Haken

Haken are a British progressive metal band formed in London in the mid-2000s, built around a core of school friends including guitarist and keyboardist Richard Henshall and vocalist Ross Jennings. The band's lineup expanded to include keyboardist Diego Tejeida, guitarist Charlie Griffiths, bassist Conner Green, and drummer Ray Hearne, and this configuration drove much of their most acclaimed work. Signed to Sensory Records early on and later to InsideOut Music, Haken quickly became one of the standard-bearers of the modern progressive metal revival.

Musically, the band draws on a wide lineage running from Rush and Kansas through symphonic and Italian progressive rock, combined with heavier, more contemporary djent-influenced riffing. Albums such as Aquarius, Visions, and The Mountain established their reputation for ambitious, multi-part compositions, while later releases like Affinity and Vector showed a willingness to fold in synth-heavy, 80s-tinged textures without abandoning their technical foundation. Tracks like «Cockroach King», «1985», and «The Architect» are frequently cited as highlights of their catalog.

Haken has built a devoted international following through relentless touring and a reputation for musicianship that balances technical complexity with genuine songwriting and emotional weight, placing them alongside bands like Leprous and TesseracT at the forefront of contemporary progressive metal.