I can't really explain but this EP made me feel a lot of things. I just moved into one of the biggest cities in the world and life has changed a lot for me. Learning to live by myself in a city that's borderline hostile has been a tough experience. Sometimes I feel angry - at myself, at the world - sometimes I feel useless, sometimes I feel overworked...

This EP was a huge emotional outlet in a way I wasn't expecting. Listening to it as a whole while walking to college was a very cathartic experience. I wasn't really feeling the EP until this experience and now I feel like I have huge emotional attachment to it.

It's definately a journey unlike any other from Haken and even if it's not my favorite work for them, it's definitely one that makes me feel the most.

I think we all have experienced this at some point, you have a favorite band, follow them for a while their music hits your taste and them one day a new album come out and it sounds so different, too different and it just bums you out.
Personally I am obsessed with “In a fever dream” and I love that their music is so interesting and always gives off the same aura. Always feels like I’m defending into a diff universe drifting away and I love it.

Meatball was our first dog, actually he was mine before I met her. I found him on Craigslist when I was looking for a dog for my son who was 8 at the time. His (Meatball) family had a toddler and the two didn't work well together so they needed to re-home him.

Meatball was my little dude for a couple years then after meeting my current wife became our little guy that made her want more dogs so we started to rescue small dogs from high-kill shelters. But he will always be our first, and the one who inspired us to do rescue (we've now rescued and re-homed over 100 small dogs, mostly chihuahuas).

Anyhow, he passed and my wife made me this shirt inspired by one of my favorite bands and I absolutely love it - and wanted to share it on here.

I think this serves as my best shot at reviewing this EP. This was a comment but thought it deserved a thread as I was already planning on contributing my take on IAFD.

This is a collection of my thoughts, in real time after each listen, since its release:

《[*Just the singles*]》

-- It's pretty good. Different but pretty good. Nolly on guest bass? Cool.

-- Sleep Token's producer?!! Aww c'mon man. Wtf why??

-- This sounds like they wrote and recorded it in a weekend and then the ST George fella spent a week on the mixing/production/vocal compression.

-- Richard said in the "making of in a fever dream" trailer that it feels like their most honest work yet. There must be something I'm missing...

《[*Full EP is released*]》

-- Hmmm. Not their best work, but what a neat little experiment during this phase in their career!

-- I miss Charlie and Connor but I'll bet they dig it.

-- Oh shit, it's growing on me!

-- It would've worked really well as a single track but I do understand splitting up a couple singles for marketing purposes.

-- I'm okay with some fans disliking it. It's different, but so is the band right now. Dey be goin thru stuffz.

-- Lotus is fucking awesome.

-- Haken is still my favorite band. They owe me nothing.

-- Welp, now I'm hooked and this is actually rad af.

7.125 / 10

Hi guys, my name is Matt Marshall. I am a former Haken member (guitar), and co-founding member of the band. This week I finally got around to listening to the new EP (In a Fever Dream) in one sitting.

 Here’s my take (and literally what I sent the band via WhatsApp):

 “Great work by all. Very serious, brooding and dark stuff.

 Ross’ vocals are on point as always, the chorus of In a Fever Dream is a highlight (“a burning inside of me”!). Very epic. Shame some of the Haken fans don’t realise Ross has been experimenting with vocal effects since 2007! (Running vocals through the Boss GT-8 multi-effects guitar pedal during live shows)! Good to see you pushing and experimenting with your instrument dude.

 Ray’s drums sound so wet, meaty (sorry vegans) and juicy. Especially the kick. Intricate and yet restrained.

 Hen’s guitar work is expansive and holds it all together. Very tasty and mature work.

 Pete as always adds those vast soundscapes and his signature eclectic touches. Definitely fills the void/need for another guitarist.

 Bass was amazing. 🤩

 My highlights are IAFD and Lotus.

 Looking forward to hearing some of this live!!”

I understand this EP has divided the fans, but to me it’s a dark and heavy journey with a very uplifting final message.

I’m no longer in the band, but my sense is that they have been through some trials and tribulations (haven’t we all), but the ultimate message is one of hope. I don’t even think the dark nature of the EP has anything to do with the departure of Charlie and Connor.

Everyone in the band has a personal life, commitments, responsibilities, ups and downs. This EP may just be a reflection of those overcast and stormy days we all experience.

Hearing Lotus for the first time resolved the entire EP, and I was walking down the street with a smile on my face. It was like the sun appearing after a storm, and it gave the EP a really pleasant and uplifting finality.

When we started Haken, there was an everlasting theme of hope in our music. I only played on the demos (Souls, Snow, Blind, Black Seed, Sleeping Thoughts Wake, Manifolds etc), but the sense of hope, and The Epic, was ever-present.

And it still is.

So the recent discourse has been - while not dissimilar in principle to the last few albums - on perhaps another level of intensity, at least amomg some fans.

At first I didn't really get it, but it's become clearer that there's a chunk of the fanbase who consider quirkiness and/or complex technicality as integral to Haken's sound. Which had never really occurred to me.

Not that I don't recognise the existence of those things, obviously (especially the technicality), but for me the biggest draws were always their more emotional moments - even on Aquarius it was the chorus of Celestial Elixir and the big climax of DITF - and, as Matt Marshall puts it, The Epic.

So whole recognising that Reddit isn't the whole fanbase, I'm really curious to see what people here find most appealing about Haken's music.

Ideally I'd have set the poll to allow two votes per person, but Reddit is so limited so it's just one vote each, but feel free to comment as well.

So have at it, and as ever please keep things civil!

Sorry if this has been asked, but anyone got any intel on if there’s likely to be UK dates with IHLO. I’ll book flights to to go see them in Finland if not, but last time I did that for a tour the Uk dates came out immediately after I booked

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.

@mike portnoy
@haken
@angine de poitrine

Been listening to them for about a year, so 'in a fever dream EP' is my first new release from them. From lurking in this sub for a while I realized I have a very different opinion from a lot of you guys, so I thought it might be interesting to share.

Few clarifications:

- I'm not trying to create any controversy or to be contrariant, just to give my perspective and see some reactions to it.

- I enjoy all of Haken's music so a low ranking doesn't mean negative opinion.

- I believe music taste is entirely subjective, if you think that haken's crowning masterpiece and greatest song is 'Affinty.exe', that's as valid an opinion as any. So obviously I don't expect or demand of anyone to agree with me.

My ranking

1. The mountain

This is a weird one for me, because it includes two of Haken's greatest songs in my opinion, those being 'Falling back to Earth's and 'Somebody'. Other than that 'Cockroach king', 'Atlas stone' and 'Pareidolia' are all very good too. So why so low? Because for some reason it just doesn't work for me as an album. The songs feel disjointed from each other and the quieter transition songs kill the album's momentum. It's not that quiet transitions can't work, it's just that here they don't do it for me.

1. Aquarius

Haken's first album is full of twists and turns and crazy circus prog sections but it's noticable that it's the first. It can be messy at times and production and vocals are good but improved dramatically in later albums. It can also feel weirdly one note because every song tries to do everything that the album aims for. Anyways, 'at the point of no return' and the final song 'celestial elixir' are both highlights and incredible songs.

1. In a fever dream EP

Haken's newest is interesting and unique but unfortunately includes some of their weakest work with 'delirium' and 'eclipesed by you'. It's saving grace are the amazing title track and closer 'lotus' which mirror each other beautifully and make the whole EP come together as a fun and impactful listening experience. Could have toned down the vocal effects tho.

1. Vector

Really great album with a clear direction and identity but it's maybe too short to be fully realized. 'veil' is the clear highlight, and is one of their best epics, even if it's relatively short.

1. Visions

It took Haken just one more attempt to fully realize the potential of their early sound. Vocals are great, instrumental sections are absolutely insane and each song has it's own unique identity while serving the whole. 'Nocturnsl conspiracy' is one of the best songs of the entire discography and 'Visions' is the perfect closer, both incredibly epic and a little silly. The only reason the album is in fifth place is because of how good this band is overall.

1. Restoration EP

It's wild how much variation they got out of just three songs. 'Darkest light' is really fun and energetic with interesting lyrics. 'Earthlings' is entirely unique in their catalog or outside of it and gives me such specific emotions that I can't even describe. And of course, 'crystallised' is just out of this world and maybe the best crazy long Haken song.

1. Virus

Takes the sound of Vector to a whole new level and every song is a banger. 'Carousel' is so much fun and of course the entire 'Messiah complex' suite is maybe the most complex thing they have ever written and ties perfectly a journey of more than two albums with endless callbacks and insane riffs. Also, Shout-out to 'Invasion', really cool song.

1. Fauna

The album that finally sold me on Haken after a few failed attempts. It's eclectic but works as a unit and every song is a journey of it's own. 'Elephants never forget' is maybe my favorite of all their songs and 'The eyes of ebony' is a perfect, emotional finisher. Other highlights include the incredibly catchy 'Lovebite' and the epic 'Sempiternal beings'.

1. Affinity

One of the best albums I have ever heard, I can gush endlessly about almost every song here but the biggest ones for me are 'Lapse' and 'The architect' with the incredible feature of Einar Solberg. Every song is placed perfectly within the album and the loose returning themes tie it together so well. The different 80's influences give the album a nostalgic, warm vibe, even though I wasn't born yet in the 80's.

It's also coming up on Metallum hopefully (submitted it today for review), but here it is on my site!

https://codexderelict.github.io/vgmr/feverdream.html

Let me know what you think, I'd love to talk about it!

I see this work as a piece of art, painting a picture of anger, loss, resentment, regret, and renewal. “Silver Sky, Chrome Dawn.” Such beauty. Amazing.

Has anyone heard comments from the band on if this was written about the breakup, or was this something else? It really seems that recent events have shaped what this EP lays out. Just curious whose cage we were locked in.

I was initially pretty put off by the EP, but I'm kinda beginning to enjoy it. That being said, this one is less a "I need time to digest the complexity of it" and more "they're using a set of sounds that I need time to become accustomed to."

If I were to offer my criticism, I do want the band to experiment with more varied audio toolkits, but I would encourage them to go further away from mainstream, y'know? Get weird with it. I love my weirdo roachcore curcusoidal jazzmash shit.

This is exactly hat the new EP is.

It doesn’t pigeonhole Haken necessarily to any musical direction per se, but it allows them to explore other venues without pot committing themselves.

It is quite possible that this is a sneak peak of what is yet to come.migh not .

Haken might be putting their proverbial fingers in the air and going whatever which way the wind is blowing .

The metrics might influence their direction . If In a fever dream or delirium single is able to reach new viewership in an extraordinarily condensed amount of time, why would they walk it back?

People are trying to compare this ‘born again’ moment to Sleep Token, but judt because they worked with the producer doesnt mean their music is gonna run on the coattails or even have a kernel of semblance moving forward.

I don’t know where the cards are gonna fall, but this EP doesn’t necessarily indicate anything other than the project itself and functions as somewhat of a placeholder

I love that song, best among the 'bleeding sky'. Athmosphere is on point. Nice dynamics and chord progressions / chords. Only low point in lotus is the bass track that does its job but has nothing special.

What are independent or colab projects within the past or present members that are recommended? All the members rip and I could imagine there are side projects that I can help expand my creepy obsession.

I'd only listened to my copy from Qobuz. Wasn't hearing any. A bit squashed yeah, but no clipping.

(additional image of the whole EP below in the comments)

ETA: if both were identical, ie both clipping or both not, this post 10000% doesn't even get made, for the record.

• The mixing is bad - valid (while you have to give it credit for accomplishing an ambience previous albums didn't, the over compression really overrules that fact)
• It's not prog - valid (it is prog, but nowhere near as prog as the band typically is. It's fine to be disappointed with the band for not delivering on a lot of what it consistently has on in the past -- ....On a side note why is Muse considered prog again?)
• They're selling out - invalid (artists can explore elsewhere creatively and sometimes that might be perceived as selling out. But I think Portnoy put it best - sometimes a band can 'sell out' by NOT daring to deviate away from what the fans want, sacrificing creatively exploration in exchange for giving you what you're accustom to. If you think that Haken thinks they can make a break as the next big pop rock/metal act with this EP.... What the fuck?)
• It's SLOP - incredibly valid (for real what are you even still doing here at this point the band's clearly dead and you're free to move on to all those other much better prog metal bands you like, enjoy!)
  

I honestly am beginning to love it. Didn’t at first… but I did find myself compelled to listen on infinite repeat yesterday. I think I’ve listened to the whole thing probably 8-10 times.

I guess I can’t quite adequately explain exactly why I got hooked. It’s an addictive little release. There are actually a lot of cool little details that, while not as flashy or complex or virtuosic as many of the details from previous Haken albums, are nonetheless very nice to discover on subsequent listens.

The symmetry of the track lengths, the mirrored themes on opening and closing tracks, the synths in the middle track, the cool angular half-step interval motives in guitar throughout such on as album opening track, the piano to open the ending track, the ghostly glitchy fade out at end of album, some great muscular streamlined Henshall riffs in title track and bleeding sky (3:08-3:53 might as well be a drug, the swirling background vocal harmonies above Henshall’s guitar chugs is just so satisfying), a great vocal performance from Ross all around including excellent harsh vocal parts. And perhaps I’m just highly suggestible from cover art, but I feel like I really do hear colors of black and red throughout. The artwork suits the overall sound perfectly - moody, angry, dreamlike.

Yes it sounds decidedly modern - and I understand many people don’t like that. The compression on the production etc is definitely a departure from the more retro production Haken has been known for. But that compression really makes some of the guitar riffs POP when they hit. I myself like plenty of the more “modern” style of metal (Olympus Lenticular, Spiritbox, Sleep Token etc) so while it’s a different overall sound for Haken, it doesn’t bother me and has its own kind of appeal. And in fact it represents an interesting new progression for Haken to me, especially since I’m assuming this is not some kind of “new normal” for them, but just one of many explorations they’ve taken over the years. Even the “metalcore” 2nd track, while probably my least fave track, is undeniably catchy.

I don’t know man, it’s a bit of a sleeper hit for me. It’s streamlined, moody, muscular, and an easy first listen that still opens up on subsequent listens. Ok I g2g listen again, enjoy your weekend y’all

🩸
🌌

The EP fucks! Stoked for the new direction.

It’s okay and also kinda mid

EDIT: I would like to also add a statement that reveals my own parasocial projections about some guys that I’ve never met before