Haken – Fauna
Inside Out Music
9,0/10,0
Brief:
If you’re talking about modern progressive rock and don’t bring up Haken, you’re doing it wrong. Since the south English sextet started jamming together in 2004, they’ve been one of their genre’s most loyal yet, simultaneously, adventurous forces. Every album they’ve released is distinct from all the rest, but they’re all tied together by their incalculable time signatures, fearless songwriting and majestic vocals – and, of course, their critical acclaim.
Haken’s 2010 debut, Aquarius, gave British prog a sorely needed lifeline. In establishing the band’s balance of mighty hooks, off-kilter riffs and flamboyant keyboard lines, it made them the most exciting and experimental sons of the genre’s homeland since Porcupine Tree emerged almost two decades prior. The next year’s Visions somehow pushed the melodies and scope even further, setting the stage for breakthrough The Mountain: an avant-garde behemoth that united the best traits of Gentle Giant, Metallica and Soft Machine in one swipe.
Since then, Haken have gleefully dabbled in ’80s synths on 2016’s Affinity, before the conceptual duo of Vector and Virus aggravated their heavy metal leanings to invigorating levels. How do you honour such an eclectic, unpredictable career? You make Fauna: Haken’s most genre-busting and conceptually fascinating album to date.
Musically, Fauna represents Haken at their most diverse. Taurus commences the album with its scraping heavy metal chords, as polyrhythmic as they are jagged. However, Ross’s melodic croon and the triumphant chorus are true Haken. Eyes Of Ebony is pure math rock, delicate in its start-stop clean guitar picking and chiming cymbals, while Island In The Clouds flaunts its bouncing bassline. The keyboard is front and centre throughout the album, emphasising the return of Peter Jones to the band following a fourteen-year absence. He originally amicably left to pursue his academic studies, but is now clearly a cornerstone of Fauna.
Fauna’s fearlessness is also the result of Haken using the free time of the pandemic to rigorously perfect ideas. Songwriting began at the tail end of 2020 and didn’t conclude until February 2022, when the band rented a house in rural Surrey to finalise their lyrics. They subsequently recorded in their own personal studios after their US tour with fellow prog metal icons Symphony X, and commissioned Fauna’s dazzling artwork from Dan Goldsworthy. Previously, the painter’s done pieces for Sylosis and Corpsegrinder, as well as Haken guitarist Charlie Griffith’s solo album, Tiktaalika.
It’s apt that such intricate artwork should adorn what’s easily Haken’s most intricate material to date. Eighteen years deep, they’re still evolving and keeping their fans on their toes.
The songwriting duo of singer Anders Fridén and guitarist Björn Gelotte (both of whom appear on every In Flames release since 1995) persists as one of the most potent creative teams in heavy music.
Foregone, the furious fourteenth studio album, combines the greatest aggressive, metallic, and melodic strengths of their landmark records with the seasoned songwriting of their postmodern era.
Tracklist:
- Taurus
- Nightingale
- The Alphabet Of Me
- Sempiternal Beings
- Beneath The White Rainbow
- Island In The Clouds
- Lovebite
- Elephants Never Forget
- Eyes Of Ebony
Main Focus Tracks:
- Taurus
- Nightingale
- The Alphabet Of Me
- Sempiternal Beings
Other Recommended Tracks:
- Beneath The White Rainbow
- Island In The Clouds
- Lovebite
Line-Up:
Ross Jennings – vocals
Richard Henshall – guitars, keys
Charlie Griffiths – guitars
Pete Jones – keys
Conner Green – bass
Ray Hearne – drums
Comments:
Mature and sure of his strength, Haken delivers one of his best songs with Fauna which turns out to be a formidable string of pieces as powerful as melodic. A classic that has become unavoidable!
Contacts:
Videos:
Selected Discography:
Aquarius – 2010
Visions – 2011
The Mountain – 2013
Affinity – 2016
Vector – 2018
Virus – 2020
Fauna – 2023
- Photo Credit: band