Haken guitarist Richard Henshall talks Harry Guerin through the progressive metallers' new album Virus - and that title.
Did you worry about the album title and, if so, was there much debate about changing it?
Richard Henshall: We always knew Vector [2018 album] and Virus would act as a double album and even had the titles in mind as far as two years ago. It was a pretty unfortunate coincidence that the Covid outbreak hit just as we were about to embark on the promotional campaign for the album. I mean, what are the chances that we'd be releasing an album called Virus at the same time as the only major pandemic outbreak we've experienced in our lifetime?! Since the artwork, lyrics and album master were all good to go by the time we went into lockdown, we didn't really have a chance to change things, even if we wanted to. Thankfully, the virus we're alluding to is metaphorical, so hopefully our fans should be able to separate the two.
Virus links to the narrative on your last album, Vector. For new arrivals, please tell us the story.
The lyrics on Vector and Virus tell the story of the protagonist from our song Cockroach King, which is a track from our 2013 album The Mountain. For me, it's always been a song that stood out from the rest of the album, largely due to its quirky nature. The song contains musical and conceptual themes that we felt had potential to be revisited on a larger scale, and this felt like the right time to do it. On top of this, we talk about psychotherapy in a broader sense on Vector, and deal with the various negative aspects to human nature of society on Virus. Prosthetic is the opening track on Virus and acts like a summary of the story to that point, which helps bridge the gap between both albums. The protagonist in our story works his way to his own destruction as the album progresses.
Which came first, the music or the lyrics?
Typically, we write the music first then add the lyrics after. Whilst we're working on the music we'll often include potential vocal lines, which will often help steer the rhythmic flow of the lyrics. We had a loose narrative in place before we started on the music, which most certainly helped guide the general shape of the albums as we were writing.
As regards the writing and recording process, what is the dynamic between the six of you - gentle nudge or tough love or somewhere in between?
It's important that we're all accommodating to each other's ideas, otherwise things could naturally get a little overheated. We've tried the tough love approach in the past, but it ended up being counter-productive and detrimental to the whole process, so we've settled with a more diplomatic approach for these two albums. It's all about being willing to compromise a little and let your ideas grow into something new. For me, that's the beauty of collaboration.
What song caused the most sleepless nights this time around?
Definitely Messiah Complex! I'm sure it'll cause many more sleepless nights getting it ready for our live shows. We started on this one during the Vector writing sessions, so we've been sitting on the bulk of it for around two years. Tying up all of the different themes and ideas across both albums was pretty tricky, but I'm glad we put the time into it as it's now probably one of my favourite Haken tracks.
What were the books, films and other records that you feel helped channel the energy for Virus and its story?
A Clockwork Orange was a source of inspiration for both albums. We even did the Vector photo shoot at a spot where one of the scenes of the film was shot. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson deserves a mention - that was the primary source of inspiration behind Cockroach King. The Great Gatsby is another one as it illustrates the rags-to-riches narrative we were trying to convey perfectly.
How do you think the relationships in the band evolved over the making of this album?
We finalised a lot of the arrangements on the road together whilst on tour with Devin Townsend. We set up the back room of the bus as a makeshift studio and brainstormed a bunch of vocal ideas throughout the tour. It was such a fun time. The process really brought us together as a band and essentially helped us tie together a bunch of loose ends in the arrangements. I'm sure we'll explore this approach further on future releases.
With the album coming out at such an uncertain time, what has been your approach to future plans?
Naturally, it's tricky to make any concrete plans at the moment with the music industry being in a state of limbo. We're hoping to get out on the road next year to take this music to the stage, but that all depends... In the meantime, we'll probably use this free time to start on some new musical ideas.
It is such an uplifting record musically and really encourages the listener to get moving - walking, running, looking to the future. Do you think you get enough credit for the positivity in your sound?
Virus is pretty relentless at times, so I can totally see how it would get people moving. Let's hope it has the same effect at our shows! It's great to hear that our Virus is having a positive effect. We're often told by our fans that our music has helped them through difficult patches, which is an extremely humbling and affirming thing to hear as a composer. It really does mean the world to me. Music can be a very powerful tool. We’ve always tried to maintain a positive outlook when it comes to Haken, so I'm glad to hear that it's being conveyed in our music.
In terms of staying positive, what has been your strategy in recent months?
I've been busy working on a new creative project with my wife, Sevcan. She's an artist and is working on a collection of work based around the Wood Wide Web. It deals with the idea that all trees are connected beneath our feet in a giant fungal network. The concept got the musical cogs turning in my head, so I've decided to write a collection of songs to go side by side with the artwork. Aside from that, I've been trying to squeeze in some jogging and exercise when possible, which I've found is good way to decompress after a long session in my studio. I've also been doing a lot of reading and am currently working my way through Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy. Since I'm an avid fan of fantasy novels I thought I'd try my hand at Dungeons and Dragons with a bunch of friends online. It's been a fun way to keep in touch with people.
Did you notice more interaction online with fans over this time period?
Me and my Haken bandmates recently set up a Twitch account and have hosted some Q&A sessions along with a couple of talks about the writing process of Virus. It's been a great way to stay connected with our fans whilst being stuck at home. Also, there's been a lot of people picking up their guitars again, so I've been busy teaching on Skype. Due to the remote nature of recording these days, I've also been lucky enough to fit in some session work for various people over the last couple of months.
Has everything that's happened of late changed your concept of success?
The recent events have definitely highlighted the fragility of society. The infrastructure that we've built around ourselves maybe isn't as strong as we once thought and can evidently fall to pieces quite easily. The music industry, along with almost everything else, has taken quite a hit and how it will be affected still remains to be seen. It almost certainly won't be unscathed. As a band and individuals, we've managed to adapt to the situation, so I'm sure our progress won't be hindered too much. I hope other bands are able to work out feasible ways to get through this mess.
If you had to pick one thing above all others that you hope people take away from Virus and incorporate in their lives what would it be?
I think is important to understand that we're all flawed in some way or another. People should embrace their flaws rather than pretend they don't exist.
Virus is out now on Inside Out Music.
