| | Full Review | Ratings (657) |
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| 4.5 superb | Adam | April 19th 16 |
"Diet dream theater" lol this album is better than anything DT have even dreamed of in the past 15 years
21 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Nifkin | April 9th 16 |
This band is fucking stellar. They haven't released a bad album yet.
6 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Gibleson | April 27th 16 |
The Mountain was a fantastic turning point for these guys, and this album only solidifies that rnotion. A BRILLIANT record, especially "The Architect," and "Earthrise." The instrumental bonus rdisc was also a nice addition.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.4 average | Erwann S. STAFF | May 4th 22 |
synths go brrrrrr. Haken continue their synthprog shtick, but dwell much less in the band's inner ridiculousness - even though they don't hesitate to go full derp on some tracks, like "1985" - which results in their most tepid release.
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| 2.5 average | REANIMATED | April 25th 22 |
The definition of a "mixed bag". Some great tracks but the two ballads really drag this one down, especially as the rest of the material isn't as tight or inspired as in The Mountain or the later albums. A truly transitionary album wherein the band doesn't entirely know what to do with its sound.
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| 3.0 good | GamamJ | July 14th 20 |
An album of two halves. The first half is some of Haken's best, with a new affinity (see what I did there?) for heavy djenty riffing, but the second half succumbs to much to simple pop tendencies which I do not enjoy. 1985 and The Architect both sit solidly among their best imo.
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| 3.5 great | cjbizzlebizzle | November 27th 16 |
Affinity marks a turn where Haken have doubled down on synth and added a surplus of groovy djent rhythms to their already strong arsenal of sound. The overall character remains 100% Haken and Affinity only serves to solidify their place in the upper echelons of Progressive Metal even further; they have become a mainstay. Per usual, Haken shines with intricate songwriting, infectious melodies, borderline-wank-yet-tolerable progginess and refusal to rest on their laurels. Affinity has a throwback sound but still feels fresh for the genre and Haken's evolving sound. Musicianship is also top notch once again with each member of the band providing impressive individual work from the keys to guitars to drums. The main issues here? Songs 1-5 heavily outshine songs 6-9 to the point where an EP release might have actually worked out better. Also, the vocalist remains somewhere in the middle of the road; there is nothing over the top exciting about his style besides the actual melodies themselves. Initiate, Earthrise and 1985 are good samplers while The Architect is the best track of the album even at over 15 minutes long.
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| 3.5 great | TheManMachine | July 16th 16 |
After they boot up via ominous .exe file and promptly delve into initiatory off-kilter stiff-chug riffs+emotional falsetto whines, you get the feeling there's some clear-cut cheese in sto fo sho -- an assumption confirmed by the spasmodic 9-minute followup "1985" with its sudden swerve into a sprightly shmup soundtrack from the year in question and all-out beach-biker solo-fuck-wankery. Which winds up precisely the sort of proficient polished-prog robot+sweetly silly jocundity intermingle that keeps me atingle through the inevitable noodling/dragging: sober heavy-lite with transitions aplenty they do fine, but when the soft-n-soaring stuff/fun-n-flashy solos approach stunning they do alot finer. Guest throat Einar Solberg brings a much appreciated and refreshing scream section to the table, it ends on an empyreal wind-in-your-hair note and .exe reprise/shutdown -- and is there anything more exhilarating than when the sinuous 16-minute centerpiece is succeeded by the almost hilariously epic-n-tender "Earthrise"?
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| 4.0 excellent | Smashingfrogballz | June 12th 16 |
My first Haken album and i have to say I found it thoroughly enjoyable. Some songs are kinda meh, but theres only like two, three at the most. The technical skill is there with some power metal elements. The vocals really make these guys stand out. The singers voice is so smooth and soothing. Kinda sounds like Tommy Rogers from Btbam.
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| 3.0 good | Trey STAFF | May 20th 16 |
Djenty Dream Theater with a bit of a modern prog sound. The vocals are really what keeps me from really appreciating the album; they just don't have any energy. I like the instrumental disc 2 version of the album much more.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | GreyShadow | May 5th 16 |
It's missing some of the power that that The Mountain displayed but that's really all. I love how this is definitely a different album with it's own sound. Every song has a moment of sheer epic beauty reminding us that they still haven't peaked. It may not be the most immediate album, but I promise more listens will only do it justice. Very happy with this.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | zaruyache | May 3rd 16 |
Anathema prog with more riffs and djent.
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| 4.0 excellent | furyroad97 | May 1st 16 |
Not as flatout stellar as The Mountain was, but then again, I don't reckon they even needed to top it in the first place.
Bump |
| 2.0 poor | Toondude | April 19th 16 |
diet Dream Theater
The synths are so glaringly awful, the production is incredibly bland and the vocal performance is so uninspired. Why do people like this again?
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Dmax28 | April 14th 16 |
I haven't listened to the band much but I liked Restoration. Initiate and Red Giant are skippable, but the rest is great. 1985, The Architect, and The Endless Knot are particularly awesome. The group gets a little too ambient for my taste. I think they could benefit from being bombastic more often because that is when they are at their best IMO. rGreat record that may not fully please metal fans but should be heard by all prog fans.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Voltimand | March 3rd 16 |
"One thing that I love about ?Affinity? is that the band merge their current heavier sound with a mix of 80s
prog. Yes really. The song ?1985? is my favorite track on the album because it is that perfect mix. Imagine the
Alan Parsons Project circa ?Stereotomy? (the album, not just the song) mixed with TesseracT djent-ish riffs.
The band do such an incredible job transitioning back and forth. 80s drums and synths yield to thick modern
prog metal riffs."
http://progressivemusicplanet.com/2016/03/02/haken-affinity/
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| 4.0 excellent | MrFemil | December 22nd 23 |
| 3.5 great | Halez | June 14th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Brains | May 8th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Kerank | March 4th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | zzf1918 | February 24th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kritical | February 11th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Adol | February 1st 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Timmy | January 20th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Shwany | January 13th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bren80 | August 27th 22 |
| 3.5 great | Spag | March 31st 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | raddlad | March 23rd 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | PatTree | March 5th 22 |
| 3.5 great | Macck | January 23rd 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | JoneHK | December 6th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Oobaloo | November 7th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | hankz66 | October 24th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | ztetter | September 17th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Foreck | August 28th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Raoul | June 9th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | tcarafi | January 7th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | JDubb | December 20th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | pannini | December 18th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hehe | December 14th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | jokz001 | December 2nd 20 |
| 3.5 great | Mushan | November 20th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Skiiddz | September 25th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Phate72 | August 21st 20 |
| 2.0 poor | Gazham | August 12th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | rykos | August 2nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh | July 30th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Donul | July 24th 20 |
| 3.5 great | j1myz | July 24th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | aalqui | July 20th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | zbyna | July 14th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Mattia | June 15th 20 |
| 2.5 average | Prole | May 30th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aranox | May 23rd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ranzki | May 2nd 20 |
| 5.0 classic | niglas | April 2nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | n3zar | March 27th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | AGFoot | March 26th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Docky | March 12th 20 |
| 3.0 good | Suyan | February 27th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Dunpeal | December 2nd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Koshino | November 26th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | josh | July 27th 19 |
| 3.5 great | sam1oq | June 17th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | normanc | June 16th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | chwe | June 11th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | fantalas | February 13th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bulgaro | January 9th 19 |
| 3.5 great | dogmaJo | December 27th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Blurbs | December 19th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Kopkiwi | November 20th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | gagedez | October 30th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Komodog | October 26th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | snakesc | October 19th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | BIOLKO | October 9th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Akifexx | October 5th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | jybt | September 26th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Loveloth | September 23rd 18 |
| 3.5 great | YRI | September 5th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | guaquino | September 4th 18 |
| 3.0 good | Ebola | September 4th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | bSmith | August 12th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Camiot | June 25th 18 |
| 2.5 average | Fowo | May 4th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | alarm | May 1st 18 |
| 3.5 great | thedoom | February 28th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Scheumke | February 27th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Oreon | January 11th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | KostekK | December 3rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lakes | October 6th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Jokurr | October 4th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | max13x | September 29th 17 |
| 3.5 great | FT427 | September 25th 17 |
| 2.5 average | wangz | August 31st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jhator | August 28th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | eripa | August 26th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tim00w | August 5th 17 |
| 3.5 great | YeeHaw | July 11th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | ice47 | June 15th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | igi78 | June 8th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | PG2001 | May 24th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | blob64 | May 19th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Redlar | March 24th 17 |
| 3.5 great | tellah | March 21st 17 |
| 3.5 great | nebula | February 17th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | StBrox | February 15th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | d93 | February 4th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | ahat543 | January 20th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Humourn | January 17th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Handers | January 12th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rodstar | December 19th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | mursu | December 19th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Nud | December 19th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Dustrod | November 28th 16 |
| 3.5 great | FakeOne | November 24th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | cloud23 | November 12th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Xurxo | November 10th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | ltaoc | October 31st 16 |
| 2.5 average | Lalka | October 16th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | sokorny | October 13th 16 |
| 1.5 very poor | cdborys | October 10th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Voltia | October 4th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | hadriel | September 20th 16 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | September 13th 16 |
| 3.5 great | geontes | September 4th 16 |
| 3.5 great | kark | August 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | IceMole | August 18th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Jexic | August 7th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | elch21 | August 4th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | JoskuA | July 31st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Xinlo | July 21st 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Peeps9 | July 15th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Nishe | July 12th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | TY2810 | July 9th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | oli89 | June 26th 16 |
| 2.0 poor | 16Dot | June 22nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | CutMan | June 16th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Poet | June 8th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | xHit | June 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kiwi | June 2nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Jiag | May 28th 16 |
| 2.5 average | tgdv | May 25th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Skye09 | May 23rd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | FCanto | May 22nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Majkl | May 20th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Enzx | May 15th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | sheep | May 12th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Fugue | May 11th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | koloss | May 10th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Krimea | May 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Laymi | May 5th 16 |
| 2.5 average | trve | May 5th 16 |
| 2.5 average | eirinn | May 4th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Drawk | May 3rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jeejee | May 2nd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Gbhill | May 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Since | May 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pijips | May 1st 16 |
| 4.5 superb | alhric | April 29th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Elynna | April 28th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | jet22 | April 27th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | N2B3J | April 26th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Xerian | April 22nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Mazaku | April 12th 16 |
| 3.5 great | pxl | April 10th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | ranur | April 9th 16 |
| 3.5 great | JJKeys | April 8th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | ariich | March 30th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Irving EMERITUS | March 25th 16 |
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