To think that this album was their first, and that it is as good as it is. Mind blowing. It showed promise that they would do many more great things, and they definitely did, not a single bad album in their discography imo. Unbelievable guys.
First track in the album, Geebz. It's all over the place, because each individual section is an allusion to the each of the following tracks. Great one to re-listen to once you have the hindsight/context of the full album. ;)
Geebz! This is Carter, so happy to have met you the other day! Thank you for your videos, and I look forward to what you have to say about Tool’s new music when they eventually put it out!
Ever since seeing the Aquamedly live, I can't help but notice all the noodly fluff in tracks like this. It just made the whole album into one concise track and took the most memorable bit of it into a masterpiece. For the curious, look it on the live album. So good.
The coolest thing I thought back in the day, putting this album on, any prog-head was immediately drawn in, it's heavy, bombastic, meandering and theatric all before a single word is said. then Ross opens his mouth and it's great. hooked, I've gotta hear the whole thing. the whole album is top tier start to finish, IMO in a lot of ways Haken have never topped Aquarius.
Celestial Ellixir or Streams would be good to react to now. Also, The Architect from Affinity and Falling Back to Earth from The Mountain would be good as well.
I really like Haken, but you can clearly hear in this song all their influences (maybe that's the intention, like in DT's Octavarium), but i don't yet hear THEM. That's why I love The Mountain so much, it's soooo Haken, and I don't recall any moments in that album where I think "Huh, that sounds really like [insert prog rock/metal band here]"
That doesnt even makes sense as this album was basically a solo project from Richard... The Mountain, Affinity, Vector, Virus and Fauna all have their influences too. And Richard can be very versatile if he think it musts. The Coccon is completely different from Aquarius and Visions even tho the three of them had been written by him as concept albums.
My favorite album of all time. The tongue in cheek story taking social commentary and relating it to bible scripture. As expected on a first album, it is a bit cheesy, but I love it.
Virus is my favourite Haken album. I love songs from other albums, but this one just grabs me from the start to the finish. This track has too many changes and different styles for my liking. I guess I like the more rock oriented stuff than this. Off to see them in London on Sept 21st...
Haken is my favorite Band and this is my favorite tune and Album. But as you mentioned, the recording sucks and hurts my ears (on quality headphones and speakers).
I feel completely the opposite. Well, I do like Vector and Virus, but for me it pales in comparison to the first two albums. But I love theatrical prog.
@Arrow2theACL I listened to Dream Theater for a while, but moved on to more non-programmatic prog metal., like Tesseract, Vola, Haken (later), Karnivool, Leprous and Skyharbor.
I used to listen to a Progressive Rock/Prog Metal Internet Radio Station in the late 90's into the early 2000's (started as "Progged Radio" and then transitioned owners to "Progulus"). We were some of the 1st to have heard bands like; Ayreon, Leprous (including their _actual_ debut), Riverside, OSI, Orphaned Land, Devin Townsend Project, Frost*, Kingcrow, Caligula's Horse, including super obscure bands and the well known. One was a Demo for Haken ("Enter the 5th Dimension"), and then "Aquarius" hit and they blew-up from there. We were just blown away . . . yes, they could be playful on the keyboards much like Jordan Rudess/DT (from original keyboardist "Diego Tejeida"), but they had a sound all their own (with hints of Gentle Giant especially with the layered vocal harmonies). I think its one of the strongest debuts from a Prog band of the 2000's (up there with Frost* "Milliontown"). You start to hear the change and heaviness on "The Mountain" album (their 3rd) and then experimentation and a re-birth on the 4th "Affinity". And continuing to re-invent the band. The original bassist "Thomas MacLean" left after The Mountain to be the Guitarist for the Prog Metal band "To-Mera" (picture if Nightwish met "Spiral Architect") and after Diego Tejeida leaving after "Virus" he created the band "Temic". Oh man Geebz . . . If I could be a Director and create total concepts from songs and albums I've heard, I'd have soo many to choose from that I ALWAYS have a Movie playing in my head (well, I can at-least Storyboard them :). I guess another way I do that is creating "Themed Playlists" and here is one with a "Nautical" Theme: ua-cam.com/play/PL2DU3TBNutEcV0OC0Wv0-2xPRu2DEy_W9.html - I hope this stays-up (because of link) for everyone to enjOy! \m/ Nice reaction to the song Geebz, seems right up your alley.
Not an insult to me. This is Prog Metal, some bands will have a little to a LOT more aggression. But Haken started as a Prog Metal/Progressive Rock band. Checkout the albums "Virus" and go from there. They have a MUCH heavier sound now, with Progressive Rock elements within. Another "Musical Theater" Prog Metal band would be "Ayreon" after their 3rd album (it gets heavier), again with Progressive Rock elements and tracks in-between.
This album has no business being anyone's debut album. It's such a masterpiece.
To think that this album was their first, and that it is as good as it is. Mind blowing. It showed promise that they would do many more great things, and they definitely did, not a single bad album in their discography imo. Unbelievable guys.
First track in the album, Geebz. It's all over the place, because each individual section is an allusion to the each of the following tracks. Great one to re-listen to once you have the hindsight/context of the full album. ;)
Like an "Overture".
Fantastic album, I love how it opens with three +10 minutes epics in a row
I still think “Visions” may be my favorite, but I can easily listen to any of the Haken albums.
Geebz! This is Carter, so happy to have met you the other day! Thank you for your videos, and I look forward to what you have to say about Tool’s new music when they eventually put it out!
Stoked to meet you too!!! Waiting for the next Tool issued trip as well - AWWWRIGHT!!
Celestial Elixer is still the best from this album. A great recap of many themes as well.
Or just the whole Aquamedley... Genius
Ever since seeing the Aquamedly live, I can't help but notice all the noodly fluff in tracks like this. It just made the whole album into one concise track and took the most memorable bit of it into a masterpiece. For the curious, look it on the live album. So good.
The coolest thing I thought back in the day, putting this album on, any prog-head was immediately drawn in, it's heavy, bombastic, meandering and theatric all before a single word is said. then Ross opens his mouth and it's great. hooked, I've gotta hear the whole thing. the whole album is top tier start to finish, IMO in a lot of ways Haken have never topped Aquarius.
Top tier album, one of the best debuts ever in the genre, and imo truly Haken's best.
I
Celestial Ellixir or Streams would be good to react to now. Also, The Architect from Affinity and Falling Back to Earth from The Mountain would be good as well.
Thank you Geebz
If you enjoy Haken (my favorite band) I recommend you give a listen to Cockroach King, Visions or Crystallised (my personal favorite track ever) !
Love it, reminds me of Symphony X in the beggining 😍
I really like Haken, but you can clearly hear in this song all their influences (maybe that's the intention, like in DT's Octavarium), but i don't yet hear THEM. That's why I love The Mountain so much, it's soooo Haken, and I don't recall any moments in that album where I think "Huh, that sounds really like [insert prog rock/metal band here]"
That doesnt even makes sense as this album was basically a solo project from Richard... The Mountain, Affinity, Vector, Virus and Fauna all have their influences too.
And Richard can be very versatile if he think it musts. The Coccon is completely different from Aquarius and Visions even tho the three of them had been written by him as concept albums.
My favorite album of all time. The tongue in cheek story taking social commentary and relating it to bible scripture. As expected on a first album, it is a bit cheesy, but I love it.
More Haken!
It reminds me of “Bobs Burgers” for some reason😊
I'm still here!
Virus is my favourite Haken album. I love songs from other albums, but this one just grabs me from the start to the finish. This track has too many changes and different styles for my liking. I guess I like the more rock oriented stuff than this. Off to see them in London on Sept 21st...
You should listen to the next song Streams as well, that will blow your mind.
Have to do aquarium
Haken is my favorite Band and this is my favorite tune and Album. But as you mentioned, the recording sucks and hurts my ears (on quality headphones and speakers).
I don't like this Haken music at all. Later albums are a different matter.
I feel completely the opposite. Well, I do like Vector and Virus, but for me it pales in comparison to the first two albums. But I love theatrical prog.
@Arrow2theACL I listened to Dream Theater for a while, but moved on to more non-programmatic prog metal., like Tesseract, Vola, Haken (later), Karnivool, Leprous and Skyharbor.
I used to listen to a Progressive Rock/Prog Metal Internet Radio Station in the late 90's into the early 2000's (started as "Progged Radio" and then transitioned owners to "Progulus"). We were some of the 1st to have heard bands like; Ayreon, Leprous (including their _actual_ debut), Riverside, OSI, Orphaned Land, Devin Townsend Project, Frost*, Kingcrow, Caligula's Horse, including super obscure bands and the well known. One was a Demo for Haken ("Enter the 5th Dimension"), and then "Aquarius" hit and they blew-up from there. We were just blown away . . . yes, they could be playful on the keyboards much like Jordan Rudess/DT (from original keyboardist "Diego Tejeida"), but they had a sound all their own (with hints of Gentle Giant especially with the layered vocal harmonies).
I think its one of the strongest debuts from a Prog band of the 2000's (up there with Frost* "Milliontown").
You start to hear the change and heaviness on "The Mountain" album (their 3rd) and then experimentation and a re-birth on the 4th "Affinity". And continuing to re-invent the band.
The original bassist "Thomas MacLean" left after The Mountain to be the Guitarist for the Prog Metal band "To-Mera" (picture if Nightwish met "Spiral Architect") and after Diego Tejeida leaving after "Virus" he created the band "Temic".
Oh man Geebz . . . If I could be a Director and create total concepts from songs and albums I've heard, I'd have soo many to choose from that I ALWAYS have a Movie playing in my head (well, I can at-least Storyboard them :).
I guess another way I do that is creating "Themed Playlists" and here is one with a "Nautical" Theme:
ua-cam.com/play/PL2DU3TBNutEcV0OC0Wv0-2xPRu2DEy_W9.html
- I hope this stays-up (because of link) for everyone to enjOy! \m/ Nice reaction to the song Geebz, seems right up your alley.
"Sounds like musical theater" is the ultimate metal insult, and well earned in this case,
this is about as metal as Sleep Token or Ghost :D
Not an insult to me. This is Prog Metal, some bands will have a little to a LOT more aggression. But Haken started as a Prog Metal/Progressive Rock band. Checkout the albums "Virus" and go from there. They have a MUCH heavier sound now, with Progressive Rock elements within.
Another "Musical Theater" Prog Metal band would be "Ayreon" after their 3rd album (it gets heavier), again with Progressive Rock elements and tracks in-between.