Haken: Restoration

Restoration, from the UK's emerging Progressive experts Haken, is thirty-four minutes of reworked early band ideas, which illustrates perfectly both the distance this band has travelled in the four years since their debut and that they always had the goods at their disposal in the first place.

'Darkest Lights' kicks off in exuberant, technical style, although angelic vocals keep things from ever reaching too far "out there". Undoubtedly the most overtly technical of the trio presented, this is a serious workout of time changing proportions where approaches constantly evolve. 'Earthlings' on the other hand is as laid back as Haken get. Beautiful is the word, as a sprawling atmosphere slides easily into view, holding the imagination as it does so; the contrast between the opening pair of tracks really rather stark. However it's the nineteen minute epic 'Crystallised' which steals the headlines, sprawling through a host of attacks and styles (especially vocally); always clinging to melody, always striving for more. A guest slot from Mike Portnoy hardly hurting either as this ambitious workout hits the heights again and again!

As a short(ish) stop-gap release, Restoration is much more captivating than it has any right to be and hopefully a couple of this threesome of tracks make the set-list in the band's imminent trek around The UK with Leprous and Maschine.

If anyone tries to tell you UK Prog has no young talent, point them at Haken and prove them completely wrong!

Track Listing
1. Darkest Light
2. Earthlings
3. Crystallised

Added: October 12th 2014
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Haken online
Hits: 2441
Language: english

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