Restoration (EP)
{{Infobox album
| name = Restoration
| type = EP
| artist = Haken
| cover = Restorations_by_Haken.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|df=y|2014|10|27}}
| recorded = 2014
| venue =
| studio = The Crypt (London)
| genre = {{hlist|Progressive metal|progressive rock}}
| length = 33:59
| label = Inside Out Music
| producer = Haken
| prev_title = The Mountain
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = Affinity
| next_year = 2016
}}
Restoration is an EP by English progressive metal band Haken, that was released on 27 October 2014 through Inside Out Music. It is the first release of the band to feature bassist Conner Green and the second with producer and mixer Jens Bogren, who did his job at his Fascination Street Studios.{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/haken-restoration-ep-due-in-november-artwork-tracklisting-revealed|title=Haken - Restoration EP Due In November; Artwork, Tracklisting Revealed|date=8 September 2014|website=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|accessdate=14 September 2014}}
Background and recording
The EP was announced on 8 September 2014 via Haken's Facebook page.{{cite web|last1=Martin|first=Kielty|title=Haken detail Restoration EP|url=http://prog.teamrock.com/news/2014-09-08/haken-detail-restoration-ep|website=Prog|publisher=Team Rock Limited|accessdate=8 September 2014|date=8 September 2014}} The EP's three tracks are reworked songs from their 2008 demo, Enter the 5th Dimension. Commenting on the option of reworking old tracks, guitarist Charlie Griffiths said:
{{blockquote|Merely re-recording the demo songs would have felt musically redundant and dishonest, since three of us [keyboardist Diego Tejeida; Green and Griffiths himself] didn't play on the original recordings. The band's sound has evolved considerably in the last few years so we used the demo tracks as a starting point and gave ourselves free {{sic|re|ign}} to reimagine them and make them relevant to who we are today. These are now the definitive versions and we couldn't be happier with how they turned out.}}
The ending song, "Crystallised"—which is based on the track "Snow", -- is 19 minutes long and features guest performances from guitarist Pete Rinaldi (Headspace) and drummer Mike Portnoy{{cite web|last=Mendiburu|first=César|title=New Haken EP set to launch, with a Mike Portnoy Cameo|url=http://mikeportnoywarriors.com/2014/09/09/mike-to-appear-with-a-cameo-on-new-haken-ep-restoration/|website=Mike Portnoy Warriors|accessdate=13 September 2014|date=9 September 2014}} (The Winery Dogs, Flying Colors, Dream Theater, ex-Adrenaline Mob). The band initially said Portnoy would not play the drums nor sing.{{cite web|title=Comment at Facebook post|url=https://www.facebook.com/HakenOfficial/posts/10152776367654744?comment_id=10152776419299744&offset=0&total_comments=60|website=Haken's official Facebook page|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=8 September 2014|date=8 September 2014}}
Commenting on Portnoy's guest performance, drummer Raymond Hearne said:
{{blockquote|Mike Portnoy has been very generous with his support for the band since we released The Mountain last year. As if the man wasn't busy enough, we thought it would be nice to feature a little cameo performance from him (just for a bit of fun really) and it's flattering to now be at the stage where a musician of Mike's calibre is so willing to get involved with six guys who have always been great admirers of his music.}}
The band later promoted a contest in which people were invited to guess what Portnoy did in the song. They then announced the winner and revealed that Portnoy played the gong a few seconds before the end of the track.{{cite web|title=Crystallised contest winner|url=http://hakenmusic.com/blog/post/crystallised-competition-winner|website=Haken official website|accessdate=30 November 2014}}
On September 24, the band released a promotional video for "Darkest Light". The song is based on the track "Blind",{{cite web|author=CROMCarl|title=New Music Video "Darkest Light" Released By Haken|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=106555|website=Metal Underground|accessdate=27 September 2014|date=24 September 2014}} originally clocking at 11:40. According to Hearne, the band managed to produce a half as long version after cutting away "all the excess fat". Both songs serve as the opening track of their respective releases.
The song "Earthlings" is based on the demo "Black Seed".
Track listing
{{track listing
| all_music = Richard Henshall, Ross Jennings, Raymond Hearne, Charlie Griffiths, Diego Tejeida and Conner Green
| title1 = Darkest Light
| lyrics1 = Ross Jennings
| length1 = 6:44
| title2 = Earthlings
| lyrics2 = Raymond Hearne
| length2 = 7:52
| title3 = Crystallised
| lyrics3 = {{hlist|Hearne|Charlie Griffiths|Richard Henshall}}
| note3 = featuring Pete Rinaldi and Mike Portnoy
| length3 = 19:23
| total_length = 33:59
}}
Personnel
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
;Haken
- Ross Jennings – lead vocals
- Richard Henshall – guitars, keyboards
- Charlie Griffiths – guitars
- Conner Green – bass
- Diego Tejeida – keyboards, sound design
- Raymond Hearne – drums, backing vocals
{{col-3}}
;Additional Musicians
- Pete Rinaldi – acoustic guitar {{small|(track 3)}}
- Mike Portnoy – gong {{small|(track 3)}}
{{col-3}}
;Production and design
- Jerry Guidroz – recording {{small|(gong)}}
- Anthony Leung – recording {{small|(drums)}}
- Jens Bogren – mixing, mastering
- Blacklake – artwork, design
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Haken}}
{{Authority control}}