Haken
Affinity

After the definitive consecration and maturity reached with “The Mountain,” we almost had no doubt that the fourth work would once again be very inspired and surprisingly balanced.

“Affinity” does not betray expectations. The band remains roughly on the avant-garde metal coordinates shown in the previous work while not disdaining the Dream Theater influences displayed since the beginning, continuing to propose ingenious and disorienting solutions for the listener's ears and a blend of elements that is always rather well thought out and original.

Compositional originality that expresses itself at its highest levels, for example, in the track “The Endless Knot,” a massive piece that cleverly mixes avant-garde metal with influences that might even seem to come from dubstep. An intelligent mix is also present in “1985,” a jump into the ’80s but with feet firmly planted in the present: their prog/avant-garde metal merges perfectly with the most sincere AOR but also with the early Dream Theater sounds; distorted guitars coexist really well with the big ’80s keyboards and electronic percussion, everything seems blended with extreme naturalness. AOR and ’80s influences are also found in the catchy “Earthrise,” an almost pop-rock track we could define as hard-pop, with an extremely catchy chorus and a more than powerful melody, then add synthpop-inspired inserts in the verses and an orchestral motif in the style of “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay towards the end, and you'll realize they've truly succeeded in creating a varied and sophisticated track that at the same time is not harsh to less open ears.

“Red Giant,” on the other hand, sounds cold and nocturnal without seeming truly dark; “glacial” sounds and an almost indie approach, noticeable also in the nice bass run that intervenes towards the end. Very nocturnal as well is the concluding and slow “Bound by Gravity,” with a truly commendable search for sound and melodic positioning, a reflective but growing melody and approach, almost post-rock inspired; a track with an atmosphere almost like a cool and breezy summer night.

The track with the most sunny and “luminous” melody is, however, “Lapse,” a melody fostered by bright guitars and crystalline voice; even when the guitars hit hard, the track remains bright, just as even the dark electronic effects can’t impact the melodic power. From a guitaristic and vocal point of view but also in general, it reminded me closely of the more melodic Sieges Even from their recent period, particularly the track “Tidal.”

“The Architect” (featuring Einar Solberg of Leprous) may not be as shocking as other tracks but offers 15 minutes of modern and varied prog/avant-garde metal, among sharp guitars, strong synths, strange dark effects, typically Dream Theater passages, and dark bass solos. “Initiate” (after a not exciting intro) is instead a perfect opener, sharp and direct without too many significant experiments, placed in the center of the album it would have almost seemed like a filler or a track with little to say, but the fact of being at the beginning makes it remarkable, its functionality in its role is a strength.

Haken thus confirm themselves as a strong formation projected towards the future, one of the innovators of progressive. The comment of those who called them “a discount version of Dream Theater” gave me quite a chill, not recognizing at all the compositional genius of this great band, a genius that is almost impossible not to identify and that makes such a comment seem even blasphemous; however, I hope that the author of the comment will listen to the band again and reconsider!