New Prog Releases: Ayreon “The Theory of Everything”

Monday, October 28, 2013

Ayreon “The Theory of Everything”

Country: Netherlands
Sub Genre: Rock opera, Progressive Metal
Label: InsideOut
Release date: October 28, 2013
Tracklist:
Disc I
01. Phase I: Singularity - 23:29
1 - Prologue: The Blackboard
2 - The Theory Of Everything [Part I]
3 - Patterns
4 - The Prodigy's World
5 - The Teacher's Discovery
6 - Love And Envy
7 - Progressive Waves
8 - The Gift
9 - The Eleventh Dimension
10 - Inertia
11 - The Theory Of Everything [Part II]
02. Phase II: Simmetry - 21:31
1 - The Consultation
2 - Diagnosis
3 - The Argument I
4 - The Rival's Dilemma
5 - Surface Tension
6 - A Reason To Live
7 - Potential
8 - Quantum Chaos
9 - Dark Medicine
10 - Alive!
11 - The Prediction

Disc II
01. Phase III: Entanglement - 22:34
1 - Fluctuations
2 - Transformation
3 - Collision
4 - Side Effects
5 - Frequency Modulation
6 - Magnetism
7 - Quid Pro Quo
8 - String Theory
9 - Fortune?
02. Phase IV: Unification - 22:20
1 - Mirror Of Dreams
2 - The Lighthouse
3 - The Argument II
4 - The Parting
5 - The Visitation
6 - The Breakthrough
7 - The Note
8 - The Uncertainty Principle
9 - Dark Energy
10 - The Theory Of Everything [Part III]
11 - The Blackboard [reprise]

Line-up:
Arjen Anthony Lucassen – electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, mandolin, analog synthesizers,
Hammond, Solina Strings
Ed Warby (Hail of Bullets, Gorefest) – drums
Rick Wakeman (Yes) – keyboards
Keith Emerson (Emerson Lake and Palmer) – keyboards
Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) – keyboards
Steve Hackett (Genesis) – lead guitar
Troy Donockley (Nightwish) – Whistles, Uilleann pipes
Ben Mathot (Dis) – violin
Maaike Peterse (Kingfisher Sky) – cello
Jeroen Goossens (Flairck) – flute, bass flute, piccolo, bamboo flute and contrabass flute
Siddharta Barnhoorn – orchestrations
Michael Mills (Toehider) – Irish Bouzouki
Wilmer Waarbroek – backing vocals
Vocals:
JB (Grand Magus) as The Teacher
Sara Squadrani (Ancient Bards) as The Girl
Michael Mills (Toehider) as The Father
Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil) as The Mother
Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder) as The Prodigy
Marco Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot) as The Rival
John Wetton (Asia, King Crimson) as The Psychiatrist

Description/Reviews:

"Prologue: The Blackboard" kicks things off like any good epic should…at the seashore. Wind, waves, seagulls and the pounding surf. Ready for the journey? No blast off into space this time. No, this trip takes place on earth, through the mind of Man. A man. A Prodigy who can assemble the world's mathematical equations and algorithms unlike anyone before him. Janne "JB" Christoffersson, "The Teacher" opens the story, "Will we ever understand this complex genius? This visionary thinker?" Sara Squadrani, as "The Girl", sings, "Will we ever understand his isolation or his sense of wonder?" The left and right brain introduced, as deep bass chords, keyboards, acoustic guitar and whispering voices fill the soundscape. Meanwhile the traditional Aryeon theme drifts off to sea.