Haken

Haken are a progressive metal and progressive rock group from London, formed in 2007. The band begins as an idea shared by Richard Henshall, Matthew Marshall and Ross Jennings in 2004, when they play together in informal bedroom sessions before deciding to focus on their instruments and songwriting. Jennings later returns as vocalist only, after initially stepping away when the others’ guitar work develops beyond his own level.

Early line-up and first releases

The band completes its early line-up with keyboardist Peter Jones, whom they meet through an online forum, and his friend Raymond Hearne on drums. Thomas MacLean, formerly of To-Mera, joins on bass. Haken record a demo in 2007 and follow it with the full-length demo Enter the 5th Dimension in 2008. Marshall and Jones then leave to pursue other careers, and Charlie Griffiths, known for his work with Linear Sphere, becomes a full-time member. Keyboardist Diego Tejeida also joins in late 2008.

Albums and labels

After Ken Golden of Sensory Records offers the band a deal, Haken sign to the label and release their debut album Aquarius in 2010. Their second album, Visions, follows in 2011. The Mountain is announced in 2013 and released through Inside Out Music, with mixing and mastering by Jens Bogren. MacLean leaves after the band completes a performance at Prog Stage Festival in Israel in 2013, and Conner Green takes his place after auditions.

The band releases the EP Restoration in 2014, which contains three reworked tracks from Enter the 5th Dimension. In 2016 they issue Affinity, which is presented as the first Haken release on which all members contribute to the songwriting. Vector arrives in 2018, and Virus, linked to Vector, follows in 2020.

Line-up changes and later activity

Jennings forms the side project Novena, which releases the EP Secondary Genesis in 2016 and the album Eleventh Hour in 2020. In 2017 Haken tour with Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy and Neal Morse Band guitarist Eric Gillette under the name Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress, performing Dream Theater’s Twelve-step Suite in full as well as other songs. The band also reissues its first two albums that year.

Haken release their first live album, L-1VE, in 2018. It is recorded and filmed in Amsterdam during their tenth anniversary tour and its live audio is mixed by Neal Morse and Jerry Guidroz. Richard Henshall releases the solo album The Cocoon in 2019, with Jennings singing on one track. In 2021, Tejeida leaves the band, and Peter Jones returns in 2022. Haken release the single “Nightingale” in 2022 and Fauna in 2023. By that point they have released seven studio albums, two EPs and two live albums.