THE MOUNTAIN

Haken have improved their act, album by album, and with their 3rd release they have achieved the best of all worlds: excellent songwriting, inventive arrangements and almost perfect structure. A progrocker's dream album, this one is a winner. From the great sonic swirls of "Atlas Stone" to the brilliant vocal work in "Cockroach King", to the epic qualities of "Falling Back to Earth", ethnic hyper-jam of "Pareidolia" and huge Hans-Zimmer-like horns of the "Somebody" closer - it has to be heard over and over again. In fact, it's a purely addicitve CD.

2013 wasn't an amazing year for progressive rock. Steven Wilson did not deliver with "The Raven...", and Dream Theater just repeated themselves with their September release. Haken, however, are just as melodic and original as ever. The mountain theme is inspiring, the Gentle Giant references are lovely, and the entire project is a success.

How will they ever top that one? I'm not sure. But in the meantime, this is super-easily the album of the year.