HAKEN – Affinity (2016)

British progressive wonders HAKEN have confirmed their fourth album “Affinity” will be out in April 29. The band have done an excellent job hyping the release, as their website gives full details in the style of a 1980s home computer interface, teasing everyone with some kind old school software upgrade premise (enjoy it here: hakenmusic.com/haken-album-four-press-release)
The artwork is part of it all and as a big fan of the Eighties, I love it. But after listening “Affinity” let me just say that the hypes is real. “Affinity” is exactly what I wanted from Haken and I think they have released their best album to date.

I got into Haken right after their 2011 album Visions was released (presented here on the blog). I had no idea who they were at the time but they kept being recommended so I gave it a shot. And I really liked Haken ability to walk that fine line between prog rock and prog metal.
That great skill continued on next record The Mountain, which became a big success for the band and made them famous all over the world.

Since then, Haken have established themselves as Prog frontrunners and have set expectations high in anticipation for this, their fourth full length studio album, “Affinity”. This is a band which continues to push their sound & style and yet at the same time continue to maintain their identity.
With “Affinity”, Haken not only exceed expectations, but might have set the bar higher for everyone else.

The opening track ‘Affinity.exe’ is a great short instrumental where Diego Tejeida is able to flex his retro keyboard / synth sound muscle, as he does throughout the entire album. His play proves to be the glue which holds the ship together even more than the band’s past recordings. The intro also plays as ‘computer update’ showing Haken’s music is being updated too in this new album.
Then arrives the first song ‘Initiate’. The opening riff brings a retro vibe leading into the masterful and unmistakable Ross Jennings vocal work. The four plus minute song establishes Haken is delivering another awesome musical journey.

‘1985’ is the third track and it provides the first climax on the album. The song is characterized by the ’80s style keyboard effects, tight guitar / bass / drum riffs, catchy chorus, and prog rhythm satisfaction which Haken has proven to be second to none. The strong ’80s influenced prog rock sections are a blend of Yes / Trevor Rabin era, Toto, and Rush. In typical Haken fashion, these are also surrounded by heavy drums and guitar grooves.
This is the type of song which one would normally expect to carry an album to greatness, this is where this band now takes it to another level.
Oh yes, Haken has morphed again, and for good!

But Harken’s backbone is progressive, and they deliver an epic in ‘The Architect’. The track opens with the staple Haken low frequency rumble with melodic distant keyboard melody then joined in by guitars and bass pumping sounds. Prog metal technical play is at the forefront for the first few minutes with guitarists Richard Henshall and Charlie Griffiths setting the speakers on fire.
Drummer Ray Hearne also shines throughout, this album producing his finest moments.
Then at the middle, we have again lovely ’80s electronic vibes which ties the song into the retro theme of the album.
Haken’s ability to write fresh and different material while maintaining their signature sound is more apparent at this point.

here’s much, much more terrific moments in “Affinity”, but It’s better if you discover them by yourself.
This is a fantastic album plenty of diversity, imagination, originality… add the impressive musicianship and top class production and you have one of the albums of the year.
Not a Prog fan? Not a Prog Metal fan? Forget it; this album is not in these styles, at least not exclusively. Did I mentioned Yes / Trevor Rabin era, Toto, and Rush before?
Oh yes, all these are here too. So no matter which is your favorite musical genre, you MUST try “Affinity”. And thank me later…
Awesome.

01 – Affinity.exe
02 – Initiate
03 – 1985
04 – Lapse
05 – The Architect
06 – Earthrise
07 – Red Giant
08 – The Endless Knot
09 – Bound by Gravity

Ross Jennings – Vocals
Richard “Hen” Henshall – Guitar, Keyboards
Charlie Griffiths – Guitar
Conner Green – Bass
Diego Tejeida – Keyboards, Sound Design
Raymond Hearne – Drums
Einar Solberg – Additional Vocals on 5

PRE ORDER:
www.amazon.de/Affinity-Standard-CD-Jewelcase-Haken/dp/B01C3Z042S
hakenmusic.com/haken-album-four-press-release
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