HAKEN was awarded the 2019 UK Band of the Year at the Prestigious Prog Awards. In 2014, Henshall joined forces with Between the Buried and Me’s bassist Dan Briggs and Trioscapes/Cynic drummer Matt Lynch and formed Nova Collective. Together, they wrote the critically acclaimed album The Further Side, (Metal Blade, 2017) which draws influences from the likes of Chick Corea and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. In 2017, Henshall, alongside his HAKEN bandmates, featured in “Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress”, performing the songs of Dream Theater for a year of very special shows around the world.
As a self-taught guitarist, Henshall was particularly inspired by the fretboard skills and contrasting techniques of players like Guthrie Govan, Robert Fripp, and Jonny Greenwood. His eclectic playing style ranges from dense polyrhythmic riffage to delicate minimalistic passages and everything in between. He was featured in Music Radar’s “11 best prog guitarist in the world right now” and Guitar World’s “15 of prog-rocks best guitarists through the years”.
Richard received his first Boden 8-string in 2014 and instantly fell in love with the fluency and versatility of the instrument. He has since been using a range of our instruments in the studio and on tours around the world with his various projects. In 2019, the multi-instrumentalist and composer completed work on his ambitious debut solo album, The Cocoon, which features Henshall’s trademark guitar and keyboard playing throughout and marks his debut performance as a lead vocalist.
The multi-layered, richly textured album represents four years of creative input from Henshall and draws inspiration from artists such as Bon Iver, Meshuggah, and Tigran Hamasyan, resulting in his most ambitious and eclectic work to date. World Prog Nation described it as “a complete creative exploration that defines the musical and creative identity of one of the most talented composers and musicians in progressive music today.”
A unique and versatile 8-string tone monster for the prog-metal virtuoso of Haken
Boden NX 8 Richard Henshall Edition
His vision of what an ideal Boden 8-string would be – conceptually, visually, and sonically.
Designed and developed with Richard Henshall of the trailblazing prog-metal outfit Haken from London, UK, the Boden NX 8 Richard Henshall Edition is as unique, inspiring, and versatile as the band’s kaleidoscopic amalgamation of progressive, extreme metal, jazz, classical, electronic, and rock that has garnered a growing diehard international fanbase. Featuring a chambered Basswood body with Maple top and Ziricote veneer, Maple neck with Birdseye Maple fretboard with the special “Hen” inlay on the first fret, custom wood knobs, angled Lundgren M8 humbuckers with a push-pull coil tap tone knob, this instrument stands out from the crowd aesthetically, conceptually, and sonically. From pulverizing metal riffs to searing leads and sparkling clean single-coil rhythm to warm fat-bodied humbucker tones, the Boden 8 Richard Henshall can pummel and scream or purr while responding with uncompromising accuracy and sensitivity to your most aggressive pick attack or the most subtle nuances of your playing.
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