THE MOUNTAIN

This might be my second experience getting hooked to a music at first listen and feel excited from start to end of the album. Not only that! I feel like my adrenalin runs three times faster than its usual speed. I could not believe it and I replayed, again the music from start with The Path that serves as a requiem to open the album, my feeling towards the album has even doubled in terms of degree of likeness ....oh my God .. This is really great to the bone maaannnnn!!! And when I said 'second experience' it relates to the first time when I heard Marillion 'Script for a Jester's Tear'. But this time with Haken "The Mountain" I feel different as the kind of music (the composition - to be exact!) is totally different. I feel like I never heard this kind of music before. So I am totally engaged with this wonderfully crafted album! Keep on proggin' ....!!!! Long live prog!

Well, it's too premature to say that the music presented here is original as I can see there are some influences (even though only a bit and not totally the same) from bands like Gentle Giat, especially in the choirs of some segments. But Haken is really inventive because they use different patterns so that the music sounds really fresh. Of course for those of you who have not heard at all about the music of this album, it's a bit taough to imagine especially through the words I put in this review. Put it this way.... Yes, it's the kind of heavy prog where you have that sorts of progressive metal riffs but at the same time you have the other kinds of vintage eclectic music that all and all are beautifully packaged into great soundscapes and wonderful sonic production at par excellent with any Steve Wilson's work. Just take an example of the second track that flows seamlessly from the opening requiem The Path through an ambient piano work. The music flows in a style that you can hardly find similar with other bands. But then suddenly you got changes in style where the music demonstrates some acrobatic patterns in staccato style. Oh mannnn .....!!! And not only that, there are some other breaks where the vocal sings differently backed with dynamic bass guitar work.

I think, musically Haken has reached its top creativity that I believe they would not stop right here and would embark on another creativity in their future releases, I think..... This "The Mountain" album is really mid boggling and adrenalin pondering kind of music as I cannot predict at all how the music is going to be as I spin the album. Just take a look on the third track with weird title "Cockroach King". I bet you will be laughing alone when you listen to the funny opening choirs that sond really greaaaaaat ....! "Tantalized by the cockroach and it's promise. I fantasised about soaring with golden wings. "Flying with gold wings"". And then suddenly the music turns o jazz with no compromise at all! Oh my God ... it's really creative and fabulous! This is the kind of music that I really love and I will promote this album to as many people as I can. I have already put this album on my personal blog and people start to make themselves curious about what I say. And ...yes ... you must also track track 6 "Falling Back To Earth". You will then definitely say: "This is it!". Yeah .. this is a true progressive music.

Overall: It's really GREAT album and of course it's a MASTERPIECE with well rounded five stars - no discount!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

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