Ayreon - "The Human Equation"
 

i just picked up this album today, and i must say i am very impressed. it's a two disc concept album, telling the story of a person ("Me") who went into a coma after a mysterious accident, and is expierencing/struggling with all of his emotions in the flesh, while his wife and best friend look at his lifeless body wondering if he'll ever come to.

it's prog rock/metal, with some very impressive bits, but it's the "casting" idea that's the best part.

Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon founder) as "Best Friend"
Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) as "Fear"
Mike Baker (Shadow Gallery) as "Father"
Marcela Bovio (Elfonia) as "Wife"
Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine) as "Reason"
Magnus Ekwall (The Quill) as "Pride"
Heather Findlay (Mostly Autumn) as "Love"
Devon Graves (Dead Soul Tribe, Aslan) as "Agony"
Irene Jansen (Karma) as "Passion"
James LaBrie (Dream Theater) as "Me"
Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad, The Devin Townsend Band) as "Rage"


it's twenty songs at about and hour and forty minutes, and i enjoyed all but maybe a couple bland minutes. each of the vocalists fit their spots very well. i'd say check it out, you might enjoy it.

The line up is making me cry.

so lemme get this straight, its a band - Ayreon - with a massive concept album that has a bunch of different guest vocalist telling a story?

Wow!!!!! I don't even get into this style of music too much, and it still sounds like it should be off the hook.

Arjen Lucassen is the constant member of Ayreon, he plays all guitars (electric, acoustic, bass). the rest he gets tons of guests. there are a few other albums too, and he has quite an impressive list of guests from all of them.

Vocals: - Andi Deris (Helloween)
Vocals: - Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering)
Bass: - Armand van der Hoff (ex-Bodine)
Vocals: - Astrid van der Veen (The Endorphins)
Vocals: - Axel Joseph Langemeijer (ex-Bodine)
Vocals and Flute: - Barry Hay (Golden Earring)
Vocals: - Bruce ****inson (Iron Maiden)
Keyboard, Piano and Synths: - Cleem Determeijer (ex-Finch)
Keyboard and Synths: - Clive Nolan (Arena)
Vocals: - Damian Wilson (ex-Rick Wakeman, Treshold, Landmarq)
Vocals: - Dan Swanö (Nightingale, Edge of Sanity)
Vocals: - Dave Brock (Hawkwind)
Vocals: - Debby Schreuder
Vocals: - Devin Townsend (Devin Townsend Band, Strapping Young Lad)
Vocals: - Devon Graves (Dead Soul Tribe)
Cello: - Dewi Kerstens
Drums: - Ed Warby (ex-Gorefest)
Vocals: - Edward Reekers (ex-Kayak)
Vocals: - Edwin Balogh (ex-Omega)
Vocals: - Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine)
Drums: - Ernst van Ee (Trenody)
Violin: - Ernö Olah (Metropole Orchestra)
Flute: - Ewa Albering (ex-Quidam)
Vocals: - Fabio Lione (Rhapsody)
Vocals: - Fish (Fish, ex-Marillion)
Vocals: - Floor Jansen (After Forever)
Vocals: - Gary Hughes (Ten)
Guitar and Keyboard: - Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery)
Vocals: - George Oosthoek (Orphanage)
Drums: - Gerard Haitsma (ex-Bodine)
Vocals: - Heather Findlay (Mostly Autumn)
Vocals: - Ian Parry (Elegy)
Vocals: - Irene Jansen (Irene Jansen)
Sitar: - Jack Pisters
Vocals: - Jacqueline Govaert (Krezip)
Vocals: - James LaBrie (Dream Theater)
Bass: - Jan Bijlsma (ex-Vengeance)
Guitar: - Jan Somers (Vengeance)
Vocals: - Jan-Chris de Koeijer (ex-Gorefest)
Vocals: - Jay van Feggelen (ex-Bodine)
Keyboard: - Jens Johansson (Stratovarius)
Flutes, Didgeridoo, Treble recorder: - Jeroen Goossens
Vocals: - Johan Edlund (Tiamat)
Flutes: - John McManus (Celtus)
Drums: - John Snels (ex-Vengeance)
Bass: - Jolanda Verduijn
Keyboard Spinet and Synths: - Joost van den Broek (After Forever)
Hammond and Keyboard: - Keiko Kumagai (Ars Nova)
Hammond: - Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep)
Vocals: - Lana Lane
Vocals: - Lenny Wolf (Kingdom Come)
Vocals: - Leon Goewie (Vengeance)
Vocals: - Lucie Hillen
Vocals: - Magnus Ekwall (The Quill)
Vocals: - Marcela Bovio (Elfonía)
Cello: - Marieke van der Heyden
Vocals: - Mark McCrite (Rocket Scientists)
Synths: - Martin Orford (IQ, Jadis)
Drums: - Matt Oligschlager (ex-Vengeance)
Guitar: - Michael Romeo (Symphony X)
Vocals: - Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)
Vocals: - Mike Baker (Shadow Gallery)
Vocals: - Mirjam van Doorn
Vocals: - Mouse (Tuesday Child)
Vocals: - Neal Morse (ex-Spock’s Beard)
Vocals: - Okkie Huysdens
Synths: - Oliver Wakeman
Guitar: - Oscar Holleman (ex-Vengeance)
Violin: - Pat McManus (Celtus)
Lead and Rythym Guitar: - Peer Verschuren (ex-Vengeance)
Vocals: - Peter Daltrey (ex-Kaleidoscope)
Bass: - Peter Vink (ex-Finch)
Vocals: - Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear)
Hammond, Harpsichord and Keyboard: - René Merkelbach
Bass and Guitar: - Rheno Xeros (ex-Bodine)
Drums: - Rob Snijders (ex-Celestial Season)
Keyboard, Mellotron and Piano: - Robby Valentine (Valentine)
Violin: - Robert Baba
Vocals: - Robert Soeterboek (Wicked Sensation)
Vocals: - Robert Westerholt (Within Temptation)
Hammond: - Roland Bakker (ex-Vengeance)
Vocals: - Russell Allen (Symphony X)
Guitar and Vocals: - Ruud Houweling (Cloudmachine)
Vocals: - Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation)
Drums: - Stephen van Haestregt
Cello: - Taco Kooistra
Flute: - Thijs van Leer (Focus)
Vocals: - Timo Kotipelto (Stratovarius)
Keyboard: - Ton Scherpenzeel (Kayak)
Bass: - Walter Latupeirissa (Snowy White)

the different vocalists play out the different human characteristics on "The Human Equation" (i'm not entirely sure about the other Ayreon albums), and the Dream Theater guy is the human struggling with them, somtimes the characteristics struggling with themselves. most of the vocals are clean, except for Townsend ("Rage") and sometimes Åkerfeldt ("Fear").

This is probably one of the best albums ive heard in the last year...The concept is soooo awsome..the vocalists own..I even like James Labrie on this album

I've had this album for about a year now and it is absolutely awesome. All the vocalists do a great job, especially Mikael Akerfeldt, Devin Townsend and Marcela Bovio.

And like LesPaul said, James La Brie is actually bearable in this album. In fact, he's good.

Yes...the only way to Fully take in this album is to be reading the lyrics as the song is playing...it makes things a lot clearer as to whos singing at all times...the emotions etc

Cool, I was going to buy that album but I wasn't sure whether to buy that one or Univeral Migrator or something. Which Ayreon album is the best to start with?

This one...IMO Its the best album they've released

cool, I've heard a few Ayreon songs and they're really good, especially Carried By The Wind.

Great album! One of the best which I found in 2009.
It amazed me just after first listening... which is rare for me.