| Visions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 17 September 2011 (ProgPower USA) 25 October 2011 (official) | |||
| Recorded | 2011 | |||
| Venue | Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) | |||
| Studio | Hardbeat Records (Wembley) Studios E11 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 71:37 | |||
| Label | Sensory | |||
| Haken chronology | ||||
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Visions is the second studio album by English progressive metal band Haken. The album was released mostly for the attention of people at ProgPower USA on 17 September 2011,[1] with an official release date set for 25 October 2011.[2][3]
Unlike Aquarius, which was written mainly on the piano by Richard Henshall, Visions was mostly written on the guitar. As with the debut album, the members recorded their parts at home and then shared the files between them. The album features a string quartet and a French horn player mixed with synthetic string and brass sections.[1] Both string and French horn arrangements were arranged by keyboardist Diego Tejeida and drummer Ray Hearne.[4]
It is a concept album like its predecessor, telling the story of "a young boy who sees his own death in his dreams and believes it's going to happen and spends the rest of his life trying to avoid it." The 22-minute closing title track signifies the end of the story having come full circle, referencing earlier musical themes and motifs. The track was written by vocalist Ross Jennings based on a premonition of his own death and it was the first song to be written, with the album growing around it.[1] Like Aquarius, the album artwork was also created by Dennis Sibeijn.
The album is dedicated to the mother of guitarist Charlie Griffiths, who had died in 2011.[4]
The song "Visions" contains a voice at the beginning reciting Segismundo's reflection from Pedro Calderón de la Barca's play Life Is a Dream.
- ^ a b c Serafine, Frank (23 September 2011). "Haken Explains Story Behind "Visions," Favorite Bands, And Musical Training". metalunderground.com. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ Carter, Vatjarr. "News: New Album Review, Haken "Visions" (Tracklist)". Distortion Emolver. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ HAKEN Sophomore Album Details & Trailer Posted Band Prepares For ProgPower USA Archived 24 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 August 2011
- ^ a b "Haken (2) – Visions" (in Spanish). Discogs. Retrieved 12 July 2018.