I feel for bands as they go through massive changes. Some of my favorite bands are bleeding members right now, and it’s honestly gut-wrenching, the uncertainty. Haken is one of those bands, but they’ve managed to release a new EP that leaves me excited for their future. It’s called In A Fever Dream and it launches July 17th through Inside Out Music.
Looking at Haken, they are so different from the nerdy progressive rockers of Aquarius, Visions, and The Mountain. And that’s okay. I’ve accepted it. Over the last couple years, they’ve lost keyboardist Diego Tejeida, bassist Conner Green, and guitarist Charlie Griffiths. That’s a huge blow to any band. The current lineup is Ross Jennings on vocals, Richard Henshall on guitars, Raymond Hearne on drums, and Pete Jones on keys. You’ll also hear guest bass performances by Adam “Nolly” Getgood and Bryan Beller.
The band has changed yet again. Some of it seems directly related to so many members leaving. The lyrics seem to betray this, and while I don’t know if they were written specifically about band troubles, they do feel like someone who’s lost in a surreal plane of existence, like after some traumatic event takes place in your life. It’s darker. It’s a bit macabre, even. You can hear the struggle to break free of the fever dream, so to speak.
The music matches this tone. The band is calling themselves progressive and alternative metal right now, or at least that’s what the label is saying, and I think it fits. Richard is the sole guitarist now, so the music feels less dense. That’s a good thing, in my opinion, as I never did like the djent-heavy style they developed after Affinity. So, the guitars feel grittier, less overtly technical, and more purposeful. The rhythm section is pure fire, giving us power and groove. The keys feel eerie in all the right ways.
But I want to mention Ross specifically. His vocals are outstanding on this EP. He’s hitting lower notes than I’ve heard from him, even throwing in a few moments of harsh vox, his first since Aquarius, if I’m not mistaken (I’ve always loved his harsh vox on that record). I don’t know if it’s their new producer, George Lever (Sleep Token), or what, but his vocals overall seem recorded at a lower octave, which makes the higher octave moments quite potent.
Now, the band has released three of the five songs on this EP, so most people probably have an opinion already. For me, I love all five songs. The opener is the title track, which I find extremely catchy. In fact, I just found myself singing it while I was making breakfast a few minutes ago. But it has abstraction and atmosphere, too, so it feels layered and seems to get better with time, and I love the melody near the end. The same goes for “Delirium”. It is probably the most straightforward song, probably the most alternative, too, but it has spunk and has wormed its way into my brain. I love it.
Now comes the first unreleased song, “Eclipsed by You”, and I refer to it as the “Red Giant” of the EP. It has the same structure. It has hefty electronic elements. It floats in cosmic space. It has layered vocals and a steady tempo, but eventually it swoops upwards with melody and light. I adore it. Next comes “Bleeding Sky”, which might be my favorite. I love how it starts casually, then hits a heavy portion, hits another ambient portion, then explodes. I love the guitar work. I love the dark lyrics. It’s so good.
The closer is “Lotus”, a seven-minute piece that feels like escape, like the opening of a new bloom. There is a certain effervescence to the vocals, especially in the chorus and closing harmonies, that I find incredibly beautiful. The song has heavier segments, even some harsh vox, but the real bread and butter moments are the gentle piano and the fleeting vocal portions where Ross answers himself. It feels like soothing your own heart. It feels like finding encouragement and confidence deep within.
I’ve been a Haken fan for over 15 years now, and this is my favorite music from them since Affinity. I love the darker tone. I love the risk they are taking. I love the personal lyrics without the quirky frills. I love the more direct sound due to fewer guitars. It’s just a catchy and honestly infectious EP that gets me excited for the band’s future.
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The PROG Mind 