New Haken Album

Homotopy wrote: Cristi wrote: Homotopy wrote: The band is confidently rolling towards generic technical metal, which is terribly sad. I disagree, how can they be generic when they are one of the unique progressive metal bands? They've always been technical, or better said skilled, there's plenty of melody in their music.  What's so unique about Vector or their new single that sounds like a song from Train of Thought?  And I don't hear too much melody on Vector, rather lots of djdjdj and bambambam.  I'm not saying Vector sucks, which you guys try to refute. I'm saing it's not a surprise for me that The Mountain is top159 all-time whilst Vector is "good".

foregonillusions wrote: Cristi wrote: I disagree, how can they be generic when they are one of the unique progressive metal bands? They've always been technical, or better said skilled, there's plenty of melody in their music.  Nothing you've said is indicative of a "unique" progressive metal band. With that criteria, whatever Dream Theater is making nowadays is unique. There's nothing wrong with liking Haken's current music. I can get down with their djent (though tiring after a while), but unique is a stretch.

Cristi wrote: I wasn't trying to prove they are unique, just that I don't find them generic. Generic is just a fancy word to describe something that is predictable, mediocre which IMHO Haken has never been. Also I dare call them one of the unique bands because I haven't heard other bands that sound like them.  So if unique is a stretch, generic is a stretch, too.

richardh wrote: I have all their albums and along with BBT they are one of my current favourites. The Mountain is a bit overrated and too derivative of other bands for my liking. The Cockroach King is great (GG vibe) but the rest is unremarkable. Like BBT they are quite a large ensemble of musicians and are a bit of a heavy prog orchestra if such a thing can exist! I would recommend the live DVD.  Affinity is easily my favourite by them but I enjoyed the last one so very much looking forward to the next. BTW all the lazy Dream Theater references being chucked around - tut tut. Give them a chance please.

Finally heard Virus in its entirety. Could be their heaviest so far, but at the same time, some of the breaks are the most creative/progressive they have ever been. They are pushing boundaries. This album will take time to digest, but so far so good.

However, the mix/master is awful. There is no dynamic range and the life has been sucked out of this. Why do they do this, and who likes this sound? And does anyone listen to the instrumental disc (Cd 2)?

Grumpyprogfan wrote: Finally heard Virus in its entirety. Could be their heaviest so far, but at the same time, some of the breaks are the most creative/progressive they have ever been. They are pushing boundaries. This album will take time to digest, but so far so good. However, the mix/master is awful. There is no dynamic range and the life has been sucked out of this. Why do they do this, and who likes this sound? And does anyone listen to the instrumental disc (Cd 2)?

Virus continues with the heavy, metallic sound they showed in Vector. It's an intense listen and I prefer the light and shade of the earlier albums. If that's the way they want to go, that is fine - they'll probably get a larger audience within prog metal than focusing on more of a more traditional prog feel. There are good moments and I think the Messiah Complex suite is an interesting listen - but they have drifted to the edge of my listening range compared to Aquarius and Visions. C'est la vie, but I wish them well.

I'm just going to stream it like I do everything now. Don't like CDs. I'll buy it on Apple if it's good enough, but probably not if it's anything like Vector, as I've been told it is.

dougmcauliffe wrote: Listened to the first half, gonna finish it today. Carousel was great.

Yep, killer tune. For those who don't care for the direction they are going in. Your loss. Yes it's heavier than the first two albums, but it is also the most progressive they have ever been. This album shows they are one of the most original prog-metal bands making music today. Virus is dense and it takes time to appreciate. I love everything about this but the mix. If only it wasn't crushed.

^Have you heard the album? To me, it does not sound like any other prog-metal band. They are not doing what other bands have done. They are creating something different.