I swear, that reprisal of *1985* ‘s chorus at 3:17 could split the sky in two. In my opinion, it’s the emotional and thematic climax of the entire album.

they are so prog that they changed genre too, love it

What a time to be alive folks...

“We need a story to believe in, we need a hero to prevail, we need a challenge we can overcome, it takes a tragedy to make us one”

"We need a story to believe in. We need a hero to prevail. We need a challenge we can overcome. It takes a tragedy to make us one." Taking this as my generation motto.

I've been a Dream Theater fan for awhile now, and just discovered Haken. There's so much awesome to catch up on. I can't believe I've been missing out

Perfect song, so much passion in this notes

This band is the metal of the future

1:35 to 2:00 is probably my favorite part. Those progressive vocals are impressive.

Haken is love, is life.

I think I speak for everyone when I say, this album is going to be fucking awesome.

Prog Metal Dubstep. It's finally happened. I've been waiting for this for a long time.

totally was not expecting that dubstep drop! was actually really nice, god i love prog! take influences from everywhere! :D

That bit from 2:22 to 2:42 is about TEN EFFING MINUTES TOO SHORT

Got "The Endless Knot" on "The Endless Loop"

2:22 MOTHER OF SYNCOPATION!

dubstep meets Prog? Absolutely awesome. Can't wait for official release of "Affinity". Will be buying on Fri 29th !!

The more I listen to 'Haken, the more I realise that neo-progressive music lives, and breaths a very heavy breath....of fresh heaviness that leads me back to CTTE every year they are on the cruise...they are the best show I think !!!!! And man , they kick your ass...from start to finish, some of the best live drumming I've EVER heard, and the guitar player is fuckin brilliant !!!!! scary, well I guess all of them did a remarkable job of blowing my 63 year old mind. what a wonderful, and bright surprise these guys are for me at this age, discovery of new bands all the time...some better than others, but still....Thank you Haken from the bottom of my heart, for working so very hard for these past years of your lives, creating a live expierence that not many can match, and I've seen so many great bands, fortunately in my days on this planet . So stay with the flow for as much time as we have left together.....hugs of Love go out to every person who reads this, because time is precious right about now.....xoxoxo

whoever thought putting the lyrics pulse in polyrhythm with the instrumental was going to sound good is a genius

So when is Dream Theater opening for you guys on a world tour?

Perfect song. The verse, the chorus, the instrumental part, the "our design shifted frame by frame" part, the outro - MY GOD THAT OUTRO

My gosh, you have to compare what they have achieved, they sound SO SOLID. Btw, this is the first album they compose as a group, this is HAKEN. I'm so proud of 'em

This band continues to blow me away. What blows me away more is the fact that they're not as popular as they should be.

"it takes a tragedy to make us one" such a powerful line and very true.

Unbelievable. I thought these guys were phenomenal a few years ago and they still get better. Will be listening to this album a couple times right away. This sounds so far like an album destined to be a classic.

HAKEN - is the best modern progrock band in the world! Fantasic album! I can't stop listening Affinity! Thanks a lot, brothers!

love the electronic dubstep metal break of the song... thats the way Haken, innovating mixing genres!

Oh god... The genre discussions made it to a Haken video. Please... Don't even try to label this band. Any label you'd put on Haken, wouldn't be enough to honor the sheer versatile genius of this band.

another great song from a awesome Progressive Metal band can't wait for the new album

my son introduced me to this band only recently.without a doubt one of the best sounding bands all around .vocals and harmonies give goosebumps and the music leaves you wanting more .good job boyz!keep the music coming ...please!

4:32 Second voices lyrics: Close your eyes Stand your ground Face the wind Don't look back Lift your sails to ascend Find the strength within yourself Close your eyes Stand your ground Face the wind Don't look back Lift your sails to ascend See this through until the end

this sound, haken never ceases to astonish me!

That's some Caligula's Horse vibe in the middle there. Great stuff.

One of their best songs. The lyrics are so good, and that final chorus gives me chills. Also, the dubstep portion is so seamless I didn't even notice it upon first listen.

Haken went full Pendulum, and it was cool.

Holy Crap!!!! Yet another masterpiece from one of the best bands on the planet!!!!!!!!!!!!

I absolutely love this song!

This Part from 2:18 to 3:18 is just amazing!!!!

from another planet guys!! This music is from another planet!!

This just sounds like the best 80's synth/rock you'll ever hear. If you watched any 80's or early 90's Cyberpunk anime, you have heard this song before. I'm thinking that is what they were going for on Affinity. Hell the song 1985 sounds like a Rocky training montage! Great Band.

3:59 just brings chills to my spine. The chorus in this song is undeniably moving.

My anticipation for the album just went through the roof!

love the dubstep part, awesome song.

I love all Haken tracks. I don't get why people continuously look for differences between albums to pick on, I can't see how you can't like all albums they made so far. Every album is different so far. They've grown aswell, where the focus on music is different. I personally think Aquarius/Visions had a lot of depth in the loose instrumental sections. You can see that a lot of attention went to the theme and poetry of the album. This made this album great for me, where I thought the whole structure of the albums was still lacking a bit. (There were also parts where i was not that much engaged with what was going on). The writing in affinity is arguable 'smarter'. I like affinity because it shows how much they've grown in building/breaking down songs. I feel like i'm throughout more engaged because there are hardly 'filler' parts like there are in older albums. On the other hand there is less focus on emotionally suprising 'jams' and 'conclusions' to tracks from what i've heard so far. Both albums sound like Haken in the end and are great.

This album is sounding more and more to me like Diego's lovechild: and that is fine with me. :) Wicked song.

Their talent is limitless...

I hate electronics "effects" on prog music....but one more time I'm impressed by the great work and harmony in this Haken sound. it's unique and fabulous.

ONE BAND TO RULE THEM ALL! I love how they are never afraid to try whatever the hell they want and just throw Celldweller in there

The album of the year!!!

Guys, seriously, this is on a whole another level. Amazing

These lyrics are devastating... I LOVE IT

This song is perfection.

Dat bass tho...

Now THAT was fucking incredible! That middle section, holy shit. And we haven't even heard 1985 or The Architect yet. So hyped!

Glorious!

incredible solo section! LOVE HAKEN

Can't... stop... listening...

After a brief refresher, I hereby state, that my great sympathy towards Ross' voice was already deep even before the formation of Haken. He sounds so much like Jon Andreson the the glorious formation Yes, which happens to be one of the influential bands in my formative years (neraly 17 years ago!).

oh man perfect music to play video games lyrics and instrumental fits perfectly, wasn't expecting this from haken I think I will like the mountain more but this is promising

Haken is gettin crazier and crazier. Affinity has the most complex songs to date. Very odd, heavy, djentish, need several listens to understand what's going on. Wow, just wow.

haken still running the game after all this years

Both released tracks are absolutely phenomenal. Better believe I pre-ordered this shit. JUST TAKE MY MONEY ALREADY!!!!

Love the groove and the drumming. Very cool song

my new band is here HAKEN for ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Killertrack! Fantastic!!

it is really good! the beginning the middle everything. great job. I will enjoy the concert

They are BAAAAAACK! Run for cover!!!!!!

Love it. I didnt know this band before.

Oh ! Super cool !

Cool Tune... Very cool rytmic complexity...

Bro this song is insane, can’t wait to see these guys live soon when they headline for Symphony X

Amazing............. been stuck with this songs for months ... Can't get enough

You guys are crazy. You make your listeners keep interested always!

oh god this is gorgeous

An absolute stunner, this one... Love it unconditionally!!

I've bought album this saturday. I don't have words to describe, how amazing it is. Thanks for your music and lot of inspiration.

Do they have G. Govan on solo guitar now? Lol, that section is perfect, the whole song is great! I already know I'll love this album!

This is so good, can't wait for the album do drop in my mailbox

This song becomes better and better after each listen

wow, this much more interesting than previous single, for me

Divine in all ways!

I love the solo

The "our design" part reminds me of ' all is full of love' by Björk so much!!!

Great mix of styles ...

I'm addicted to replay this song

Fisrt time hearing this band...hooked right away! Amazing!

Nice of you guys to post this on my birthday

There's not a single Haken song I dislike, and all of them are above average to Godsends. Anyway my top 6 1. Celestial Elixir (Beyond anything I have heard as a stand-alone song, simple human words are not enough to describe its magnificence) 2. Atlas stone (Extremely inspiring and strong) 3. Pareidolia (Seriously, are you channeling directly from God or something?) 4. Drowning in the flood (O.o) 5. The endless knot (It introduced my to Haken, dragged me in, slapped me right across the face & commanded me to check out more Haken, for that I will treasure it always) 6. The architect (Second song I heard, also a majestically strong track) Many other worthy mentions from haken, and again all songs are atleast above average. Just... there I have expressed my feelings! Move along now, and you know.. peace, love, strength, light and creativity be bestowed upon you energy-being ☯️

I sure hope a kid doesn't get in trouble for playing this on a talent show

Brilliant!

Wow haken this is fresh and amazing... I totally love it!

See you in Montreal this Friday Haken!!! Can't wait!!

That 1985 revisit is too good.

I totally replaced dream theater with haken. lovely work.

I LOVE this song

What a great band. First song I heard from them, and I can already tell.

This song was the one from their collection with enough initial firecracking power to draw me into their genius And for that this one will always hold high in my Haken list It lured me in to listen to the rest, and surely the rest is pure melodic greatness From the poetic, storylike Aquarius To the more mysterious, deep Visions To the oddball that is the mountain To the facesmacking power of Affinity

Been on replay for 2days straight... insanely excited!

Awesome!!! Haken is Greate!

[Bridge 1] Close your eyes, stand your ground Face the wind, never looking back [Verse 2] The ancient prophecy unfolded Distracted minds ignored the warnings Confronting facts to prove the fiction Right to the point of mass extinction We flirted with the edge of darkness Offered ourselves unto the harvest The shepherd led, we blindly followed Into the world of no tomorrow [Bridge 2] Break me down to pieces, and strip me of my freedom (Down back I fall) I fall back on my instincts, but never know the reason why (Never knowing why) All hope disappearing gives the power of healing (All hope is gone) I'll walk among the breathing, but never understand what it means (Never understand what it means) [Refrain 1] We need a story to believe in We need a hero to prevail [Instrumental Break/Guitar Solo] [Bridge 3] Our design, shifted frame by frame Across the line, our cycle starts to fail Our design, shifted frame by frame (Our design, shifted frame by frame) Across the line, we die to live again [Refrain 2] We need a story to believe in We need a hero to prevail We need a challenge we can overcome It takes a tragedy to make us one