10 Best Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Albums Of 2018
6. Haken – Vector
It should be written into law that every person on the planet must, once they reach adulthood, have listened to Haken’s Vector at least once. The realm of progressive metal is one criminally overlooked by the average music consumer and this album has the power to transform that.
Vector is without doubt a full-bodied progressive metal release, taking cues from genre mavens like Dream Theater and Leprous. But it is also an incredibly accessible disc for newcomers, boasting mighty choruses, pop-flavoured song-writing and angelic vocal performances. Despite their mathematical instrumentation and conceptual nature, the songs “The Good Doctor” and “A Cell Divides” would not at all feel out of place on mainstream rock radio. These singles give a heavy, intellectual flair to many a pop music mainstay – enough to lure newcomers in and get them onboard for wackier tracks like the instrumental “Nil by Mouth” or the lengthy-yet-harmonic “Puzzle Box”.
Both for those familiar and unfamiliar with progressive metal, Vector is a fun ride from start to finish. While genre loyalists can cling to the album’s narrative and complexity, others will find themselves humming along to its chipper refrains and catchy guitars.