Haken v. new single Nightingale (April 26)

[The Letter M]

Has anyone else gotten their CD from Burning Shed yet? I just got mine in today (even though it shipped a day AFTER MPG's Cover Anthology, which I haven't received yet....hope it's still on its way).....and well, something peculiar has occurred.

I got the signed postcard that came with the CD, and there are only five band signatures on it. I can easily make out Richard, Ray, and Conner, but the other two, I'm not sure, but they look like Charlie's and Ross's signatures.

When I got Affinity, I got a signed postcard with that one, and it has all six members' signatures on it, so I'm not sure what happened here, why Diego wasn't able to sign the postcards... curiouser and curiouser...

-Marc.

[ariich]

Yeah someone else noticed the same thing with theirs and posted it on Reddit a week ago or so: https://www.reddit.com/r/Haken/comments/hx4f5t/just_received_my_copy_of_virus_from_burning_shed/

It's got to the point now where it'd be weirder if Diego isn't leaving/hasn't left than if he is/has.

[RoeDent]

Doesn't Diego live in Mexico? If so, that can easily be explained by Covid making it kinda pointless to send stuff over to Mexico just for him to sign it and send it back to the UK or wherever Burning Shed are based. And he probably couldn't, or didn't want to, fly to the UK in the midst of a global pandemic just for something like that.

[The Letter M]

Doesn't Diego live in Mexico? If so, that can easily be explained by Covid making it kinda pointless to send stuff over to Mexico just for him to sign it and send it back to the UK or wherever Burning Shed are based. And he probably couldn't, or didn't want to, fly to the UK in the midst of a global pandemic just for something like that.

That makes the most sense, though I wonder why Burning Shed (which is located in the UK) wouldn't at least put an asterisk on it and say the postcards wouldn't have Diego's signature on it, just to inform fans who might have been expecting the whole band to sign the cards.

-Marc.

[FlyingBIZKIT]

Actually, it's all a trick. Diego is kicking everyone else out of Haken.

[Ben_Jamin]

Doesn't Diego live in Mexico? If so, that can easily be explained by Covid making it kinda pointless to send stuff over to Mexico just for him to sign it and send it back to the UK or wherever Burning Shed are based. And he probably couldn't, or didn't want to, fly to the UK in the midst of a global pandemic just for something like that.

That makes the most sense, though I wonder why Burning Shed (which is located in the UK) wouldn't at least put an asterisk on it and say the postcards wouldn't have Diego's signature on it, just to inform fans who might have been expecting the whole band to sign the cards.

-Marc.

If this is the reason for the delay, so fans can get what they paid for with all Band members signatures, I don't see why they couldn't do what you just said. Send an email telling fans due to recent events, Diego will unfortunately not be signing the pre-order packages.

He will be the most sought out member after shows, once they begin again.

[me7]

Thomas MacLean's departure was announced roughly one month after the release of The Mountain. If the rumours are true, I expect an announcement in a similar timeframe.

[jammindude]

Thomas MacLean's departure was announced roughly one month after the release of The Mountain. If the rumours are true, I expect an announcement in a similar timeframe.

In that situation, they needed to make the announcement before the shows started. In this situation, there's not necessarily that element of time pressure because who knows when any live shows will happen.

But I do wish they would say something. It's possible they have a replacement lined up and don't want to make an announcement until after the legalities are taken care of. That is **IF** any of this speculation has any merit

[gzarruk]

Actually, it's all a trick. Diego is kicking everyone else out of Haken.

Plot twist: Diego is the Cockroach King.

[NoseofNicko]

Honestly I think Virus is slowly becoming my second favorite Haken album (after The Mountain).

[ariich]

Honestly I think Virus is slowly becoming my second favorite Haken album (after The Mountain).

This is the correct opinion.

[cramx3]

Honestly I think Virus is slowly becoming my second favorite Haken album (after The Mountain).

Honestly, I think it's rising with every listen.  I mentioned initially I didn't think it would be a top album, but then later said it was better than Vector.  It might be better than Affinity after a few more listens.  I love the callbacks to older works that I didn't immediately pick up and the melodies that I am now loving.

[Zydar]

I still don't know where to put the album in my rankings. The Mountain is still #1, but then it's pretty much up in the air how the rest of them place.

[Mladen]

After spending a week and a half with the album, it ended up at the bottom of my list, unfortunately. It is fairly consistent and solid, but not a single song truly blew me away. When I put the best songs on previous albums against this album's highlights, it underwhelms me quite a bit.

Maybe it will turn out to be a grower over the next months, though.

[Elite]

Thomas MacLean's departure was announced roughly one month after the release of The Mountain. If the rumours are true, I expect an announcement in a similar timeframe.

In that situation, they needed to make the announcement before the shows started. In this situation, there's not necessarily that element of time pressure because who knows when any live shows will happen.

But I do wish they would say something. It's possible they have a replacement lined up and don't want to make an announcement until after the legalities are taken care of. That is **IF** any of this speculation has any merit

Not really, because Thomas McLean was there for all the Mountain shows I saw. I'm fairly sure either his departure announcement came a lot later (way more than a month after the release, I can't remember) or they did it early because it was a mutual decison and they needed the time to find a replacement.

[ariich]

The Mountain came out in June and the announcement of Tom leaving was in September, so it was 3 months. And he did play a few more shows after that, so the announcement was before he actually left, which was in October.

[BRGM]

I believe The Mountain got released on 2 September 2013

[ariich]

I believe The Mountain got released on 2 September 2013

Crap, you're right - it was announced in June, came out in September. So yeah Tom's departure was announced really quickly then. Forgot all about that.

[me7]

I guess The Mountain was released to you in June, being an insider

[ariich]

Fair point, my timescales when it comes to Haken are somewhat confused.

[Pettor]

I am 100% in love with Messiah Complex and first now when I stopped spamming the album over and over do I realize how much I hate when an obvious single track (that isn't even that long) is split into tracks. This is horrible in any normal playlist.

[me7]

Psst, I can hook you up with some freeware software, that allows you to edit it together as a single track

[ariich]

Messiah Complex isn't a single track, and I maintain works best as 5 separate tracks.

[cramx3]

Looks like Haken are on the Download 2021 bill, should know more about Deigo then 

[Pettor]

Psst, I can hook you up with some freeware software, that allows you to edit it together as a single track

If only Spotify allowed me to utilize that. I do use my own library from time to time but it's getting less often.

Messiah Complex isn't a single track, and I maintain works best as 5 separate tracks.

I don't know. I can see how it's individual tracks logically but I can't see me listening to any of them individually  SDOIT works in this way since every piece (except Overture maybe) are long enough and doesn't need to flow to the next piece to work. Here I would say they need each other to work. Every song is so unsatisfying if they just start and end without the other piece.

[Pettor]

Oh actually that brings me to HDtracks. Any difference with the album version there? Is it worth it?

[Buddyhunter1]

I can see how it's individual tracks logically but I can't see me listening to any of them individually  SDOIT works in this way since every piece (except Overture maybe) are long enough and doesn't need to flow to the next piece to work. Here I would say they need each other to work. Every song is so unsatisfying if they just start and end without the other piece.

I agree with this.

[ariich]

Psst, I can hook you up with some freeware software, that allows you to edit it together as a single track

If only Spotify allowed me to utilize that. I do use my own library from time to time but it's getting less often.

You can add local files to Spotify, but only for listening on that device, so you couldn't sync it up to listen elsewhere.

Messiah Complex isn't a single track, and I maintain works best as 5 separate tracks.

I don't know. I can see how it's individual tracks logically but I can't see me listening to any of them individually  SDOIT works in this way since every piece (except Overture maybe) are long enough and doesn't need to flow to the next piece to work. Here I would say they need each other to work. Every song is so unsatisfying if they just start and end without the other piece.

I mean, I rarely listen to any songs individually anyway as I'm an album listener. I do occasionally just have a craving to check out an individual song, and indeed with Messiah Complex for example I've listened to A Glutton for Punishment & Marigold a couple of times without the other movements.

[me7]

I love how they handle guitar solos nowadays, sparsely but precise. There are just four of them on the album and they all rule.

Usually I listen to albums start to finish, but I jumped a few times to Ectobius Rex to digest that epic Peteucci solo. So I'm in the pro-split camp on this one.

[nobloodyname]

Usually I listen to albums start to finish, but I jumped a few times to Ectobius Rex to digest that epic Peteucci solo. So I'm in the pro-split camp on this one.

Oh, yeah?

[Elite]

You can hear Petrucci in some of Haken's lead. Sounds like a Richard Henshall solo, but he was obviously influenced by Petrucci indeed.

[ariich]

Yeah that's one of Hen's, although it is more Petrucci-esque in style than the jazzier and/or more tapping approaches he often takes with his leads.

[Elite]

The 'jazz'-ish / tapping thing is of the later years though. Definitely a development of an own style, and great to witness.

[Nick]

Honestly I think Virus is slowly becoming my second favorite Haken album (after The Mountain).

This is the correct opinion.

Close.

Mountain, Aquarius, and then Virus.

[mike099]

When Haken does start back touring will they tour with Devon or be the headline with one or two other bands?  I saw them in a small venue(exit-inn) in Nashville last year and was hoping they get to upgrade the next time around.