Haken
Formed: 2007
From:
London,
United Kingdom
Last Known Status: Active
Background
Haken was formed in 2007 by To-Mera guitarist and keyboardist Richard Henshall and his two school friends Ross Jennings (vocals) and Matthew Marshall (guitar). The band completed their lineup with a keyboardist they met on an online forum, Peter Jones, and Jones' close friend and drummer Raymond Hearne, and To-Mera guitarist Thomas MacLean became the band's bassist. They recorded a demo in 2007 that contained two tracks, 'Snow' and 'Souls'. With the demo they began to play small live venues in London, with some good response. In 2008 they then recorded four more songs, 'Manifolds', 'Blind', 'Sleeping Thoughts Wake' and 'Black Seed', and released a full-length demo including all six existing tracks.
Later in 2008, Marshall and Jones left the band to pursue other careers. Charlie Griffiths, the guitarist for the band Linear Sphere and Anchorhead became a full time member of the band. The keyboardist Diego Tejeida joined the band in late 2008 as well. As they began to tour more, even opening a few UK shows for King's X, Sensory Records recognized them and offered them a record deal. They began recording for their debut album, Aquarius, soon after, and it was released in March 2010.
Haken released their second album, Visions, in October 2011. On June 20, 2013 Haken announced their new album, The Mountain, which will be released on September 2 by InsideOut Music. The album was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren.
[Wikipedia]
Latest Haken News
Below is our complete Haken news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
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Haken Premiere New Single "in a fever dream"
Haken have released their first new single since 2023 with “in a fever dream,” arriving today, streaming via YouTube and Spotify for you now below.
The British progressive rock outfit also mark a new creative direction on the track, having worked with an outside producer for the first time. George Lever (Loathe, Sleep Token) handled production duties, while bassist Bryan Beller (Dethklok, Joe Satriani) makes a guest appearance.
The release follows a major lineup change earlier this year, with guitarist/vocalist Charles Griffiths and bassist/vocalist Conner Green both exiting the band this past January.
Haken Premiere New Official Live Video
British band Haken have officially released their new live album, “Liveforms: An Evening With Haken,” today, May 09th. To mark the occasion, the band have also unveiled a live performance video for the track “Sempiternal Beings,” captured during their September 21st, 2024 show at the O2 Forum in London, England, streaming via YouTube and Spotify for you now below.
Haken Premiere New Official Live Music Video
Progressive metalcore band Haken have unveiled their new live music video for the track "Lovebite". The footage captures their performance at the Alhambra in Paris, France, on March 17th, 2023. Currently, the band are concluding their North America tour in support of their latest album, "Fauna".
Haken Premiere New Single & Music Video "Taurus"
British progressive rock/metal act Haken premiere a third single and music video named “Taurus“. The track is from their upcoming seventh full-length album, “Fauna“, which will be released on March 03rd, 2023.
Tells frontman Ross Jennings: More...
Just For Fun
Sleigher Premiere New Single “South Of Lapland”
Sleigher return with their latest Slayer-themed Christmas offering, putting a new spin on the title track to Slayer‘s 1988’s classic “South Of Heaven“. The end result is “South Of Lapland“, which you can watch below.
If you missed it last year: Sleigher previously took on Slayer's “Seasons In The Abyss” for their debut in 2021. Check it out streaming via Spotify for you below.
Comment the outfit:
“It’s Sleigher the sequel! Members of Haken, Dream Theater, Protest the Hero, Inhuman Condition have once again ventured South of Lapland. Joining the expedition are Becky from Fury (and recently of Mercyful Fate live!) and the mysterious Delta Empire on drums. This time… it’s Judgment Sleigh!”
Led by guitarist Charlie Griffith (Haken) the collective finds the below artists returning: More...
Haken Shares New Video "Nightingale"
Progressive rockers, Haken, are excited to announce the release of their brand new single, "Nightingale." The latest single showcases the first new material the band have presented with returning keyboard player, Pete Jones, and the first since the release of their last album, "Virus," back in 2020. You can watch the video below.
The band comments: "'Nightingale' was the first track Pete Jones presented to the band after rejoining Haken this year. The initial song idea quickly inspired of the classic Haken sound and naturally evolved into some new harmonic territory. The song ranges from delicate moments to monstrous riffs.
"We enlisted Jens Bogren to mix Nightingale and, as always, he’s blown us away by capturing every detail while delivering power and energy. We couldn’t be happier with the finished product.
"Lyrically, the song reflects on the creative process itself; with a message that although it may be difficult of late, we must remember to be thankful for the positives in life; be they big or small." More...
Haken Guitarist & BTBAM Singer Premiere New Track
Haken guitarist Charlie Griffiths will release his debut solo studio full-length "Tiktaalika" on June 17, 2022. A first advance track and music video named "Arctic Cemetery" featuring Between The Buried And Me frontman Tommy Rogers has premiered online streaming for you below.
Tells Griffiths: More...
Haken Reunites With Original Keyboardist
Progressive rockers Haken are excited to announce the return of the band’s original keyboard player, Pete Jones, to the fold. He will make his debut on the band’s upcoming live dates in support of their most recent album "Virus," released in 2020 to much acclaim.
The band comments: "We are truly thrilled to welcome Pete back into Haken. Pete is a phenomenally gifted musician and, in the short time since his return, he has breathed new life into the band, inspiring us to explore fresh and exciting musical territory. This is a new era for Haken and we cannot wait to share it with all of you!"
Pete adds: "I'm thrilled to rejoin the fellowship, after following the band closely over the years and watching them grow. It was great to reconnect with Rich on the Nova Collective record, and then to work more closely with the guys over the past couple of Haken albums. I can't wait for the next chapter, and am pumped to be a part of it!"
Haken To Support Symphony X On Tour
New Jersey’s progressive metal masters, Symphony X, will kick off their 25th Anniversary North American tour 2022 on May 10 at Irving Plaza in New York City. The 27-date trek will make stops in Montreal, Chicago, and Portland before concluding in Montclair, NJ on June 12. Today, the band is proud to welcome Haken as direct support and Trope as the openers.
Symphony X's Michael Romeo comments: "After the past year and a half of tours and festivals being canceled, it looks like things are finally moving along and getting back rolling. We are SO looking forward to the upcoming tour and getting back out there playing again! We can't wait and we'll see you all soon!"
Symphony X's Russell Allen states: "The wait is over! We are really looking forward to getting back on the road and sharing the live music experience with all of you. See you on the road my friends!"
General admission tickets for the tour will be available for purchase this Friday, October 15 at 10 AM local time at your preferred ticket outlet.
The tour dates are as follows: More...
Haken Announces European Tour Dates
Haken is making its much anticipated return to live shows with the "Invasion" 2022 Tour. The group is pleased to announce dates for Europe which kicks off 4th February 2022 in Cologne.
Ray Hearne conveys the group’s excitement here: "It’s a huge relief to finally be able to announce a tour after such a difficult year for everyone. We’re incredibly excited for this one, which will be the first outing of many in 2022 in celebration of our latest album ‘Virus’. Bring on the Haken Invasion!"
The tour dates are as follows:
4 Feb - Cologne, de – Essigfabrik
5 Feb - Nijmegen, NL – Doornroosje
6 Feb - Amsterdam, NL - Melkweg Max
7 Feb - Hamburg, DE – Markthalle
9 Feb - Berlin, DE - Columbia Theater
10 Feb - Prague, CZ – Futurum
11 Feb - Vienna, AT – Flex
12 Feb - Budapest, HU - A38
14 Feb - Zurich, CH – Mascotte
15 Feb - Roncade, IT - New Age
16 Feb - Milan, IT – Alcatraz
17 Feb - Lyon, FR – Transbordeur
18 Feb - Barcelona, ES – Salamandra
19 Feb - Madrid, ES – Shoko
21 Feb - Toulouse, FR - Connexion Live
22 Feb - Nantes, FR – Ferrailleur
23 Feb - Paris, FR – Alhambra
24 Feb - Manchester, UK - Academy 2
25 Feb - Glasgow, UK - Saint Luke's
27 Feb - London, UK - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Scale The Summit Premiere New Song & Video
Scale The Summit premiere their new single and video “Jackhammer Ballet” off their new album “Subjects“, which will be out on June 25th. The track finds Joseph Secchiaroli (The Reign Of Kindo) guesting on vocals.
Numerous guests habe been tapped to guest on the band's impending new album: More...
Haken Posts "Invasion" Music Video Online
Progressive rockers Haken are pleased to launch the video for their new single "Invasion," the third track taken from their forthcoming new album "Virus." Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the label and bands control, the release date for the album has had to be postponed to the 19th June 2020.
The band comment: "Lyrically, Invasion deals with themes including but not limited to anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies. We thought that the discussion of a "Virus of the mind" tied in well to the psychological themes touched upon in the sister record 'Vector' and lent itself to the character development of Virus's manic protagonist."
The new video for "Invasion" was created by Crystal Spotlight, who also produced the video for "Canary Yellow." You can watch the video below. More...
Haken Posts New Music Video Online
Progressive rockers Haken recently revealed their new studio album ‘Virus’, the follow-up to 2018’s acclaimed album ‘Vector’, will be released 5th June 2020. Now they are pleased to launch the video for the album’s second single ‘Canary Yellow’, a striking animated clip created by Crystal Spotlight. Watch it below.
The band comments: "For 'Canary Yellow,' we went in a more alternative direction, since we’re all big fans of bands like Radiohead, Elbow and Peter Gabriel. Those are artists who can portray quite dark subject matter through really beautiful music. Since the 'Virus' album is intended to be a metaphor for various negative tropes of society, we wanted to explore this idea in a variety of ways.
"'Canary Yellow' deals with the suppression of physical and mentally abusive relationships; something that can often remain hidden behind a seemingly happy facade.
"We once again returned to long time visual collaborators 'Crystal Spotlight' for this ambitious animation and we're absolutely thrilled with how well the visuals complement and enhance the atmosphere of the song. The video shows a seemingly idyllic family environment, but with a sense of sadness beneath the surface and absolute devastation looming on the horizon. They go about their day oblivious to the fact that they are mannequins living in a 1950s style ‘Doom Town‘ experiment." More...
Haken Premiere New Single & Music Video
Haken announce a June 05th release date for their impending new outing “Virus” via InsideOutMusic. A music video helmed by Vicente Cordero for their first single “Prosthetic” off it has premiered online via YouTube and can be streamed below.
Commented Haken of it: More...
Haken Premiere New Song & Music Video
A new official music video for Haken‘s new song “A Cell Divides” has premiered streaming for you online below. “Vector” will be out in stores next Friday, October 26th, via InsideOut Music.
Teells drummer Ray Hearne of this latest single: More...
Haken Posts New Video Online
British progressive metal outfit Haken has posted a new music video online for the song, "Puzzle Box." You can check it out below. The song somes from the band's upcoming fifth album, "Vector," which is scheduled to be released on October 26th. Speaking about the video, the band stated:
“‘Puzzle Box’ was born from some of the jam sessions we had early on in the writing process. The music has a raw and slightly psychotic nature to it that is brilliantly complimented in Crystal Spotlight’s video. To achieve favourable consequences we suggest taking this dose of Vector at regular intervals throughout the day.” More...
Haken Premiere New Song & Music Video
A new official music video for Haken‘s new song “The Good Doctor” has debuted online streaming below. The group had Stuart White direct the clip. The song is taken from their upcoming album “Vector“, out October 26th via InsideOut Music.
Commente the band: More...
Haken 2019 European/UK Tour Announced
Haken announce their European/UK tour in support of their new full-length “Vector“, which InsideOut Music will have out in stores on October 26th. Support acts for this recently revealed tour have yet to be announced.
02/15 Manchester, UK – Academy 3
02/16 Glasgow, UK – St. Lukes
02/17 Bristol, UK – The Fleece
02/19 Cologne, GER – Essigfabrik
02/20 Frankfurt, GER – Batschkapp
02/21 Hamburg, GER – Ubel & Gefahrlich
02/22 Copenhagen, DEN – Lille Vega
02/23 Oslo, NOR – John Dee
02/24 Stockholm, SWE – Debaser Strand
02/26 Berlin, GER – Columbia Theater
02/27 Krakow, POL – Kwadrat
02/28 Budapest, HUN – A38
03/02 Vienna, AUT – Szene
03/03 Prague, CZE – Futurum
03/04 Leipzig, GER – Conne Island
03/06 Stuttgart, GER – Im Wizemann
03/07 Munich, GER – Backstage Halle
03/08 Aarau, SWI – Kiff
03/09 Milan, ITA – Magazzini Generali
03/10 Lyon, FRA – Transbordeur
03/12 Madrid, SPA – Mon Live
03/13 Bilbao, SPA – Kafe Antzokia
03/14 Paris, FRA – La Maroquinerie
03/15 Zoetermeer, NET – De Boerderij
03/16 London, UK – Islington Assembly Hall
03/23 Helsinki, FIN – Tavastia
This run will follow their fall North American tour with Leprous and Bent Knee: More...
Haken & Leprous North American Tour Announced
Haken & Leprous will co-headline a North American run this fall with Bent Knee as the opening act. The trek will hit the following cities:
10/30 Pontiac, MI – The Crofoot Ballroom
10/31 Toronto, ON – Opera House
11/01 Montreal, QC – Astral
11/02 Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
11/03 New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
11/04 Boston, MA – The Sinclair
11/06 Baltimore, MD – Soundstage
11/07 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
11/08 Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
11/09 Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
11/10 Orlando, FL – The Plaza Live
11/11 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
11/13 Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey
11/14 Austin, TX – Barracuda
11/16 Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
11/17 Pomona, CA – Glass House
11/18 San Francisco, CA – August Hall
11/19 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
11/20 Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
11/21 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theater
11/23 Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
11/24 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
11/25 Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater
11/26 St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
11/27 Nashville, TN – Exit/In
11/29 Pittsburgh, PA – Rex Theater
11/30 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
12/01 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
Haken Releases New Video
Haken is set to hit the road in North America later this month for the band's 10th anniversary tour. In advance of that trek, the band just released a brand new psychedelic and sci-fi animated video for the track "Lapse," taken from last year's "Affinity" (reviewed here) and created by Miles Skarin at Crystal Spotlight.
The band comments: "Lapse was one of the first tracks we wrote for Affinity. Now more than a year since the album's release, it's great to finally give this song a chance to stand out on its own, as it's one of our favorites!
"Visually, we wanted to maintain a consistency with our videos for 'Initiate,' 'Earthrise,' and 'The Endless Knot,' so we returned to Miles Skarin at Crystal Spotlight to complete the series. The video incorporates a 3D motion capture technique (previously used on Frost*'s 'Numbers' video) to tie in with Affinity's themes of artificial intelligence/consciousness." More...