AQUARIUS

Haken - this new band coming from Uk, really did a great and kinda unexpected sublime dubute. They release the first album not long ago at Sensory named Aquarius, and capture almost instantly world wide auditorium. At first listning of this band I was expected the unexpected, I didn't now what will be inside of this album, and man what I discover latley, sheer brilliancy all the way. This must be one of the most exciting debuts in last years, that's for sure. With Aquarius, Haken challenge the listners with every second they play, even thay had a wide pallete of progressive ingredients here, and taken influences from many bands from diffrent subgenres, in the end they sound unexpected solid and compact. The album beggins excellent with The Point of No Return, a real exciting and powerful opener, where all musicians shines not less. The music offered by this british is from progressive metal, the most important to my ears element Dream Theater or Shadow Gallery in sound, to eclectic moments, growling vocals not far from Edge of Sanity (Dan Swano in mind), to vaudeville and theatrical moments, remind me of Queen or more contemporary A.C.T. or Half Past Four, jazzy interplays , all is here, in one big unit named Haken. The vocal parts made by Ross who possesses a very clear and clean tone know to combine his mellow moments with some more rougher arrangements, growling vocals on copuple of pieces just to make the atmosphere more intense. The rhythm section is top notch, showing that Charlie Griffiths, Ray Hearne and Tom Maclean know bussines and offerering some spectacular moments, the prime ex are to me, opening track The Point of No Return, Streams and the lenghty track Celestial Elixir . Also Diego Tejeida the keybord player did a grat job here, capable to come with the most intristing key arrangements in last years in progressive metal, excellent work. So, overall an brilliant debute that must be taken in consideration by the progressive rock listners from today , young or older, this is super and yet very intristing album, meticulous made , any detail is very well transformed in something worth investigated. 4 stars easy, for sure in the end of 2010 will be in top 10. Recommended.

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