Three years after their last studio album Fauna, Haken are back with a new album; sad but true it is only an EP, featuring five songs. In A Fever Dream is the first album without guitarist Charlie Griffiths and bass player Connor Green but luckily founding members Ross Jennings (vocals) and Richard Henshall (guitar) are still part of Haken. This EP starts with the title track and lead single and In A Fever Dream is the best song of this new Haken release without a shadow of a doubt. The title track clocking in over seven minutes is remarkably diverse with loads of melodic hooks and great vocals by Jennings; this is 100% Haken at its best. Delirium, the second track is a prog metal stomper without much diversity, while Eclipsed By You stands out due to the extraordinarily strong chorus. Bleeding Sky is the miser/filler of this EP, a truly run of the mill song; Haken unworthy I would call it! This EP ends with another mine epic called Lotus and it is the proggiest and heaviest song here, featuring a wonderful heavy groove, bittersweet vocals, and a fantastic crowd chant chorus! So, this EP is again a must have album displaying Haken's distinctive, unique sound, their clever arrangements, their thrilling melodies, and most of all their superb musical skills. Buy or die and skip the filler song Bleeding Sky!! **** Martien Koolen (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
