In a Fever Dream (stylised in lower-case) is the second studio EP by British progressive metal band Haken, released on 17 July 2026 through Inside Out Music.
It is the first release since 2008's Enter the 5th Dimension to not feature Charlie Griffiths, and the first since The Mountain to not feature Conner Green, who both left the band in January 2026. It is the first release to feature an outside producer, bringing in George Lever, primarily known for his work with Sleep Token.
The EP's first single, "In a Fever Dream", was released without prior notice on 21 May 2026 and features a guest appearance by The Aristocrats bassist Bryan Beller. A second single, "bleeding sky" was released on 11 June 2026, featuring Adam "Nolly" Getgood on bass, who had previously worked with them for mixing on Vector and Virus. Along with the single, the band also announced a European headline tour for the autumn of 2026. A third single, "delirium", was released on 17 July 2026, as well as officially announcing the EP's release date.
The EP was announced with the tagline "reflection / rediscovery, challenge / renewal".
Background and production According to an interview with Richard Henshall, the EP was designed to serve as a snapshot of where the band and its members were in their lives, following the departure of Griffiths and Green. It also came from a desire to make a full record built around the more streamlined songs in their catalogue, citing the songs "Deathless" from Visions, "Somebody" from The Mountain, and "Canary Yellow" from Virus as examples. The EP was written and recorded with a more improvised manner, with much of the writing being done in the form of jam sessions.
While writing the album, there was a desire to create a more homogenous sound amongst each member's contributions.
According to Henshall, "in a fever dream" and "lotus" were originally written as one song, but were split, citing a desire to give the EP a more cyclical feeling. Henshall cites rock band Radiohead as the primary inspiration for "eclipsed by you".
About the EP, the band commented:
The album's artwork is "The Last Moonlight", an acrylic painting by Georgian painter Vaxo Lang, known for his extreme horror artworks.
Reception The EP has received lukewarm to positive reviews from critics. The Progressive Subway gave the EP a 5 out of 10, lamenting the change in sound, stating: "Frighteningly, the next album in the new era may see your favorite "second coming of Dream Theater" band turn into Sleep Token, with Haken continuing to chase a sound that's currently popular." Dom Lawson from Blabbermouth was more positive, regarding the EP as "both a brave step away from the expected and a strident consolidation of everything that the band have achieved to date. Ingenious and classy, as ever." The PROG Mind gave the EP a 10 out of 10, praising it for its darker tone and more direct sound. Steve Joyce from The Prog Report was mildly positive, stating: "Does the music on this EP rival the heights of albums such as Visions, The Mountain and Fauna? Arguably not. Is the EP an entertaining release in its own right with plenty for all genre fans to enjoy? Certainly. Does Haken’s future look bright? Absolutely!"
Track listing
Personnel
Haken Ross Jennings – lead vocals Richard Henshall – guitars Peter Jones – keyboards, synthesizers Raymond Hearne – drums
Additional musicians Bryan Beller - bass (tracks 1, 5) Adam "Nolly" Getgood - bass (tracks 2, 4)
Production and design George Lever - producer Vaxo Lang - artwork
References