Initiate

"Initiate" is a song by British progressive metal band Haken. It was the first single and the second song from the band's 2016 album Affinity.

Basis

NOTE: Some of the following may fall into the realm of fan speculation. The band has left much of the song's meaning unclear.

"Initiate" likely follows the initial launch of the "Affinity" satellite, with the satellite appearing to display an almost godlike status in its travels.

Production

"Initiate" was the first song written for the album, with the band aiming for a more atmospheric and modern sound than Affinity's predecessor, The Mountain.

Lyrics

"Initiate" lyrics [Click here]
Love and pain
Engage your senses
And let them carve the way

Give me (Give me)
Focus (Focus)
Sharpen
My view
Initiate

Live here and now
And forever or never

I observe a world jarring in turmoil
A million people waging war at the hands of a god
And I can hear them crying
Cold fires blazing before me
An affliction fast consuming and fascinating me

(Drifting) You'll be
(Deeper) The life and the death of me
(Into) I
(The unknown) Initiate

We'll make this dream last forever and ever
Tears will run dry
From my ever wandering eye
But I'm prepared to stay
'Til my dying day

I'll see things you won't believe
In tomorrow's memories
I'll do things you can't conceive
There'll be no strings on me
Open the floodgates
Form the colours and the shapes
Let there be a light
Initiate, all my senses are engaging
Open the floodgates
All the love and all the pain
Let there be a light
Initiate, all my senses are engaging
(Distance) Tell me
(Stretches) How does it feel to breathe?
(Further)
(From home) Initiate

I'm drifting (Drifting)
Deeper (Deeper)
Into (Into)
The unknown

Personnel

Haken
  • Ross Jennings - vocals
  • Richard Henshall - guitars
  • Charlie Griffiths - guitars
  • Diego Tejeida - keyboards, sound design
  • Conner Green - bass
  • Raymond Hearne - drums

Quotes from the Band

"It is the most collaborative we have ever been on an album. We wanted to develop and expand our sound by having every member contribute initial ideas from the very beginning of the process."

-Ross Jennings

Trivia

  • "Initiate" is the band's first song to be labeled as a single.

Links
"Initiate"
Single by Haken
Released 18 Mar 2016
Album Affinity
Genre Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock
Length 5:41
Live Plays 86 (#14 [tied])
Affinity
"Affinity.exe" << "Initiate" >> "1985"
Haken Singles Chronology
"Initiate"
(2018)		 >> "The Endless Knot"
(2016)


"Initiate" music video

"We'll make this dream last forever and ever"

Initiate, from Affinity