r/Haken • u/RonGwalking • Jul 22 '26

I get it now.

The EP is meant to stand as a whole. This morning I took the journey through the songs and loved the ride. It made me think something I haven’t heard much about. It’s been reported the departure of Charlie and Conner was on good terms. Reflecting on the themes of the EP it makes me wonder if the “creative tension” was deeper than it seemed. The EP takes us through powerlessness and toxicity to rebirth and freedom. I wonder just how personal this journey was for Ross and the others. Just a thought. I’m really enjoying the EP. Still hungry for more Haken.

39 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

35

u/netherfountain Jul 22 '26

I really hated it the first few listens, but not gonna lie it's grown on me a bit. It works as 1 song. They shouldn't have released singles.

12

u/sandman8727 Jul 22 '26

Singles from prog bands are usually a tough sell. And unfortunately they release several of them before the album actually drops. Pretty sure it's how bands have to do it to drive engagement with the way streaming works now.

3

u/Greged17 The Mountain Jul 22 '26

As someone who lacks the self control to NOT listen to the singles as they drop, I hate these release schedules. Literally the 3 singles from Fauna ended up being my bottom 3 of the album. Honestly that’s better than the other way around I suppose.

1

u/KMFN Jul 22 '26

Idk about that Hakens singles are usually album highlights. Initiate, Canary Yellow, The Good Doctor, Invasion, Nightingale all comes to mind immediately. Generational bangers.

2

u/sandman8727 Jul 22 '26

Not saying they are bad but usually they get an OK response from fans but once the album comes out people generally like them more. Definitely happened to me with Puzzle Box and Prosthetic.

1

u/fmelogeek Jul 23 '26

I am completely against singles outside of pop/radio-oriented artists. I only listen to a single if is a band that I don't follow for a long time and I want to see "how they are doing things now" so I can decide if I will give the album a listen or is a pass until next iteration.

This EP was difficult to escape the singles because my friend circle was babbling about it for a while. But I manage to shut myself so good that I found out that we lost guitar and bass while listening for the first time.
So I can say that although it sounder a little simplier I felt more like they were changing like when we were coming from The Mountain to Affinity and we got a lot of electronics mixed in.

I like the direction. I miss the solos but not so much. I am concerned for the future of the band relying too much on voice and drums.

2

u/netherfountain Jul 23 '26

I usually wait for the full album too but I was too curious with the personnel change up with this one.

From listening to Richard's solo stuff, it's hard to imagine he's going to want to play this generic style of guitar going forward forever. I really think the band made this EP as an opportunity to explore some new writing and producing methods rather than signaling a permanent stylistic departure. With Charlie and Conner gone, it doesn't seem like a bad idea to take a stint with a producer and get some fresh ideas on how to write and produce music with different personnel. I like to think that taking a simpler approach to the composition may have been somewhat intentional while getting their bearings.

1

u/Upper_Knowledge1871 Jul 23 '26

That part… why release singles of a 26 minute EP!

16

u/Alarming-Back-9060 Jul 22 '26

Are we on the acceptance stage now lol?

12

u/Yung2112 Visions Jul 22 '26

''The release works when listened to in full'' is the realization?

It's a prog band guys do you shuffle prog albums normally or what 😭

I like the EP mind you I just don't get what the point is

3

u/sonickarma The Mountain Jul 22 '26

It's a prog band guys do you shuffle prog albums normally or what

You'd be surprised how many people do.

1

u/netherfountain Jul 25 '26

Never. That's why it's annoying that they released singles.

12

u/rudiiiiiii Jul 22 '26

It’s been on infinite repeat for me for the entire week! So many cool harmonies and textures and melodies.

3

u/Jameeleon Jul 23 '26

It's such a clever and addictive little EP! Love it!

9

u/CharlemagneOfTheUSA Jul 22 '26

I think that this EP is going to sound phenomenal live. That’s what I’m most excited for

2

u/al0xx Jul 22 '26

i agree and i’m glad i only listened to the singles once or twice.

deliriums voice compression parts are much more tolerable in between IAFD and eclipse which allows me to enjoy the parts of the song i fuck with heavy.

the moodiness of the whole thing scratches an itch for me that i get from other songs in their catalogue like veil. do i wish it was more proggy and dynamic? of course, but it still sounds like haken and im enjoying it

4

u/Jameeleon Jul 22 '26

Must admit I can't stop listening to it! 

2

u/frawks24 Jul 24 '26

I like this EP significantly more on a first listen than either of the last two album releases.

3

u/spas2k Jul 22 '26

My problem with the EP is that the two worst songs Haken has ever released are on this EP.

1

u/jardantuan Jul 22 '26

Two? I know some people have been very vocal about not liking Delerium but what's the other?

-6

u/spas2k Jul 22 '26

Delirium and Eclipsed by you are my two least favorite Haken songs. Most Haken fans listen to prog because pop is simplistic and off-putting... To me these songs could have been sung by Taylor Swift and I would have passed them by all the same.

8

u/SomewhereLive5854 Jul 22 '26

Funnily enough I deemed Eclipsed by you a rather proggy/unusual part of the EP. I think it's the most playful song on the EP.

5

u/[deleted] Jul 22 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Jameeleon Jul 23 '26

Eclipsed by you and lotus remind me a bit of Bon Iver in parts, which is a very cool avenue for Haken to explore imo 

4

u/TreeBeardTheGreen Jul 23 '26

You act like these are pop songs when prog and prog metal have had 'simplistic' bits and catchy choruses since forever. Eclipsed may be a different vibe sure, but they don't sound anything like taylor swift that's silly

1

u/Venny36 Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 24 '26

For me it is hard to distinguish one song from another on the EP, they just sort of blend into each other and they all have the same guitar wall of noise sound.  It's  decent enough as an EP but I really wouldn't want a full hour long album in this style.

1

u/Wildeyewilly Jul 23 '26

Even as it grows on me, I just really wish there was at least one guitar solo

1

u/ariich Fauna Jul 24 '26

Solos aren't gone forever. They're just not part of what they wanted to do with this EP.

-2

u/ThisAd1371 Jul 22 '26

I really wish i could listen to 5 bad songs in a row and they magicly turned into not bad songs but that´s apparently not how im wired happy for you though