Review Summary: I guess you could say I've caught an affinity for this record.
Haken is a progressive metal/rock band from London. Their career has brought forth some stellar records, and
Affinity is their first effort after 2013’s monster album,
The Mountain.
The Mountain was praised by many, and the big question here is, could Haken really top it?
First of all, this record does not top what
The Mountain did, but instead matches its excellence. The records are different, and
Affinity does everything right, in different ways. It begins with an ambience track, which flows nicely into the second track,
Initiate. The track opens the album strongly, with pounding guitars and drums. The song quickly transitions into a more atmospheric section, giving you a sense of what the album is going to become. The essence of this album comes with this first song: loud and heavy along with lots of atmosphere. This concept never gets boring throughout the album, as it is well executed.
The track
1985 is the best track on this album by far. The beginning is extremely reminiscent of
Rush’s
Fly By Night. What is so great about this song is its use of older sounds such as the 80s style electronic drums and synthesizers. There is even a synthesizer solo included. The vocal work on this song, and the album as a whole, is some of the best you’ll hear. Melodic vocal lines shine throughout the entire album, most notably on the choruses of the 15-minute-long epic,
The Architect and
Lapse.
The Architect also features the vocalist of
Leprous Einar Solberg doing harsh vocals, and it adds a dynamic that is unexpected, but works.
As a whole, this album flows like nothing else. The elements of progressive riffs, atmosphere, and hard rock all flow together to form an album that takes you in, and doesn’t let you escape for an entire hour. Sitting down and putting this album on, will bring you to a place that you won’t want to leave from until you’re finished listening. I truly recommend listening to this record, as I cannot express how incredible it is simply through words. This is a rare case of a modern record that I give a perfect score.
Recommended Tracks: 1985, The Architect, Lapse
Pros: Vocal melodies, progressive elements, flow
Cons:
I will never understand what the world sees (hears?) in their music.
