Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
The first new single from Haken since 2023 has been released, as per theprp. On May 21, the British prog rockers released the song “in a fever dream” below. The ensemble is breaking new territory with this new musical endeavour, which is their first collaboration with an outside producer. That honour went to George Lever (Loathe, Sleep Token), who helped behind the boards on this song, which also featured a guest appearance by bassist Bryan Beller (Dethklok, Joe Satriani). The band experienced a major lineup change in January of last year when bassist/vocalist Conner Green and guitarist/vocalist Charles Griffiths left.
Haken is an English progressive metal ensemble established in 2007 by multi-instrumentalist Richard Henshall, guitarist Matthew Marshall, and vocalist Ross Jennings. Although the founding members initially conceived the idea of forming the band in 2004, they prioritized developing their instrumental skills and songwriting before proceeding.
After recruiting additional members three years later, the band released the demo “Enter the 5th Dimension” in 2008 and subsequently signed with Sensory Records. Their debut album, “Aquarius,” was released in 2010, and by 2025, the band had produced seven studio albums, two extended plays, and two live recordings.
The founding members had developed their friendship during their teenage years and frequently engaged in casual “bedroom jams.” Henshall noted that “Haken” was a fictional character name they devised during their school days, often influenced by alcohol or cannabis. Initially, the group regarded their musical activities as a hobby, but they later committed to honing their instrumental expertise and reassembled three years later to establish the band.
Early in the formation process, Jennings parted ways with Henshall and Marshall due to their superior guitar skills, later rejoining solely as a vocalist. The lineup was completed with keyboardist Pete Jones, whom they met on an online forum, along with his close friend Raymond Hearne. To-Mera guitarist Thomas MacLean joined as the band’s bassist.
