Ayreon is one of many projects by Dutch musician Arjen Lucassen. For this double CD, he has once again rounded up more or less well-known guest stars, with Arjen plays almost all the instruments himself and mainly relies on singers. "The Human Equation" is how the prog rock almost customary, a concept album. It's time for a man who is in a coma after a car accident. "Agony" "Pride" "Love" "Rage" and so on: in his mind haunted by ghostly voices His wife and his "best friend" who secretly having an affair, try it - maybe - to recall to life. Musically the double album is complex, but without being too confusing constructed. Beautiful folk melodies alternate with hard rock riffs. Some melodies attach themselves only after repeated listening - but then all the more intense (such as "Day 2: Isolation"). Quick access can be found to the brilliant melodic tracks like "Day 6: Childhood", "Day 7: Hope", "Day 13: Sign" or the brute "Day 16: Loser". At the end I would have liked a little "pompöseres" finale, a "anthemic" conclusion, a summary of the musical themes. So this CD ends with "Day 20: Confrontation" but relatively inconsequential. What's a hassle behind everything that you can on the included DVD viewing. There is extensive "making of" with presentation of the guest singers, a video of the single "Day 11: Love" and several small movies (total around 65 minutes). Prima.