The new double album is the mysterious and equally ingenious called The Theory of Everything and comes with a relatively narrow LineUp therefore. Names like Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Steve Hackett (Genesis), Troy Donockle (NIGHTWISH) or Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) eliminate the possibility already suggests great things. The singers gave Arjen this time partially lesser known talents preference, but all make a really good performance and some roles were allocated in history. After Arjen admitted that the Ayreon universe was too complicated for The Human Equation and 01011001, he just missed this a reset and now launched a new story that takes place in a possible present and less opulent, but has failed just as profound.
So it's about a child prodigy, played by Tommy Karevik (KAMELOT), but has a certain lack of concentration. The story begins with the Prologue filmreif The Blackboard, which actually already is the end of history. A diaphragm back and it is pivoted to the youth or school by him. New AYREON universe is that Arjen is only four songs available, but come all over 20 minutes and are divided into about ten parts. So this fall from rather short and can last from 30 seconds to four minutes. Musically you start exciting and atmospheric immediately is Lucassen handwriting to identify and you will quickly be drawn into the Ayreon world that can be after a good 90 minutes later to leave. Beautiful piano sounds, fat synthesizers, Hammond organs, acoustic guitars, spaceige Parts, fat riffs, pumping drums, some folklore, and a thousand more elements, which are known from Ayreon in similar forms, can be found. But back to the story. The father, mimed by us rather unknown Michael Mills (TOEHIDER), is a scientist who has his son does not see the potential and has sworn to his work, while the anxious mother Cristina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL) of course is behind her son as well as the perfectly selected teachers Janne "JB" Christoffersson (GRAND MAGUS), which also serves as a mentor and friend, and the friend and later mistress (Sara Squadrani of acnient BARDS). Equally brilliant in his role as adversary shows Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT). The last in the dance is rock legend John Wetton (Asia) as a psychiatrist. You see, it does not always need a Bruce Dickinson, Damian Wilson, Jorn Lande or Russel Allen to guarantee an unforgettable listening experience.
Well, to prefer one of the four songs falls not only difficult, but begs out as impossible. All songs and their parts have their place and their very special moments, so we can perhaps mention individual parts, but also my favorite fluctuate from time to time - but we try. During the first part of Phase I: Singularity can be seen as an introduction and create many different moods, comes at The Teacher's Discovery for the first time creeps on. The dynamic between Tomy, JB and Marco is unique and is soon found in the ear. Musically you here with an oriental touch and ingenious drumming of Ed Warby (GOREFEST) a lot to offer. You can feel the crackle rivalry, envy and admiration formally. Love & Envy is his icy atmosphere and a wonderful experience, while the hustle The poison works directly upsetting. The Theory of Everything is perhaps the most inaccessible work of Ayreon, which is not necessarily on the progressivity itself, but rather the fact that hardly repeated a verse and rare musical elements are repeatedly taken up, if they do, but perfectly in scene set, as in the three parts of the title track.
Meanwhile, we are in Phase II: Symmetry. John Wetton makes a diagnosis and provides a drug that should help. Diagnosis shows John at his best and for the second time comes to goosebumps. Generally Arjen brings as always all of the singers out and displays from other sites, as we know otherwise. By singing dynamics also always comes back to opera and musical atmosphere. The drug itself rejects the mother, of course, from the Father but mixes them with the food of the wunderkind, thus following its full potential-free. That's all I want to the rousing story does not tell, except that it reminds me of movies like Limitless, Rain Man or A Beautiful Mind.
In between, there are also several interesting pieces that drive the plot very nicely even without vocals. If you delve into this, then you also realize why. Arjen should quickly be screenwriter and wake up the stagnant Hollywood. Properly intense it is in the second half with transformation, full of action with Collision and really heartbreaking with Side Effects again goosebumps! However, before it will be too extravagant, I come to the end and still would like to point to the emotional fireworks from the finals. The Parting, sadly, as the title suggests and The Breakthrough is the end again a roller coaster ride of emotions, while the last song "The Blackboard - Reprise" the listener can stand with my mouth open.
Arjen Lucassen has done it again, to create a masterpiece that has no equal. Comparisons with the previous guests are due to the musical and lyrical concept actually is not possible or would be almost blasphemous. The Theory of Everything is a masterpiece that although could work without his action also, but the listener would miss much good stuff, the symbiosis of text and music is unparalleled, and I do not want to miss. He does not only play with the psyche of his main character, but also effortlessly with the feelings of the listener. Thank Arjen!
