Atlas stone (Haken) (LP 2687 - 2690)

Haken  Aquarius (CD, Sensory Records, 2010) ***  

Haken  The Mountain (CD, Inside Out Music, 2013) ***** 

Haken  Affinity (CD, Inside Out Music, 2016) **** 

Haken  Vector (CD, Inside Out Music, 2018) ***** 

Genre: Prog metal, prog

Places I remember: Keegan gave me a copy of Aquarius, rest came from Fopp in Covent Garden (London)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Pareidolia (the Mountain)

Gear costume: Cockroach King (The Mountain); Veil (Vector)

Active compensatory factors: I first heard Haken via a sampler from Prog magazine and since then I've been pleased to collect a few of their albums, including Aquarius via my eldest son who is also a fan.

First album on the list is Aquarius, their debut. It's a prog concept album about a mermaid (hence the cover). Given there are lengthy instrumental passages around the lyrics, I soon lose the plot and just enjoy the album for what it is - a great British version of Dream Theater style theatrics and musicianship. 

It's pretty outstanding that this was their debut, as the band sounds fully formed.

I immediately liked it, and also appreciated Ross Jennings' vocals. He has a comparatively gentle delivery that contrasts with the brutal prog metal stance at times. It's very much a personal preference but I prefer his vocals to James LaBrie.

I missed their second album (Visions) but was back on board for their next three.

The Mountain is the one with Cockroach King on it - easily their most popular song on Spotify. The rest of the album has the band reaching a peak in terms of their confidence in their ideas (pun intended).

The musicianship is top notch. If you want a modern prog rock masterpiece then look no further than The Mountain.  

Affinity is their fourth studio album. The similar mix of lengthy prog epics and shorter (by comparison) work outs are featured. It's excellent, but on the long side and the second half isn't as essential as the first half. A common enough malady in the CD age.

Vector has a more metal approach than previously, but it's also quite subtle as well, because Jenning's vocals are a constant and he doesn't really have a 'classic' metal voice. Nevertheless this is more riff driven than previously - something that I appreciate! A classic 5 star effort - Vector is also quite a short Haken album. This one and The Mountain will take some beating.

Where do they all belong? I haven't seen their other albums in my NZ travels, so I'll have to wait a bit until we make a return visit to blighty to get their last couple.