[size=-1]I know, I know, its a weird title. Let me explain. What is your current favorite among the albums you recently bought? It must be a recent album, 2004 album [no re-release please!] and no more than two months ago released. Like in absolutely, surly frigging, shining NEW!!! Never released before!
Also please explain why you like it so much.
I'll give it a go:
Ayreon - The Human Equation.
Ayreon is a project of Dutch guitar player Arjen Anthony Lucassen.
Before you think, "o no another project", you must know that Arjen recorded his first project in 1995 when nobody else had ever been doing stuff like this.
What is Ayreon? Well, Arjen invites several singers to perform on his album and he and his drummer Ed Warby play most of the music. On this album Arjen also invited a few musicians.
When the singers arrive Arjen has already written and recorded most of the music, written the lyrical concept and sang the guide vocals. Then he starts working with his guests.
For the "Human Equation" he invited:
James Labrie [Dream Theater] he "plays" the leading role
Mikael Akerfelt [Opeth]
Eric Clayton [Saviour Machine]
Heather Findlay [Mostly Autumn]
Irene Jansen [Karma]
Magnus Ekwall [The Quill]
Devon Graves [Dead Soul Tribe]
Marcela Bovio [Effonia]
Arjen Lucassen [Ayreon/Star One/Ambeon]
Mike Baker [Shadow Gallery]
Devin Townsend [Townsend and a lot of other projects]
Musicians used:
Ed Warby/Drums [Gorefest]
Martin Orford/Key's [IQ]
Ken Hensley/Key's [Uriah Heep]
Oliver Wakeman/Key's [Oliver Wakeman]
Joost van den Broek [Ex-Sun Caged now After Forever]
Now what about the music Hawk!!???
Yea yea, were getting there.
The music spans the continuum of folk, rock, Progressive rock, hard rock, metal and even some death metal moments! But it is always emotional and there's a constant old school feeling [70s and 80s] all through this album. It expresses the story line very well. Since everybody is invited to participate, everyone gets a chance to shine. The vocal lines are written with the particular singer in mind. There's no "battle of the ego's" here. He wants to give every their opportunity to excel.
Coupled with the storyline of a man that lies in a coma and is evaluating his life the music is a perfect fit. Most of the singers represent a specific emotion inside the main characters head. I have heard other projects that tried to do this and they miserably failed. It can be quite messy when that happens. But Arjen succeeded in a big way. This is a very emotional album. The emotions portrayed are so recognizable that it is hard not to be touched by it. After you read the story you will become part of what is happening.
I guess thats the biggest compliment I can give Arjen. This is his best record and it could be come a desert island disc for me. Its still growing on me.
if you want your music to be intelligent and emotional at the same time, if you want the lyrics to touch you and make you reflect on your life, if you like to be musically surprised by unexpected twists in a song. Then get your ass out of that chair and RUN to your local record shop. Ayreon's "The Human Equation" is a killer album and a must have for every serious rock/hard rock and metal freak!
Here's the info page:
http://www.ayreon.com/thehumanequation/
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Also please explain why you like it so much.
I'll give it a go:
Ayreon - The Human Equation.
Ayreon is a project of Dutch guitar player Arjen Anthony Lucassen.
Before you think, "o no another project", you must know that Arjen recorded his first project in 1995 when nobody else had ever been doing stuff like this.
What is Ayreon? Well, Arjen invites several singers to perform on his album and he and his drummer Ed Warby play most of the music. On this album Arjen also invited a few musicians.
When the singers arrive Arjen has already written and recorded most of the music, written the lyrical concept and sang the guide vocals. Then he starts working with his guests.
For the "Human Equation" he invited:
James Labrie [Dream Theater] he "plays" the leading role
Mikael Akerfelt [Opeth]
Eric Clayton [Saviour Machine]
Heather Findlay [Mostly Autumn]
Irene Jansen [Karma]
Magnus Ekwall [The Quill]
Devon Graves [Dead Soul Tribe]
Marcela Bovio [Effonia]
Arjen Lucassen [Ayreon/Star One/Ambeon]
Mike Baker [Shadow Gallery]
Devin Townsend [Townsend and a lot of other projects]
Musicians used:
Ed Warby/Drums [Gorefest]
Martin Orford/Key's [IQ]
Ken Hensley/Key's [Uriah Heep]
Oliver Wakeman/Key's [Oliver Wakeman]
Joost van den Broek [Ex-Sun Caged now After Forever]
Now what about the music Hawk!!???
Yea yea, were getting there.
The music spans the continuum of folk, rock, Progressive rock, hard rock, metal and even some death metal moments! But it is always emotional and there's a constant old school feeling [70s and 80s] all through this album. It expresses the story line very well. Since everybody is invited to participate, everyone gets a chance to shine. The vocal lines are written with the particular singer in mind. There's no "battle of the ego's" here. He wants to give every their opportunity to excel.Coupled with the storyline of a man that lies in a coma and is evaluating his life the music is a perfect fit. Most of the singers represent a specific emotion inside the main characters head. I have heard other projects that tried to do this and they miserably failed. It can be quite messy when that happens. But Arjen succeeded in a big way. This is a very emotional album. The emotions portrayed are so recognizable that it is hard not to be touched by it. After you read the story you will become part of what is happening.
I guess thats the biggest compliment I can give Arjen. This is his best record and it could be come a desert island disc for me. Its still growing on me.
if you want your music to be intelligent and emotional at the same time, if you want the lyrics to touch you and make you reflect on your life, if you like to be musically surprised by unexpected twists in a song. Then get your ass out of that chair and RUN to your local record shop. Ayreon's "The Human Equation" is a killer album and a must have for every serious rock/hard rock and metal freak!
Here's the info page:
http://www.ayreon.com/thehumanequation/
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