Down two members, Haken return in short form: five tracks, under thirty minutes, and one thorny question — what’s left of the band? For Blabbermouth (8/10), the answer is a « wholesale rebirth », « ingenious and classy, as ever ». The AOTY aggregate reads 80/100, but off a single indexed review — the full picture is more contrasted.
On one point, everyone signs off: the title track. Blabbermouth hears « arguably the most emotionally immoderate song that the Brits have yet recorded », with Ross Jennings at his peak; The Prog Report praises an EP « gratifyingly packed with Haken’s distinctive sound design, clever arrangements, superb musicianship and thrilling melodies ». « Delirium » with its insidious chorus, and the cinematic closer « Lotus », come up everywhere.
The fault line is identity. Sputnikmusic (3.5/5) calls this « easily the least Haken-y Haken release of the band’s career », drifting toward generic djent, and hears a transitional EP; The Prog Report finds « Bleeding Sky » lacking punch and the vocals sometimes buried in the mix. The public, at 70/100, tempers the enthusiasm without disowning it. A promising new chapter, not yet a masterpiece.