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Haken - Visions



8.3 | 263 votes |
Release date: 25 October 2011
Style: Progressive metal

Owners:

205 have it
24 want it


01. Premonition
02. Nocturnal Conspiracy
03. Insomnia
04. The Mind's Eye
05. Portals
06. Shapeshifter
07. Deathless
08. Visions

Additional info
The album will first be available at ProgPower USA in Atlanta, Georgia on September, 16, where the band will play their first ever North American show.

Guest review by
K✞ulu
Rating:
7.6
Visions, the sophomore effort by the up-and-coming UK proggers Haken is a bitter-sweet deal. After the break-through debut, Visions had a lot to live up to, and to a certain extent this new album can be considered a success due to some positive developments in songwriting and retention of the elements that made Aquarius so great, like the palpable heaviness, signature wacky, "avantgarde" passages, and very impressive musicianship. Nevertheless, not everything shines out on Visions, but let us start this analysis from the end, the title track.

Read more ››
published 28.02.2012 | Comments (12)

They're back, and with only a year since their spectacular debut, Visions oozes with enthusiasm. There is not enough space here to describe all the greatness offered in this effort, but trust me it's good. It'll keep you on your toes with surprises and the unexpected forays into different musical hemispheres. The tempo and mood changes flow seamlessly between emotive ballads and instrumental breaks. These moments of showmanship actually *cough* have a purpose in developing the song *cough*. The journey ends with an eccentric 22 min+ epic of dauntless proportions that will leave you craving repeat listens. So make a dramatic turn and pick this one up instead...

Introspekrieg's picks | More picks ››
Thumbs up: Ivor, Nefarious, BloodTears, Ag Fox, Daniell
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Comments page 2 / 2

Comments: 46   Visited by: 743 users
29.10.2011 - 03:55
Rating: 9
Introspekrieg
Totemic Lust
I personally like the vocals on this one better than LaBrie... I guess when we talk about sheer technicality DT can't be beat. But as for songwriting...
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31.10.2011 - 17:24
Rating: 8
neonxaos

I think that Jennings has really stepped up his game on this one. I liked the debut album a lot, but his style got on my nerves because his voice seemed so thin. That's not the case here, and I am also hearing more variation and some great little flourishes. I think he has a real style now, and quite a recognizable one. There's a bit of LaBrie in there, but I like Jennings better now. The compositions on Visions are also superior imo. And I love those little almost chiptune-like intermezzos and little details. I will definitely be listening to this a lot.
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02.11.2011 - 07:05
Fredd The Fredd
Account deleted
This and bilateral restored my faith in progressive metal.
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04.11.2011 - 03:25
Rating: 9
Gelati

Written by Guest on 02.11.2011 at 07:05

This and bilateral restored my faith in progressive metal.


Yea. As of right now these two are duking it out for prog album of the year in my mind. The new Animals as Leaders is still continuously growing on me though so that might take them over although it's a bit different.
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17.11.2011 - 22:41
Rating: 9
The Galactician

I'm not a huge fan of progressive metal these days but as has been mentioned there's something special about these guys. I like this album more with every listen. Looking forward to checking out their previous record too.
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18.11.2011 - 01:19
Rating: 9
MétalNoir
Fils du Lys
Is Haken really metal? To me this sounds like prog ROCK. Haven't listened to this one, but Aquarius is the epitome of boredom imo.
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Notre destinée n'est pas encore tracée....
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18.11.2011 - 13:24
Rating: 7
K✞ulu
Seeker of Truth
Written by MétalNoir on 18.11.2011 at 01:19

Is Haken really metal? To me this sounds like prog ROCK. Haven't listened to this one, but Aquarius is the epitome of boredom imo.

nonono, Haken are too heavy to be prog rock. A good example of modern prog rock would be Beardfish.

but Aquarius the epitome of boredom??? I know tastes differ but what prog bands do you like?
----
Savor what you feel and what you see
Things that may not seem important now
But may be tomorrow

R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner

Satan was a Backstreet Boy
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18.11.2011 - 18:40
Rating: 9
MétalNoir
Fils du Lys
Written by K✞ulu on 18.11.2011 at 13:24

Written by MétalNoir on 18.11.2011 at 01:19

Is Haken really metal? To me this sounds like prog ROCK. Haven't listened to this one, but Aquarius is the epitome of boredom imo.

nonono, Haken are too heavy to be prog rock. A good example of modern prog rock would be Beardfish.

but Aquarius the epitome of boredom??? I know tastes differ but what prog bands do you like?

Usually mixed with power or extreme metal, which in both cases adds speed and intensity. Stuff like Symphony X, Myrath, Barren Earth, Into Eternity, where the progressive side isn't too prominent, you know. When it comes to slooooooowness I rather listen to doom. I swear I tried really hard to understand why people praise Aquarius so much but I failed. I can't go through an entire song without pressing the FWD button. Is there a track off that album or the new one you'd recommend for its heaviness or intensity?
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Notre destinée n'est pas encore tracée....
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18.11.2011 - 19:34
Rating: 7
K✞ulu
Seeker of Truth
Written by MétalNoir on 18.11.2011 at 18:40

Written by K✞ulu on 18.11.2011 at 13:24

Written by MétalNoir on 18.11.2011 at 01:19

Is Haken really metal? To me this sounds like prog ROCK. Haven't listened to this one, but Aquarius is the epitome of boredom imo.

nonono, Haken are too heavy to be prog rock. A good example of modern prog rock would be Beardfish.

but Aquarius the epitome of boredom??? I know tastes differ but what prog bands do you like?

Usually mixed with power or extreme metal, which in both cases adds speed and intensity. Stuff like Symphony X, Myrath, Barren Earth, Into Eternity, where the progressive side isn't too prominent, you know. When it comes to slooooooowness I rather listen to doom. I swear I tried really hard to understand why people praise Aquarius so much but I failed. I can't go through an entire song without pressing the FWD button. Is there a track off that album or the new one you'd recommend for its heaviness or intensity?

All their songs seem to have those mellow moments, so I don't know if you will really like anything. From Aquarius, try "Point of no Return" with its crazy jazz bridge in the middle, "Eternal Rain" (the shortest and the most straight-forward I'd say) and "Drowning in the Flood" (the first part is heavy and the intro is also catchy as hell). The new one I still can't get into.
----
Savor what you feel and what you see
Things that may not seem important now
But may be tomorrow

R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner

Satan was a Backstreet Boy
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04.12.2011 - 21:18
Rating: 9
Dark Blood
The Avenger
I just listened to this album very carefully for the first time now. First impression: Beautiful!

Although I must admit that midway through it I felt that I was being dragged into another Dream Theater copycat cliché (I know it sounds terrible to say this), but soon I felt that I was facing a very unique composition and song writing here. And to be honest, I've found here something that I felt it was lacking in DT's albums over the last years: fresh originality.

So far, and after a first listen, it sounds flawless production-wise and it probably is. Composition, variety, and songwritting also sounds really nice so far. Not to mention the unique and inspiring melodies in some passages.

Incredible album, and even being somewhat away from the prog scene this year, I feel this is a very good candidate for album of the year in this category.

Favourite song so far: the beautiful 'Deathless', that made me feel inspired right away.
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It is humanity who must pay homage to the greatness of the Universe... not the Universe to the human narcissism.
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06.12.2011 - 17:38
Rating: 8
Susan
Smeghead
Wonderful album indeed! Though I don't understand all this talk of it being anyone's Prog Album of the Year. Yeah, the biggies in the genre aren't releasing many great albums but there are SO MANY lesser known prog bands (such as Haken) writing great music and breathing new life into the genre. Thank god, too. It's time for some new "biggies" around the prog world.
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"A life all mine
Is what I choose
At the end of my days"
--The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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08.12.2011 - 04:52
Slinky666
Account deleted
I liked the artwork.
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03.02.2012 - 06:12
Rating: 9
Kuroboshi

Visions is a really good album. It gives me the "Metropolis: Part 2" feeling (although not reaching the heights of said album). I'm so glad they got rid of the growling vocals; they were horrendous, and so were the parts where they were used. IMO their debut only had one song worth listening to: the last one. However, this CD is truly a breath of fresh air into the prog genre. BTW, Insomnia is a really awesome track!
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29.10.2020 - 18:01
Rating: 7
Mountain King
K i K o
There are some really nice moments but overall, they try to be Dream Theater too much like for example in the 22 min title track. However, that same track has some great influences from different genres which is really nice, but the rock/metal parts are too dream theater and not in such a great way. I also have to say that I prefer James Labrie, even though he is far from the best singer out there, especially nowadays.
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08.01.2022 - 02:49
Rating: 6
R.Boxma

Insomnia 2:47 - 2:57 Haken play Super Mario Bro's (instrumentally not literally)
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03.11.2022 - 10:19
Rating: 9
24emd
Theory Snob
Absolutely spectacular album, easily their best! Blows The Mountain out of the water by miles. The title track is phenomenal and there are some really nice motifs and riffs. Only problem is the vocals and a few goofy technical sections.
I rarely feel so satisfied after an album finished, this one felt entirely resolved.
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"I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense." - Proverbs 30:2
"Music? Well, it's just entertainment, folks!" - Devin Townsend

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