HAKEN: Launch video for 'Earthrise'; new album 'Affinity' out now

London-based progressive metal band Haken have released their much anticipated new album 'Affinity', and to […]

May 10, 2016

London-based progressive metal band Haken have released their much anticipated new album 'Affinity', and to celebrate they have launched a video for the track 'Earthrise' which you can watch here:
https://youtu.be/hQ8KqJJJJhk

The band had this to say about the new video and album release:

"Earthrise is definitely one of the more joyful, upbeat and colourful songs on Affinity so we wanted to have some fun with this video. Miles at Crystal Spotlight pulled it out of the bag again and the visuals he's created hopefully add a new dimension to a song that's already proving to be quite popular with our fans!"

'Affinity' has been receiving great reactions from press; find a selection of them below:

"dextrous prog metal with retro pizzazz and roller-coaster riffs" - PROG Magazine

"Affinity proves what a unique and spellbinding band Haken are" - Metal Hammer 8/10

"inescapable melodic hooks and absorbing textures" - Total Guitar 4/5

"Affinity will be hailed as one of the landmarks of 2016 and beyond." - Powerplay 9/10

You can now order the album at these links:

InsideOut Music Shop: https://www.insideoutmusicshop.com/b/haken/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/affinity/
Amazon: https://smarturl.it/affinityAMAZON

The band has also previously launched videos for the tracks:

The Endless Knot: https://youtu.be/IVZHNPyMhMo
Initiate: https://youtu.be/-7pEXGCtnnk

Recorded during the winter months of 2015, 'Affinity' marks a new approach to the song-writing process for Haken, as vocalist Ross Jennings explains; "It is the most collaborative we have ever been on an album. We wanted to develop and expand our sound by having every member contribute initial ideas from the very beginning of the process. It naturally takes longer to filter through the mass of material and fit it all together coherently, but this approach has helped to create something completely fresh whilst maintaining the core elements of Haken's sound."

The band once again called upon Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (Opeth, Devin Townsend, Between The Buried And Me) for mixing and mastering duties. "He is a wizard in this department! We are always confident his mix will bring out the best from our performance and this is no exception," remarks keyboardist Diego Tejeida.

Like much of Haken's previous music, 'Affinity' is full of surprises and 'The Architect', the album's centrepiece, is no exception. Blasting through a dizzying array of instrumental insanity coupled with down-tempo atmospheric tenuity, Haken welcomes friend and Leprous frontman Einar Solberg mid-song for a spot of guest vocals! Just one of many twists and turns throughout this 60-minute musical lobotomy, Haken's 'Affinity' will open up a new dimension in this UK sextet's trajectory.

'Affinity' will arrive as a Limited Edition Media Book (incl. bonus disc with instrumentals), 180g Gatefold 2 LP Edition (incl. album on CD), Standard CD Jewel Case, Digital Download and Deluxe Digital Download (incl. instrumental version of the album as bonus).

The full track-listing for the album is as follows:
1. affinity.exe [1:24]
2. Initiate [4:16]
3. 1985 [9:09]
4. Lapse [4:44]
5. The Architect [15:40]
6. Earthrise [4:48]
7. Red Giant [6:06]
8. The Endless Knot [5:50]
9. Bound By Gravity [9:29]

The band has also confirmed their first European tour dates, and you can find those below:

25.05.16 Bristol, The Fleece
[UK]26.05.16 London, The Garage
[UK]27.05.16 Zoetermeer, Boerderij [NL]
28.05.16 Verviers, Spirit of 66
[BE]29.05.16 Paris, Divan du monde [FR]
30.05.16 Pratteln, Z7 [CH]
31.05.16 Lyon, Marché Gare [FR]
02.06.16 Barcelona, Razz 2 [ES]
03.06.16 Madrid, Caracol [ES]
04.06.16 Peralta, Minnuendo Festival[ES]
06.06.16 Milan, Legend Club
[IT]07.06.16 Munich, Backstage [DE]
08.06.16 Karlsruhe, Substage [DE]
09.06.16 Aschaffenburg, Colos Saal [DE]
10.06.16 Berlin, Maschinenhaus [DE]
11.06.16 Warsaw, Progresja [PL]
12.06.16 Gdynia, Klub Atlantic [PL]
14.06.16 Stockholm, Bryggarsalen [SE]
15.06.16 Oslo, John Dee [NO]
16.06.16 Copenhagen, Spillestedet Stengade [DK]
17.06.16 Hamburg, Logo [DE]
18.06.16 Cologne, Gebäude 9 [DE]
19.06.16 London, Stone Free Festival
[UK]25.06.16 Tel Aviv, Gagarin
[IL]26.06.16 Tel Aviv, Havana Club
[IL]17.07.16 Joensuu, Ilosaarirock [FI]