Scott's Spotlight #30-- Haken
Originally posted to Facebook on April 24, 2025
Link to post:
Welcome to Scott’s Spotlight (#scottsspotlight) issue #30. For more information about this series, please click here:
In the spotlight this week are the UK prog sextet Haken (pronounced Hay-ken, not Hack-en). I have reviewed 2 of Haken’s albums along the way. The first was 2013’s “The Mountain” as part of the #100greatestprogrockchallenge (#54) (https://www.facebook.com/share/73gsS5LAVZjj4bqN/?mibextid=oFDknk) and more recently 2023’s “Fauna” as part of #scottssongbysong (issue #11) (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BY1hiACs6/). Sometimes classified as progressive metal, ProgArchives lists them as “Heavy Prog”. Personally, I believe that as they have evolved over the years the music has become more eclectic, but it has always been PROG.
Haken’s roots go back to 2004 when 3 school friends Richard Henshall , Matthew Marshall, and Ross Jennings would get together and jam on their guitars just as a casual hobby. They decided that they would take some time to focus on improving their skills and practice songwriting before forming a formal band. The three came back together in 2007. However, Ross Jennings initially didn’t stay as the other two’s guitar skills far outpaced his. Before long, however, he was invited back as the lead vocalist. The name Haken, according to Henshall, was a fictional character he and friends came up with some years before when intoxicated on weed and/or alcohol. This initial trio then recruited Peter Jones to play keyboards, Jones’ friend Raymond Hearne on drums, and the guitarist from fellow proggers To-Mera, Thomas MacLean would play bass for Haken. The line-up would record a first demo in 2007, then a second one in 2008 titled “Enter the 5th Dimension” which would be released as an EP after the success of their first album. After that demo, Matthew Marshall and Peter Jones would leave Haken to pursue other careers (one will return–spoilers). To replace them , the band brought in Charlie Griffiths on guitar and Diego Tejeida on keys.
The band were eventually referred to Ken Golden of Sensory Records who gave them a recording contract. Soon after they would begin work on the debut album “Aquarius”, released in 2010. Interestingly none of the songs from their two demos were part of this album. Instead, they created a concept album with a nearly 17 minute closing epic, and with three other songs over 10 minutes, one close at 9 and a half minutes and the “short” tunes clocking in at 6:43 and 7:19. How very prog of them, and props to Sensory Records for letting it happen. The concept? A fisherman catches a mermaid, and sells her to a circus, but it turns out that her blood is the only thing that can save the human race from a flood caused by global warming, so she sacrifices herself to save humanity. Just a light frolic, lol. The album is brilliant and put Haken instantly on the prog-radar. The songs were written primarily by Richard Henshall on piano (he contributes both guitar and keys to Haken) and fleshed-out by the rest of the band, all of the lyrics were composed by Ross Jennings. The closing epic is an absolute classic of modern prog, titled “Celestial Elixir” It’s hard to pick other standouts because the album is so strong overall!
The band would follow up with album #2 in 2011, named “Visions.” They would keep up the epic length music and deep concepts here as well. All of the lyrics were written by Ross Jennings this time around, and Henshall composed the majority of the music (this time on guitar), although other band members contributed to two of the tracks. Parts of the album utilize a string quartet and French horn and those parts were arranged by Tejeida and Hearne. The concept this time is based on a premonition Ross Jennings had of his own death. The 22 minute title track/closing epic was written first and the other tracks written to flesh out the story that ends in the closing track. The concept was developed into a story of a young boy who envisions his own death, believes it is going to happen and spends the rest of his life trying to avoid it. The title track is incredible! Another instant classic of 21st century prog. Other standout tracks include the 13 minute “Nocturnal Conspiracy” and “Deathless”.
Up next is 2013’s brilliant “The Mountain” which got them ranked at #54 on “”Prog” magazine’s “100 Greatest Prog Albums of All Time,” which I turned into a challenge and as a result I started writing reviews (and Spotlights, so here we are at #30). This was the first Haken album released on the well known prog-focused label, Inside Out. This is where Haken began to diversify more from the prog metal style (although they wouldn’t abandon it completely) and branch out into other prog styles. See my link above for my full review, but some of the standouts for me were “Cockroach King,” “Falling Back to Earth” and “Pareidolia” Several of the tracks had a distinct Gentle Giant influence in the vocal arrangements. If you only listen to one Haken album (which I am not suggesting), make it this one!
Shortly after the release of “The Mountain”, bassist Thomas MacLean left Haken and was replaced by Conner Green. In 2014, Haken revisited and reworked three of the songs from their earlier demos and released the EP “Restoration”. “Crystallised” is a 19 minute epic that is an essential Haken track. The next full album would not appear until 2016, in the form of the 4th album “Affinity”. This was the first Haken album where all of the band members are credited as composers for the entire album. “The Mountain” was a tough act to follow, and while “Affinity” is a strong album, many believe it didn’t reach the heights of “The Mountain” (dad pun intended). The concept around the album revolves around the relationship between humans and computers, and whether AI will ever surpass the human capacity to create/recreate life. The music is intended to be influenced by the music of the 80s. The album was launched with a micro-website that was designed using 80s style computer graphics. The centerpiece of the album is the 15:40 epic “The Architect” which features the Norwegian prog-metal band Leprous’ vocalist Einar Solberg on “harsh” vocals for a brief segment of the song. Despite that part, I really love the track. Additionally, I have enjoyed “Lapse” and “The Endless Knot” from the album.
In 2017, an interesting thing happened. Mike Portnoy (then the former Dream Theater drummer, who is back once again, see my Spotlight (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/xN5tjmS5NzJzQymd/) on Dream Theater, (and I have reviews of 5 DT albums as well), along with his bandmate in the Neal Morse Band, guitarist Eric Gillette appeared with all members of Haken with the exception of Raymond Hearne to perform Portnoy’s “12-Step Suite” (see that DT Feature for more info)-- that spread across several DT albums– in its entirety for the first time on that year’s annual “Cruise to the Edge” prog-rock cruise. The event was so successful that it turned into a European tour that year under the name Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress.
In the Summer of 2018, Haken released their first live album called “L-1VE”, which includes recordings from Haken shows in 2016 and 2017. While it includes songs from all of their albums, the focus is on “The Mountain” and “Affinity” In October of that same year, Haken released “Vector”, which is their 5th studio album and the first part of a planned two album pairing that would become strangely prophetic. This album’s concept is based on a doctor who is obsessed with finding out what is happening with a particular patient who seems to be catatonic but who’s brain activity is high. The doctor subjects the patient to numerous tests. The album is the band’s shortest to date at around 45 minutes. It only contains one track over 10 minutes, the 12:35 “Veil”. Other notable tracks include “The Puzzle Box” and “Host”. A second live album, “L+1VE”, was released in December of 2018, which includes tracks from the 2016 “ProgPower” show in Atlanta.
In 2020 (of all years) the next Haken album was released, titled “Virus”--yeah, really! While the world was dealing with COVID-19, they released an album with that title. The band assured everyone that it was purely coincidental, as in 2017 the band had chosen the titles for their 5th and 6th albums so that the 5th one would start with V, and the 6th with VI. The album is “loosely” connected with its predecessor and shares similar cover art. However, both albums are made to be listened to independently without having to know the other one. As it turns out, these two albums are actually the backstory for “The Cockroach King” on 2013’s “The Mountain”. Although this album is longer than “Vector”, it still contains only one 10 minute plus individual track, the 10:29 “Carousel”. It does contain a 5-part suite that is broken into 5 tracks (why??) called “Messiah Complex”, that runs for approximately 17 minutes. “Virus” chronicles the Cockroach King’s “maniacal downfall”, and references several themes from the 2013 track.
In 2021, Diego Tejeida left Haken over he and the band having “very different musical visions”. He would be replaced by his predecessor, founding keyboardist Peter Jones in 2022. (Told ya one would be back 
) Two singles that would become tracks on Haken’s 7th (and currently still most recent) studio album, “Fauna” were released– “Nightingale” and “The Alphabet of Me”. The full album was released in March of 2023. IMHO, “Fauna” is their best release since “The Mountain”. While “Affinity” “Vector” and “Virus” are all good, they don’t seem to be as musically diverse as “The Mountain” and “Fauna” to my ears. In fact, the only track I didn’t outright LOVE was the first track “Taurus” even though I liked it ok. The theme of the album is spirit animals, sometimes called totem animals. Standouts for me include “Beneath the White Rainbow” and “Elephants Never Forget,” which is the longest track at 11:07, continuing their recent trend of having only one track over 10 minutes.
) Two singles that would become tracks on Haken’s 7th (and currently still most recent) studio album, “Fauna” were released– “Nightingale” and “The Alphabet of Me”. The full album was released in March of 2023. IMHO, “Fauna” is their best release since “The Mountain”. While “Affinity” “Vector” and “Virus” are all good, they don’t seem to be as musically diverse as “The Mountain” and “Fauna” to my ears. In fact, the only track I didn’t outright LOVE was the first track “Taurus” even though I liked it ok. The theme of the album is spirit animals, sometimes called totem animals. Standouts for me include “Beneath the White Rainbow” and “Elephants Never Forget,” which is the longest track at 11:07, continuing their recent trend of having only one track over 10 minutes.That brings us to the present era, which sees a third live album set to be released soon, on May 7, 2025, this one apparently contains a Blu-Ray disc of the concert that was used for the album that took place on September 21, 2024 at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London. The 3 CD/1 Blu-Ray set is called “Liveforms: An Evening With Haken.” The set includes a live version of the whole of the “Fauna” album as well as selected songs from all of the other albums. Disc 3 contains two 18 minute+ epics– “Crystallised” and “Visions”.
If you are looking for a heavy prog band that can go into the prog metal zone, yet doesn't have to stay there, with top notch musicianship and composition, then Haken just might be for you! Please check out the “Links for Listening” below.
Thanks for reading. If you enjoy my content, please react, comment, share and follow my page. See this link for all of my reviews and spotlights:
Prog On!
Links for Listening:
From “Entering the Fifth Dimension”
“Blind”:
From “Aquarius”
“Streams:
“Celestial Elixir”
From “Visions”
“Nocturnal Conspiracy”
“Visions”
From “The Mountain”
“Cockroach King”
“Falling Back to Earth”
From “Restoration”
“Crystallised”
From “Affinity”
“The Architect”
“The Endless Knot”
From “Vector”
“The Good Doctor”(Music Video)
“Puzzle Box” (Music Video)
From “Virus”
“Carousel”
“The Strain”
From “Fauna”
“Nightingale” (Music Video)
“The Alphabet of Me” (Music Video)
Comments
Post a Comment