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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Released roughly one year and a half after Haken's debut Aquarius, Visions is a tighter, more guitar-focused album. Like its predecessor, it is a musical journey well worth taking, though the concept behind it is rather obscure and hard to make sense of (something about a boy who has a vision of his own death)
A little bit about Haken's music: they oscillate between heavy and melodic parts, with solos and some experimental moments thrown in. It reminded me of Symphony X and Dream Theater, but their style is very recognizably their own. As a consequence of their originality and complex compositions, their albums might take a few listens to love and a whole lot more to truly appreciate all that the band has achieved in it.
One of the such achievement is how structured and balanced the album is. Listening to the whole album at once is a much more enjoyable experience than simply listening to individual songs.
1- Premonition - The album's overture, a joy to listen to.
2- Nocturnal Conspiracy - One out of many album highlights, an epic with some extremely melodic moments.
3- Insomnia - A good song, releases the steam after Nocturnal Conspiracy.
(Tracks 4 to 6 are a suite of sorts)
4- The Mind's Eye - Catchy, inspired and with great progression.
5- Portals - Instrumental, guitar-focused, somewhat hypnotic.
6- Shapeshifter - The album's weakest song. Still, it has some memorable moments.
7- Deathless - Absolutely beautiful. A soft, perfect song.
8- Visions - 22-minute epic, a magnificent conclusion to this amazing album. After listening to this song about 15 times in the past week, there's nothing that I would change in it. The brilliant ending just makes you want to start the album all over again.
To sum it up: Vision's is an amazing album. Its few shortcomings are easily overlooked when faced with its sheer brilliance. If you're at all interested in prog, metal or simply great music, this an album that cannot be overlooked.
A little bit about Haken's music: they oscillate between heavy and melodic parts, with solos and some experimental moments thrown in. It reminded me of Symphony X and Dream Theater, but their style is very recognizably their own. As a consequence of their originality and complex compositions, their albums might take a few listens to love and a whole lot more to truly appreciate all that the band has achieved in it.
One of the such achievement is how structured and balanced the album is. Listening to the whole album at once is a much more enjoyable experience than simply listening to individual songs.
1- Premonition - The album's overture, a joy to listen to.
2- Nocturnal Conspiracy - One out of many album highlights, an epic with some extremely melodic moments.
3- Insomnia - A good song, releases the steam after Nocturnal Conspiracy.
(Tracks 4 to 6 are a suite of sorts)
4- The Mind's Eye - Catchy, inspired and with great progression.
5- Portals - Instrumental, guitar-focused, somewhat hypnotic.
6- Shapeshifter - The album's weakest song. Still, it has some memorable moments.
7- Deathless - Absolutely beautiful. A soft, perfect song.
8- Visions - 22-minute epic, a magnificent conclusion to this amazing album. After listening to this song about 15 times in the past week, there's nothing that I would change in it. The brilliant ending just makes you want to start the album all over again.
To sum it up: Vision's is an amazing album. Its few shortcomings are easily overlooked when faced with its sheer brilliance. If you're at all interested in prog, metal or simply great music, this an album that cannot be overlooked.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A year or so ago I was quite dissapointed with the quality of modern British music only knowing of Dragonforce. Thankfully I found out about this band in April and bought thier debut masterpiece Aquarius. Thier new album Visions is still very similar to their first but has slightly darker undertones and less experimentation with the keyboards. The main story for the album is about a psychic who has obstacles to overcome that only he can change using his powers. Vocally the songs are pretty good but not spectacular neither are the lyrics spectacular. What really is brilliant though are the instrumentals with the blend of guitars, drums, keyboards and a string quartet. all of the pieces are structured brilliantly but especially the title track visions which is a 22 minute undescribable epic. Like aquarius the album has varying key signatures,time signatures and forms.
The only minor downfall of the album is they sound a little too much like Dream Theater at times and even recognized on one of the first tracks a great similarity to a nightmare to remember. All in All though a brilliant album for anyone who likes heavy and experimental prog music. I'd even go so far as to say that this is a better album than dream theaters new one.
The only minor downfall of the album is they sound a little too much like Dream Theater at times and even recognized on one of the first tracks a great similarity to a nightmare to remember. All in All though a brilliant album for anyone who likes heavy and experimental prog music. I'd even go so far as to say that this is a better album than dream theaters new one.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I am going to try and be as impartial and objective on this review as possible (but I will most likely epically fail as I go along). I am not normally driven to write reviews but having known of this band for a little while, and very much liking their first major effort, Aquarius, I feel I have no choice. Quite simply Visions is a stunning album. The highlights are simply too many to mention, and after my second listen I am continuing to find more, such is the complexity and intricacy of this album. That said I think it is a more accessible album than Aquarius, and to me that is a huge compliment as to make an album that will appeal to die hard fans of the genre as well as the more casual listener shows that all involved are demonstrating an immense talent in both musicianship and song writing. If pushed on a favourite track at this stage it would be 'The Mind's Eye', some of the riffs and guitar work from Charlie Griffiths and Richard Henshall are quite frankly epic. And throughout the album you have some beautiful keys work from Diego and simply one of the best bass and drum/percussion combinations in Tom Maclean and Raymond Hearne that I have heard in a very long time (up there with some of the best, Tool, Dream Theater, you name it). Combine those elements with inspired use of a string and horn section and wonderfully judged and delivered vocals from Ross Jennings and you have an album that will continue to reward you listen after listen. Lastly there has to be a mention on the production and mixing of this album: superb. Listen to this through good headphones or speakers and it will stun you.
I'm looking forward to the third album and a gig in Dublin, hopefully soon.
I'm looking forward to the third album and a gig in Dublin, hopefully soon.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent follow up to Aquarius
Very nice album. Excellent tunes, great playing.
All in all, reminiscent of Dream Theater, but with the foot off the gas a bit. Read more
All in all, reminiscent of Dream Theater, but with the foot off the gas a bit. Read more
Published 2 months ago by R. W.
Thoroughly enjoyable!
Firstly I'm some what surprised that there are not more reviews of this wonderful CD. The music flows
beautifully-is melodic,edgy,soaring-certainly grabs you. Read more
beautifully-is melodic,edgy,soaring-certainly grabs you. Read more
Published 4 months ago by BillW
A good second album - but great?
The 1st album was the best album I have heard in a long time and I hoped for the same from the second release. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. A. J. Pearson
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