Affinity is the fourth studio album by British progressive metal band Haken. It was released on 29 April 2016. The album is notably the first full album to contain
bassist Conner Green, who made his Haken debut in 2014's Restoration following the departure of former bassist Thomas MacLean.
The album's first single, "Initiate", was released on 18 March 2016, followed by a second single "The Endless Knot" on 15 April 2016. While not officially released as a single,
the song "Lapse" would receive a music video on 4 August 2017.
Following its original 2016 release, Affinity received a re-issue on 5 March 2021, along with The Mountain.
Basis
According to the band, Affinity is an album about how we are all connected both figuratively and literally. The album covers various subjects, such as relationships,
evolution, artificial intelligence and humanity, with the name "Affinity" alluding to both evolution and relationships.
When asked if Affinity is a concept album, vocalist Ross Jennings stated that "is more like a soundtrack to a series of recurring
themes than an actual concept album."
NOTE: Some of the following may fall into the realm of fan speculation. The band has left much of the album's meaning unclear.
The storyline of Affinity is believed to be about a satellite named "Affinity" that was sent to observe the expansion of the sun. After a long stretch of time, Affinity
gains sentience and begins to understand its purpose. In a fit of anger, the satellite betrays humanity by cutting off all communications, leaving the species and their planet
doomed to extinction. As humanity comes to an end, everybody's conscience is released into space where humanity can be as one forever.
Production
The production of Affinity began shortly after the band embarked on their first world tour after the success of 2013's The Mountain.
With The Mountain's influences lying strongly in the realm of 1970's progressive rock, the band decided to progress a decade, filling
Affinity with tropes common to 80s music, such as a heavy use of synthesisers and reverbed, programmed drums.
Affinity was the first time that the band composed an album as a collective, rather than building around the ideas of Richard Henshall
and Ross Jennings. According to Jennings, the album's musical themes came in part from a desire to show how elements of 80s music were necessary for Haken's evolution, despite the
common notion that progressive rock died in the 1980's.
To fit with the aesthetic of the album, the band's logo and website were redesigned in the style of packaging, branding and phospher computer monitors from the 1980s.
Tracklist
Personnel
Haken
- Ross Jennings - vocals
- Richard Henshall - guitars
- Charlie Griffiths - guitars
- Diego Tejeida - keyboards, sound design
- Conner Green - bass
- Raymond Hearne - drums
Additional Personnel
- Einar Solberg - harsh vocals on "The Architect"
- Pete Rinaldi - acoustic guitar on "Bound by Gravity"
Production and Design
- Jens Bogren - mixing, mastering
- Blacklake - artwork, design
Quotes from the Band
"None of us feel like we've made our best work yet, let alone 'made it'. So that urge to produce something better than last time will always be there.
It's no secret that we all make HAKEN work around our day jobs but that just makes us down to earth as people and thriving musicians."
-Ross Jennings
"Everyone really kind of had an equal measure. Which is the reason why its so eclectic. You've got certain songs which are from a Metal direction and other
songs which are from like an Indie vibe and you've got a more Electro dancey kind of vibe."
-Charlie Griffiths
"We tend to resist and avoid changes, we all want to find our comfort zone. I can see that maybe some fans won't get it at first listen if they are expecting a
'The Mountain Pt. 2' album."
-Diego Tejeida
Trivia
- Affinity is the third and final Haken release to be mixed by Jens Bogren until their upcoming 2022 album, after The Mountain and Restoration.
- The six birds on the album's cover represent the six members of the band.
- The typeface used in the band's logo and album title is called "Bauhaus Heavy-Bold".
- The album's cover depicts the sun with either the Earth or a satellite orbiting around it.
- The the lyric-sheet contains thank-you note from Ray Hearne to a chef in Melkweg, Netherlands, thanking him for "the best meal [he'd] ever eaten".
- Affinity is the only Haken album to contain a guest vocalist internationally.
Vinyl gatefold back
Vinyl gatefold inside
A-Side of the Vinyl LP (Black)
CD from the Vinyl release
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|
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| Affinity |
 |
| Studio album by Haken |
| Released |
24 July 2020 |
| Recorded |
2014-2016 |
| Genre |
Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Alternative Metal |
| Length |
61:25 |
| Label |
InsideOut Music |
|
