HAKEN – Virus (2020)
Originally scheduled for June, HAKEN‘s new album “Virus” has been delayed to the end of July. While one might think its title is inspired by the situation all of us are currently living in, it has actually been determined over a year ago and its connection to the pandemic is nothing but a result of weirdly accurate timing.
Musically Haken deliver a powerful statement with “Virus”, one that will have this album on many end of the year “Best-Of” lists. It does what great music is meant to do, takes you on a journey. And with ‘Virus’, Haken continue their journey atop the progressive mountain.
Haken are the epitome of modern progressive rock / progressive metal. They love to use eccentric melodies, long portions of spacey musings, and mysterious lyrics and stories in their music. Nowadays, much of their sound involves a powerful twin guitar attack with impressive finger work and quite a bit of drive and even aggression.
More streamlined and focused than earlier records, “Virus” still demonstrates how musically restless and endlessly inquisitive this band is. Blastbeats, sudden bursts of videogame scree, neck-snapping detours and spellbinding, seamless transitions — it’s all here, folks. Haken sound thrilled by their own brilliance, too.
Whether flexing every available muscle on the 10-minute magic-carpet ride of “Carousel” or switching into blissfully restrained mode for the bittersweet drift of “Canary Yellow” or wistful closer “Only Stars”, they do it all with authority and verve.
A riotous collision between the cerebral and the primal, “Virus” never forgets to deliver big melodic payoffs along the way. In truth, there are times when it sounds like Haken are the band that has everything. How generous of them to share it with the rest of us.
Timing is everything. During these unprecedented times of heavily restricted activity which has tragically affected the lives of many and their loved ones around our planet due to a literal virus, perhaps this figurative “Virus” birthed over two years ago will bring relief to the music-hungry prog fan.
Highly Recommended
01. Prosthetic
02. Invasion
03. Carousel
04. The Strain
05. Canary Yellow
06. Ivory Tower
07. A Glutton for Punishment
08. Marigold
09. The Sect
10. Ectobius Rex
11. Only Stars
Ross Jennings / vocals
Charlie Griffiths / guitars
Richard Henshall / guitars
Diego Tejeida / keyboards
Conner Green / bass
Raymond Hearne / drums
Pre Order:
www.amazon.co.uk/Virus-Standard-Haken/dp/B086PNTJRV
