Description
Label Review.
2020 album. Prog rock. Also available on 2CD & Vinyl.
Our Overview.
Haken are an English progressive metal band formed in 2007 and they release their sixth album the topically titled ‘Virus’. Since releasing their last album ‘Vector’ in October 2018, Haken have completed headline tours the world over, played sold-out shows across Europe and North America as support for Devin Townsend and picked up a Prog award for their efforts too! All the while, they have been quietly, secretly working on the follow-up album.
All the initial ideas were created back when they were writing ‘Vector’ at the end of 2017. The album title generated surprise as it was announced during the COVID-19 pandemic, but vocalist Ross Jennings said it was just coincidental. The singer also remarked that “whilst ‘Virus’ can absolutely be enjoyed as a stand-alone work, it is thematically and conceptually linked with ‘Vector’.
The band comments: “[The track] “Prosthetic” was the first song we completed during the ‘Virus’ writing sessions and we always felt it would be the perfect opener for the album. It’s a very guitar heavy track with its roots in 80s thrash riffing, but with the unconventional rhythmic twists and turns we often like to explore in Haken. We sadly never had a Jeff Hanneman and Robert Fripp collaboration, but this song at least draws on inspiration from them both! Lyrically the song is a bridge between our two albums ‘Vector’ and ‘Virus’. The message was brilliantly brought to life by video director Vicente Cordero, who also beautifully captured the live energy of the band in a way that both enhances the song, and perfectly sets the scene for what’s to come.”
Tracklisting: Prosthetic / Invasion / Carousel / The Strain / Canary Yellow / Messiah Complex i: Ivory Tower / Messiah Complex ii: A Glutton for Punishment / Messiah Complex iii: Marigold / Messiah Complex iv: The Sect / Messiah Complex v: Ectobius Rex / Only Stars