D`Ayreon seventh album, The Theory Of Everything marks the beginning of a new concept different from the science fiction universe explored in Timeline and the previous albums (with the notable exception of The Human Equation). Tell how an autistic son but awesome (like Will Hunting) helps his father to develop the famous theory "at all" capable of describing unified way all the fundamental forces of physics priori seemed a good idea could lead some universal philosophical reflections. But declined so too prosaic and focusing primarily on passion conflicts and their consequences, history proves actually much simpler than it seems n`y. Like the legendary Tales From Topographic Oceans by Yes, The Theory Of Everything was originally conceived as a double album containing four long musical selections from more than twenty minutes each: 1) Singularity, 2) Symmetry, 3) Entanglement, and 4 ) Unification. But impulsively deciding to thumb his nose at the famous Rough Guide Galactic and its response to the Great Question of the Universe, Lukassen (one does not remake) truncated his work into 42 pieces, which in simplifies certainly not listening even if it helps those who wish to access more easily to specific passages. Otherwise, the principles that governed the achievement of previous games were met. Lukassen appealed to a pool of seven different singers to interpret the protagonists of his musical novel, among which we will pin John Wetton (Asia) in the role of the psychiatrist, Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil Imperial in the mother and especially Tommy Karevik (Seventh Wonder, Kamelot), whose unique voice literally gives life to the character of the prodigal son. He also invited musicians from all walks of Prog: Rick Wakeman (Yes), Keith Emerson (ELP), Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Troy Donockley (Iona, Nightwish) and Steve Hackett (Genesis) come and play modestly some notes that, while not essential either to drive or to their own history, however please their many fans. As for music, it is always this incredible patchwork metal, progressive rock, folk and electronic atmospheres that, over the album, became the glorious banner of Ayreon vessel. The Global Approach The Theory Of Everything, however, is more difficult than before: ideas and skits are linked at first as an unnecessarily complex formula, and if there is consistency, it probably will arise only after multiple attentive listening. In this regard, it is nevertheless telling that the first piece to be delivered over the net or a combination of two non-consecutive titles on CD: The Theory of Everything Part 1 & Part 2 (tracks 2 and 11). However, Arjen Lukassen is a demanding artist whose biggest concern is not to make fun of his audience: his album full of vengeful riffs, roboratives instrumental sections (Progressive Waves with Keith Emerson who found the sound of Lucky Man, Quantum Chaos, The Parting with Steve Hackett, ...) and refined melodies with a maniacal care while production, clearer and more transparent than d`habitude puts wonderfully enhance the voice and various instruments. Everything is packaged in a beautiful digipack with a booklet attractive, useful for tracking the story, and a cover designed by the Belgian artist Jef Bertels, in command of all the covers from Ayreon Into The Electric Castle. In the end, everyone will have his own opinion on this ambitious rock opera but know that this opinion probably fluctuate greatly depending on the time and attention they like well give it.
