According to Bravewords.com, Mastermind Arjen Lucassen has been hard at work on the forthcoming new AYREON album, The Theory Of Everything. Ayreon albums are known for their array of guests, and Arjen recently launched a special online contest so that fans can guess the musicians that will be featured on the album.
He has revealed that “the only guest guitar player on the new Ayreon album is none other than STEVE HACKETT, the man who was involved in the best GENESIS albums and who is still flying the flag for prog!”
Lucassen previously revealed NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER keyboardist Keith Emerson, GRAND MAGUS vocalist JB, YES keyboardist Rick Wakeman, LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia, DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess, and Michael Mills from TOEHIDER will appear on the album:
Lucassen also commented further on the new album: “It’s going to be a double album, so there is a lot to write! It’s extra challenging as well, because lyrically I’ve left the old Ayreon universe behind and have to create a new one from scratch. I’m really excited about the line-up and how everything is PROGressing so far. There is physics involved, but mainly it’s about human relationships and the emotional costs that come with treading the fine line between genius and madness.”
According to Bravewords.com, Mastermind Arjen Lucassen has been hard at work on the forthcoming new AYREON album, The Theory Of Everything. Ayreon albums are known for their array of guests, and Arjen recently launched a special online contest so that fans can guess the musicians that will be featured on the album.
Check out the latest video clue below:
Lucassen: “Here is the new ‘guess this musician on the new Ayreon album’ contest! Who is this legendary guitar player? The answer will be tomorrow, hope you like it!”
Meanwhile, Lucassen has revealed that TOEHIDER vocalist Michael Mills will guest on the new album.
“Yes indeed, all the way from Australia: it’s the incredible Michael Mills from Toehider! Here’s Michael introducing himself and some extreme silliness.”
Lucassen previously revealed NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER keyboardist Keith Emerson, GRAND MAGUS vocalist JB, YES keyboardist Rick Wakeman, LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia, and DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess will appear on the album:
Lucassen also commented further on the new album: “It’s going to be a double album, so there is a lot to write! It’s extra challenging as well, because lyrically I’ve left the old Ayreon universe behind and have to create a new one from scratch. I’m really excited about the line-up and how everything is PROGressing so far. There is physics involved, but mainly it’s about human relationships and the emotional costs that come with treading the fine line between genius and madness.”
Legendary AYREON will release “The Theory of Everything” album in this year. AYREON‘s mastermind, Arjen Lucassen has checked in with the following:
“Finally…I’m basically ready with the new Ayreon album! Just in time for a release this year, I’m happy to say. So…expect the ‘guess this musician on the new Ayreon’ contest to start any time now.”
We discovered these musicians worked with Arjen for AYREON‘s forthcoming album up to now:
The new album from Chicago-based British guitarist ANDREW BORDONI Bordoni called Bordoni – Songs From Future Past will feature guest performances from Arjen Anthony Lucassen (AYREON) and many others.
The sales from the first 400 copies will go towards funding programs and resources benefitting orphans and children in Taurage, Lithuania.
“I wanted this album to be really special and unique. In 2009 I visited the town of Taurage in Lithuania and found this small church that was doing everything it could to help those in need, helping the children of the community and at the Taurage orphanage. They truly inspired me so I donated 11 guitars to the orphanage with the hope that some of these kids would become passionate about music and find hope in music. Music saved my life so that was somewhat of a way to pay it forward. I went back to Taurage in October 2012 to find that many of the kids have been taking music lessons using the guitars I donated and as a result they have found purpose and hope in life. The small church is hoping to launch an after school program for the kids involving safe play time, computer classes and even a place to jam with their instruments so I decided to dedicate the sales of the first 400 copies of my new album to help them make it happen.”
Songs Of Future Past will feature some of Chicago’s top session players including Tom Hipskind on drums, Shawn Sommer on bass and Scott Stevenson on keys. Also guest appearances from Bill Fornari on saxophone and guitar solos from Scott Tipping & Arjen Anthony Lucassen. More big guest appearances are to be confirmed soon.
The album will be released in March/April and is available for pre-order at Andrewbordoni.com.
AYREON mastermind ARJEN LUCASSEN has checked in with the following update:
“Damn, I developed a nasty case of tinnitus 😦 For jogging I bought loud in-ear headphones that completely close off your ear. Now in both ears I have a horrible beep that will never go away. And the test today also showed pretty bad hearing damage (4k range) from all the years of noise. So please listen to the warning: be careful with in-ear earphones!”
Following is a little glimpse into Lucassen’s everyday world as he tries to quietly write songs for his new project but is constantly thwarted by an overly-inquisitive camera:
Lucassen recently posted a new video for the track ‘Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin’, taken from his new album Lost In The New Real. The video was mainly shot where Arjen grew up, near the sea in Holland.
In regards to the video, Arjen comments: “It’s a very ‘Dutch’ clip, windmills and all! So you could say this clip goes back to my roots, also musically. It features many visual links (at least ten!) to the bands and albums that I grew up listening to. Peace, man!”
Watch ‘Pink Beatles in a Purple Zeppelin’ on YouTube below:
Featuring artwork created by Arjen and renowned designer Claudio Bergamin, plus an appearance by legendary actor Rutger Hauer as the album’s narrator, Lost In The New Real is a double-CD that tells the story of Mr. L, a 21st century man who was cryo-preserved at the moment of clinical death from a terminal disease. The album begins as Mr. L is being revived at a point in the distant future, when technology has advanced enough to cure his disease. Mr. L finds himself in a world that has drastically changed — to the point that the line between what’s real and what’s not is no longer clear.
The tracks on disc 1 follow Mr. L’s emotional journey as he is confronted with both serious and comical aspects of the “New Real” and desperately tries to decide if he can find a meaningful place within it. Disc 2 is a mix of tracks that are part of the concept but didn’t fit on disc 1, plus cover songs related to the concept.
Tracklisting:
CD1:
‘The New Real’
‘Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin’
‘Parental Procreation Permit’
‘When I’m A Hundred Sixty-Four’
‘E-Police’
‘Don’t Switch Me Off’
‘Dr Slumber’s Eternity Home’
‘Yellowstone Memorial Day’
‘Where Pigs Fly’
‘Lost In The New Real’
* Bonus CD Rom section: “Behind The New Real”
CD 2:
‘Our Imperfect Race’
‘Welcome To The Machine’ (PINK FLOYD cover)
‘So Is There No God?’
‘Veteran Of The Psychic Wars’ (BLUE ÖYSTER CULTCover)
‘The Social Recluse’
‘Battle Of Evermore’ (LED ZEPPELIN Cover)
‘The Space Hotel’
‘Some Other Time’ (ALAN PARSONS PROJECT Cover)
‘You Have Entered The Reality Zone’
‘I’m The Slime’ (FRANK ZAPPA Cover)
* Bonus CD Rom section: “The Artwork”
AYREON / STAR ONE mastermind ARJEN LUCASSEN is gearing up to release a video for the song ‘Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin’, taken from his new album, Lost In The New Real:
“From the beginning, Arjen had the idea of giving a ‘cover’ to the most visual songs of the record. This is song is about a service provider in the future. This store will create a perfect virtual band for you. ‘You can’t find your ideal band? No problem! We will create it for you! You love THEA BEATLES, DEEP PURPLE and LED ZEPPELIN? We will generate the perfect amalgam of all three specially for you!’ or something like that!
For the graphics, it was obvious that we needed something vintage with an analog look. Something in the line of Hipgnosis and Hugh Syme. Colorful and psychedelic. Let yourself be lured by this trippy image and imagine you were transported to 1969! Enjoy the flight!”
Lost In The New Real entered the official Dutch album charts at #16 and the Dutch alternative chart at #2.The album was released on May 8th in North America via InsideOut.
Tracklisting:
CD1:
‘The New Real’
‘Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin’
‘Parental Procreation Permit’
‘When I’m A Hundred Sixty-Four’
‘E-Police’
‘Don’t Switch Me Off’
‘Dr Slumber’s Eternity Home’
‘Yellowstone Memorial Day’
‘Where Pigs Fly’
‘Lost In The New Real’
* Bonus CD Rom section: “Behind The New Real”
CD 2:
‘Our Imperfect Race’
‘Welcome To The Machine’ (PINK FLOYD cover)
‘So Is There No God?’
‘Veteran Of The Psychic Wars’ (BLUE ÖYSTER CULTCover)
‘The Social Recluse’
‘Battle Of Evermore’ (LED ZEPPELIN Cover)
‘The Space Hotel’
‘Some Other Time’ (ALAN PARSONS PROJECT Cover)
‘You Have Entered The Reality Zone’
‘I’m The Slime’ (FRANK ZAPPA Cover)
* Bonus CD Rom section: “The Artwork”
This short video introduces you to some of the guest musicians appearing on Lost In The New Real:
The story of Lost In The New Real follows Mr. L, a twenty-first century man who was cryopreserved at the moment of clinical death from a terminal disease. The album begins as Mr. L is being revived at a point in the distant future, when technology has advanced enough to cure his disease. Mr L finds himself in a world that has drastically changed — to the point that the line between what’s real and what’s not is no longer clear.
Mr. L’s appointed psychological advisor (played by legendary screen actor Rutger Hauer) is tasked with helping him emotionally adapt to this strange new world. The songs on CD1 follow the main character Mr. L’s emotional journey as he is confronted with both serious and comical aspects of the “New Real”, and desperately tries to decide if he can find a meaningful place within it.
CD2 is a mix of songs that are part of the concept but didn’t fit on CD1, and cover songs that are (more or less) related to the concept. As Arjen’s fans have come to expect, informative and humorous ‘behind the scenes’ videos are added to both CDs as CD-rom tracks. This beautiful 2-CD Limited Edition Mediabook is illustrated by the striking artwork of Claudio Bergamin.
Check out a trailer below:
ource: Bravewords.com
Chief Shock Video
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
Ads
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 