AFFINITY

Every now and then a great band fails to hit the spot with one of their releases, which happens to be the case with Haken's 2016 studio effort titled 'Affinity' - despite being semi-conceptual in nature, and inspired by artificial intelligence and the relationship between man and machine, this record often feels aloof, spacey and sometimes even directionless, with the young British band trying out some new tricks, inspired by their fascination with the decade of the 80s and the prog rock heritage of this period (leaving us wondering whether they had in mind the neo-prog movement, the synth-heavy musings of Rush, or the lush art-pop vanguard of artists like Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush and Tears for Fears). Of course, Haken also expand upon their signature style of blending prog and metal, as it seems like they have achieved a fine balance between these two on 'Affinity'. After all, this record also gives us some really memorable and intriguing moments, too.

Kicking off with a brief instrumental, the first proper song 'Initiate' soon comes sweeping in with its acrobatic guitar playing and complex verses, despite being a more 'traditional' prog metal piece that works really well and introduces a dense, almost paranoid feel. '1985', which is third on the tracklist, is a strong composition that combines the complexity of Haken's music with their ability to write catchy melodies and playful hooks, and while the sonic intensity of this 9-minute piece might seem overwhelming, just wait until they hit you with the jarring 80s-inspired synth solo. Then comes 'Lapse', a moody but heavy number, that gives way to the album's centerpiece - the 15-minute opus 'The Architect', a complex, futuristic and driven piece of Haken glory that also features Einar Solberg of Leprous doing harsh vocals around the final third of the song. After this incredible first half, the second half of the album feels weaker and meeker in comparison, the songs are too spacey and filled to the brim with electronic instruments, and with the exception of 'The Endless Knot', it is all mostly forgettable and derivative, which can really make listening to 'Affinity' feel a little timid, especially when you get to those final songs. Still, the production is great all over and the playing is as technically proficient and astounding as ever, but some of the songs really miss something essential.

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