HAKEN | Vector | Album Review

Haken is one of the more underrated bands in modern progressive metal. Since 2010 with their debut album "Aquarius", the band has been going strong with their well-tuned execution of the genre. Now, in 2018, the band has issued their fifth studio album via InsideOut Music entitled "Vector". According to the band in pre-album release interviews, this is their most riff-driven album yet with a major shift for this album to be more metal-oriented than previously. Additionally, there is a concept that goes along with the music on this project. It's common for concept albums to be a main feature of progressive metal, but with "Vector", Haken are telling what is a very interesting sounding story. From the band when asked about the concept, "Lyrically it's a bit more theatrical and about as "rock opera" as Haken has ever got. It's about a doctor with an intriguing, perhaps sinister interest in a particular patient who appears to be catatonic, but his mind is sparking with that could be memories, or delusions brought on by the treatment he's receiving- we leave this up to the listeners to decide... to find out for themselves their own meaning for Vector as an album". Taking this into account and the fact that the band stated that things such as psychoanalysis and Freudian theories influenced the story of this album, there is a lot to take in for this album. However, like most of my reviews, this album is meant to focus mostly on the music as that's what appeals me the most with every genre. 

Getting this out of the way first, I've not listened to a Haken album all the way through or heard much of their music with the exception of a few isolated tracks. "Vector" is the first time I've listened to one of their albums from front to back, and there is a lot of music to really get invested in throughout the album's runtime. The first two tracks on this record, "Clear" and "The Good Doctor" do a great job at kicking off this album. "Clear" being a nice two minute introductory track that sets a rather darker mood before getting into the first actual song "The Good Doctor" introducing us to this doctor and his patient through its lyrics. There is some excellent guitar work on this song, with the verses taking on more of a funk vibe and certain sections on this song getting heavier. This is actually the shortest track on the album at nearly four minutes, and it's one of seven tracks that make this album up. There are definitely those in the fanbase that will listen to this album all the way through due to the story involved but the highlights of this album are very much in the edges rather than the middle. Just like tracks like "Clear", "The Good Doctor" and even "Puzzle Box" being a very good grouping of tracks, "Host" and "A Cell Divides" do that just as well if not even better for the end of this album. With "Host", you have some well done clean guitarwork and even some rain sound effects to set the mood of the track and "A Cell Divides", my personal favorite track, is proof of why this genre has some fantastic material on it, with some excellent djent-catered riffs and a chorus that will immediately gravitate towards you on first listen. 

Overall, this album isn't necessarily perfect. While I do not believe there is a bad song on "Vector", there could have been a few elements to make some songs even more appealing. As someone who generally prefers albums with ten or twelve tracks that are not instrumentals or interludes, I think there could have been more meat to this bone as this album runs over 45 minutes with one cut running at nearly thirteen minutes and an average track time of about six to seven minutes for each track. But as an overall concept, I can't deny that this is interesting music that is well executed. Some longtime fans of prog will be disappointed by the shorter length of this album compared to their past work, but there is no doubt that this album will please many fans looking for music that is engaging and consistently delivers. I am really getting into progressive metal and progressive rock lately with so many bands in the genre that deserve at least one or two listens, and Haken is definitely one of those. Overall, while it does have its flaws, Haken's fifth album has a lot that passes the mark including an outlet for creativity via the album's storyline along with some very well-crafted music that is the backdrop for this release. While this will definitely not keep casual listener's attention, for people who love music, this is a progressive treat. 

RATING: 8/10 

Leave your thoughts about this album in the comments section below. Was this album good or bad? Was it a surprise or a disappointment? All you have to do is type it in. Everybody's opinions matter even if they are different than mine. Scamp4553 will be back with more reviews and content coming your way soon.

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