Arjen Anthony Lucassen’s highly anticipated solo album, Songs No One Will Hear, is out now on InsideOutMusic. To celebrate the album’s release, you can watch the video for “The Clock Ticks Down”, below.
True to Lucassen’s visionary style, the record delivers an eclectic journey — shifting from towering, epic soundscapes to lighter, more playful tracks — while exploring both the light and dark sides of human nature.
Guiding the album is narration from Mike Mills (Toehider) along with collaborators like Irene and Floor Jansen (Nightwish, After Forever), Robert Soeterboek, Marcela Bovio, and Patty Gurdy, adding depth to the album’s diverse sound.
Arjen Anthony Lucassen’s latest solo album, the apocalyptic Songs No One Will Hear, is set to be released in a month, on September 12th, 2025 on InsideOutMusic. Following the 2 epic singles “Our Final Song,” and “We’ll Never Know,” Arjen now shares the hard-rockin’ 3rd single titled “Goddamn Conspiracy.”
What would you do if you knew the world was ending in five months? ARJEN ANTHONY LUCASSEN offers the soundtrack to humanity’s final days with the apocalyptic solo album Songs No One Will Hear, due on September 12th, 2025 on InsideOutMusic.
Guiding the album is narration from Mike Mills (Toehider) along with collaborators like Irene and Floor Jansen, Robert Soeterboek, Marcela Bovio, and Patty Gurdy, adding depth to the album’s diverse sound!
Watch below “Our Final Song”, made by Arjen Lucassen, Elan Lopez, Dave Letelier and Lori Linstruth.
“Our Final Song” is the 15-minute epic finale of the album, offering an eclectic blend of musical styles, moving seamlessly from powerful, epic parts to lighter, more introspective ones. People who know they will die soon go through a broad spectrum of emotions like anger, regret, peace. Many people come together on Sanctuary Island, singing one final song. And in true Ayreon fashion there’s a sneaky little epilogue. You’ll have to figure that part out yourself!
Musicians: Irene Jansen – Backing and lead vocals Koen Herfst – Drums Joost Van Den Broek – Hammond Ben Mathot – Violin Jeroen Goossens – Flute and Low Whistle Jurriaan Westerveld – Cello Robert Soeterboek – vocals in Act 5 Marcela Bovio – vocals in Act 5 Arjen Anthony Lucassen – Lead vocals and all other instruments
“Vermillion“, the debut solo album from SIMONE SIMONS is out now. To celebrate, she has revealed a brand new video for ‘Cradle To The Grave’ featuring Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy.
SIMONE SIMONS & ARJEN LUCASSEN comment: “’Cradle to the Grave’ is about the universal experience of navigating life’s ups and downs and the quest for meaning and purpose. It views the human condition as one of struggle and resilience, where despite efforts to build and achieve, there’s an underlying acceptance that life is brief, finite, and often cruel.”
SIMONE SIMONS of EPICA fame has revealed the video for the second single to be taken from her debut solo album, Vermillion, that is set for release on the 23rd August via Nuclear Blast Records. Written alongside ARJEN LUCASSEN (AYREON), the new single is titled ‘In Love We Rust’.
SIMONE SIMONS & ARJEN LUCASSEN comment:
“The video was filmed in just one take to keep it as pure and raw as possible. We opted to keep it in black and white so as not to distract from the song or the performance. In Love We Rust is quite different from our first single Aeterna, which shows how diverse this album is. This is one of our favourite songs. We hope you love this as much as we do.”
For more than 20 years, ever since she was a teenager, SIMONE SIMONS has been carving her own path as a woman within the world of metal. As a lead singer, icon, and role model for a whole generation of female metalheads, the Epica lead singer remains one of the most prominent key figures in all things metal. After eight albums and countless global tours with her band, SIMONE SIMONS finally found the time to release her first solo album – a moment 15 years in the making! Her breathtaking debut Vermillion is a stunning feat chronicling her storied past as well as her rise to fame, and showcasing her many different influences ranging from prog rock to film scores to metal to electronic elements.
Of the timing for her eagerly awaited foray into the realms of a solo career, the Dutch singer says with a disarming grin: Epica has my priority and I always have the liberty to do other musical projects besides my career in Epica. Yet, I never had the time to dive into a project to this extent. Some endeavors require patience and time, and rightly so. Simone chose not to rush her solo project, opting instead to thoughtfully consider how she wanted to present herself. Enter stage right Arjen Lucassen (AYREON). Her musical partner and longtime collaborator is no stranger to her soaring operatic voice. Together they have crafted a sonic universe that befits the influential figure she is. And while many would use their solo effort as a radical, even provocative departure from everything they stood for, SIMONE remains true to her love for epic melodies, huge choruses and monumental, intelligent music.
Ayreon reveals the spectacular live video for “Fate of Man” which you can watch HERE. The song is taken from ‘01011001 – Live Beneath the Waves‘ which is released today, via Music Theories Recordings / Mascot Label Group.
An Ayreon live event is a monumental occasion where the highest-calibre musicians and an enormous production come together to forge a bombastic spectacle. In September 2023, Arjen Lucassen’s ‘01011001 – Live Beneath the Waves‘ sold out five performances at Poppodium 013 in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Today, the concert is available on 3LP, 2CD+DVD, Blu-ray, Earbook, and digital formats.
Talking about Fate of Man, Arjen Lucassen says, “And here’s the final preview video from Ayreon’s ‘Live beneath The Waves’ DVD/BluRay’: Fate of Man. Maybe it’s weird to not pick a song from the 01011001 album, but this song really stood out for me… such energy on stage! The band is just amazing as we all know, I’ll never know how they manage to play this complicated song with such unflappable ease. And what about these breath-taking vocals from Brittney Slayes? She’s unbelievable, right? Let me know if you agree… thanks and enjoy!”
You can pre-order ‘01011001 – Live Beneath the Waves‘ here.
This live production, based on the critically acclaimed 2008 concept album ‘01011001,’ was performed in its entirety, followed by a number of encore songs. The stage came alive with an imposing backdrop, LED screens showcasing fantastic visuals, lasers, pyrotechnics, special effects, and a unique live surround sound experience – a setup that would be at home on Broadway or London’s West End.
Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen, alongside keyboardist Joost van den Broek, assembled a remarkable lineup, featuring many original cast members from the 01011001 album and various special guests such as Simone Simons (Epica), Damian Wilson (Threshold), Anneke van Giersbergen, Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), Tom Englund (Evergrey), Daniel Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation), Marcela Bovio (MaYan), Brittney Slayes (Unleash the Archers), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), John Jaycee Cuijpers (Praying Mantis), Maggy Luyten (Beautiful Sin), Michael Mills (Toehider) and Wudstik, among other incredible musicians.
The band featured top instrumentalists from the genre – Ed Warby (Drums), Johan van Stratum (Bass), Timo Somers (Guitar), Marcel Coenen (Guitar), Joost Van Den Broek (Keyboards) and more. The enigmatic Lucassen himself made an appearance, marking this as the largest cast in Ayreon’s live show history, which is no mean feat. ‘Live Beneath the Waves‘ vividly brings to life the water planet Y, immersing audiences in this technological underwater world.
Track List 01 March Of The Machines 02 Age of Shadows 03 Comatose 04 Liquid Eternity 05 Connect the Dots 06 Beneath the Waves 07 Newborn Race 08 Ride the Comet 09 Web of Lies 10 The Fifth Extinction 11 Waking Dreams 12 The Truth is In Here 13 Unnatural Selection 14 River of Time 15 E = MC2 16 The Sixth Extinction 17 Speech 18 This Human Equation 19 Fate of Man 20 The Day That The World Breaks Down
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
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