First Guess the vocalist for the new Ayreon

[caex]

Arjen has released the first video for guessing the vocalist for the new album Theory of Everything:



Post your guess on his facebook for a chance to win a prize:

https://www.facebook.com/ArjenLucassenOfficial

 

[Mardoch]

Sounds like Marco to me.

 

[J-Man]

It is Marco Hietala

 

[labarum]

The fact that this video's title is guess the vocalist 1 makes me giddy with joy.
I hope it goes up to guess the vocalist 200.

I think I could recognize that voice anywhere.

 

[Diab0lique]

The final SEVENTH singer, and lead...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=p-NSTJafPDs

*DIES*

 

[Mardoch]

This album is going to be so incredible.

<3 Tommy so much.

 

[TENTH DREAMER DECEIVER]

Surprised no one is talking about the new one. Hope the cd/DVD turns up before the weekend.

 

[Bamafan]

Just started listening to it. Might take a day or two.

 

[Oblivion Ocean]

Just started listening to it. Might take a day or two.

Or ten.....

While I admit I need to give it more time, so far after some listens it is a bit of an impenetrable mess for me. Yes there are some great performances and parts, but as a whole it just too much and a little too familiar.

 

[spag]

Or ten.....

While I admit I need to give it more time, so far after some listens it is a bit of an impenetrable mess for me. Yes there are some great performances and parts, but as a whole it just too much and a little too familiar.

This is sort of where I'm at with it. There is some great stuff on here, but it gets lost in a lot of songs that are indifferentiable. I kept having to look at the track numbers to figure out where I was in the album. As far as the familiarness of it. It's Ayreon, and it's never really breaking new ground and that's ok. The whole sound is one I crave, and why I still listen to all the albums regularly after all these years. What I did want was a new story to wrap my head around, and it's been hard to get into.

 

[Comic Book Dude]

It's Arjen....it's awesome.
This is not my favorite of the Ayreon projects, but it's still a terrific listen to me....I would rank it with The Human Equation (The Dream Sequencer and 01011001 are my favorites).

 

[TENTH DREAMER DECEIVER]

Haven't spent much time with it. Arrived on Friday and I had it on the iPod walking around downtown Montreal. Nice exhibition of Canaletto paintings at the Montreal Museum of Fine Art btw. This weekend will be the couch, coffee, donuts and the 2cd/DVD

 

[Bamafan]

After giving it a few spins, I like it more than any previous Ayreon project. It feels warmer and more analog than other releases.

 

[zekeyou]

I am having a difficult time not cringing at the lyrics a good chunk of the time...

 

[MetalAges]

After fully digesting this one, I file it into my Ayreon "genius" folder (along with Into the Electric Castle and Universal Migrator releases).

It took me a listen or so to get the vocalists/roles down and once they are the lyrics work well for me. having never heard of Michael Mills before - I was floored. I checked out his Toehider material and it's not too bad - but his vocals on Ayreon are amazing. I would hope Arjen pulls him to the side and works on another project with him. I was also surprised how well Christina Scabbia did! Just like Michael I think Arjen allowed her to take her voice to another level.

All in all - killer release!

 

[spag]

I heard a good interview with Arjen about the album, and it put a few things in perspective. It's not nearly as structured a story as Human Eq, but by design. If you've listened to the title track for "Lost In The New Real", you can see where he started from. He wanted the new album to be similar to it.

Here it is: