HAKEN — Visions (review)

HAKEN — Visions album cover Album · 2011 · Progressive Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
bonnek
In 2010 Haken took the Prog Metal scene by storm with their acclaimed 'Aquarius' debut, but I wasn't much impressed actually. I disliked the band's tendency to show off their chops and tricks all the time, as well as their urge to impress the listener constantly. It suffocated their songwriting, but they trimmed that down now, let in more breath in their compositions, and remained focused on the strength of the songs. They also ditched most of their AOR influences. Thanks again for that!

The band is often compared to Dream Theater but I don't see much of that on this album. Their riffing is rarely trash metal based and they don't rely as heavily on shredding and pyroclastics. They often use long instrumental passages for developing melodic themes and shifting moods, reminding me sometimes of Threshold, with a similar atmosphere and melodic qualities. Also, Haken is proggier and more modern then those two bands.

They also try their hands on a 22 minute piece, and unfortunately the main vocal theme lets me down here (too balladry and mellow for my taste), and the track isn't as much to the point as their shorter songs are, but around minute 6 it takes off for real with a roller-coaster of ideas and styles that doesn't let down for most of it's duration. The end section reprises the opening vocal a couple of times and ultimately leaves me with a disappointed taste. Too typical and formulaic. Also the ballad 'Deathless' is a turn-off.

Haken showed a lot of promise on 'Aquarius' and now they delivered. I must say that the first half of this lengthy album works a lot better for me then the second half, which is too mellow and sticks too much to trodden prog paths. Anyway, a very good album that serious proggers will love a lot more then me. 3.5 stars.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

The Fall Of A King Deathcore
AGAINST THE TYRANTS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Maleficium - Part 1 Death Metal
PANZERCHRIST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Strategic Offensive Metalcore
STRATEGIC OFFENSIVE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Power Train Power Metal
MAJESTICA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Plague of Rats Power Metal
BRAINSTORM
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Harrowed TwentyTenVideo
HARROWED
Bosh66· 3 hours ago
Sunmancer - Realms of Dilemma (Official Visualizer)
SUNMANCER
Bosh66· 5 days ago
Sunmancer - Lower Cavalier (Official Visualizer)
SUNMANCER
Bosh66· 5 days ago
Sunmancer - Doom Temple (Official Music Video)
SUNMANCER
Bosh66· 5 days ago
Sunmancer - Chasm Darkly (Official Music Video)
SUNMANCER
Bosh66· 5 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed