dream Theater?

On a more serious note, I can acknowledge the effort that was put into this, but this is very much not my style. You can tell from the visuals and Ross' dancing that it's basically their take or chameleonization of 2010's r'n'b/pop, especially with all these tropes that they shoved in. I thought this was Love Me Like You Do in the first few seconds. These hooks and vocal tails from back in the day have been locked and sealed down the attic of my brain. Ross is a good singer, but there's so much expression lost in transition, bc the original style they chose to represent is so shallow and contrived to begin with.

awful

Haken to me are like the inverse Dream Theater. Great vocalist, mediocre musicians.

Someone stated the whole song feels super counterintuitive in terms of what you'd expect from this band and it further undermines my impression that this is them trying to be something that they are not. So I don't wanna listen to Waka-Waka in my Haken, but seeing Ross channel his inner Shakira is definitely a moment.

jesus this site really has a knack for talking shit about everything and anything

kudos guys, this a real Sputnik-in-a-nutshell thread already

Alphabet of Me is so great, honestly. It so much fun

I really did not have a good time with this

fuck this song is awesome

haken is love