Introducing Haken, one of the most exciting sounds to emerge from the modern progressive movement. Formed in 2007, Haken is a virtuoso and eclectic progressive rock/metal band from London, England, comprising some of the country's finest young musicians.


Within months of their first show in July 2007, Haken were billed in support of Riverside (Inside Out) at Camden’s prestigious Underworld. Since then they have performed headlining sets to packed houses around London, including several sold-out shows at "the best live music venue in south-west London", The Peel in Kingston, and on the strength of these performances Haken were selected to open for King’s X (Inside Out) at The Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton and at Camden’s impressive Electric Ballroom in January 2009. Haken is fast becoming well respected within the British metal community, and its unique and imaginative genre-bending approach has earned praise from all corners of the globe.

Haken were honoured and excited to be invited to share the stage as the main support for Bigelf on their first UK tour in October 2009, culminating in a sold out show at The Camden Barfly.

The members of Haken are established in their respective fields. Richard Henshall (guitars/keyboards) - aka Hen’s fret-board mastery is admired and respected amongst London's guitar-elite. Hen’s keyboard skills were recently employed by fellow prog-metal band To-Mera in support of Pain of Salvation and Adagio. He has been a full time member of To-Mera since November 2007. Hen lives in a fantasy realm they call Nevrend, in a deep underground cave where he can create his music in peace.

Charlie Griffiths’ (guitar) projects (past and present) include Linear Sphere, in support of Dream Theater and Cynic, also runners-up in the 2002 Dream Theater song-writing competition, and Anchorhead, personally acclaimed by Mike Portnoy. Charlie teaches at London's Guitar Institute and writes for globally published Guitar Technique and Total Guitar magazines. Charlie is the legal guardian of the remaining members of Haken. During Spring, he enjoys going down to the river to catch as many salmon as he possibly can.

Tom MacLean (bass guitar) studied jazz guitar at Trinity College of Music and is also the guitarist and writer in To-Mera with the additional experience of supporting Emperor and Dream Theater. Tom enjoys long horse-back treks through Scandinavian mountain ranges in search of villagers to rape and pillage.

Ray Hearne (drums) studies at the Guildhall School of Music. Ray won the 2008 'Origin8' national composition competition and consequently worked alongside producers associated with Kano, U.N.K.L.E. and Queens of the Stone Age. Ray is also a phenomenal tuba player and enjoys arranging and orchestrating sections of Haken's music for instruments usually unheard of in rock/metal music. Ray enjoys being a massive bell-end.

Ross Jennings (vocals) has served many unsigned UK bands. Ross is respected for his charismatic stage presence and diverse range of vocal styles which he uses to execute his words with clarity and passion. He is particularly well known for his ability to eat large amounts of dirty southern fried chicken before singing to really enhance his unique cowboy vocals.

Diego Tejeida is a keyboard maestro, composer and producer from Mexico, based in London. He enjoys nothing more than to sit back on a sleazy brown leather armchair with a glass of tequila in one hand, and a slice of Texican pizza in the other.

March 2010 - Haken's debut album was mixed in Germany at Spacelab Studios (Delain, Everon, Wolverine) by Christian Moos and mastered in Germany at Eroc's Mastering Ranch. Graphics were created by Dennis Sibeijn at Damn Engine to tie in specifically with the Aquarius story.

Ken Golden the owner and MD of Laser's Edge said this about Aquarius:

'Haken’s Aquarius arrived from the factory today. Looks and sounds great. Eroc did a great job mastering this sonic beast. The band melds metal with progressive rock, drawing influences from contemporary bands like Dream Theater and Shadow Gallery as well as "old school" icons Genesis and Queen. Aquarius is their debut release - a 72 minute, larger than life conceptual sci-fi/fantasy work filled with bombastic keyboard flourishes, stunning vocals, and lethal guitar work.’

The album has received excellent reviews in Europe, Japan and The States.

We opened for The Diablo Swing Orchestra at The Camden Underworld in May 2010.

We played DAY 2 of PROGPOWER EUROPE 2010 on 2nd October in Baarlo Holland - with the legendary Shadow Gallery headlining.
www.progpower.eu

We played DAY 2 at SUMMER’S END 2010 on 9th October in Lydney Gloucestershire - sharing the stage with Karmakanic and Agents of Mercy, [featuring Roine Stolt - the Flower Kings, Transatlantic - and Jonas Reingold - The Flower Kings] plus Unitopia and Ark.
www.summersend.co.uk

We played a show on November 12th with the legendary and insane Freak Kitchen at The Camden Underworld.
www.theunderworldcamden.co.uk

We played at FUSED the new UK progressive metal festival at Lydney, Glos' in April 2011, alongside Threshold and Vanden Plas.
www.fusedfestival.com

We had an epic weekend playing with DREAM THEATER, ANATHEMA, VANDEN PLAS and IQ at NIGHT OF THE PROG 6 at the stunning LORELEY AMPHITHEATRE on the River Rhine in Germany- in front of an amazing, enthusiastic and supportive crowd.
www.wiventertainment.com/projekte/21-notp.html

We are also booked for our first USA show at PROGPOWER USA XII in Atlanta September 14-17 - 2011
www.progpowerusa.com

The weekend after PPUSA we head to Germany again - to Nuremberg - for GENERATION PROG with ANDROMEDA, EXIVIOUS and RELOCATOR. September 23/24 2011.
www.facebook.com/GenerationProg

Thanks again for your interest - it means a lot to us.

HAKEN