Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen aka AYREON, has revealed his epic new video for “‘The Day The World Broke Free,” taken from the new album “The Source,” and features an array of guest including James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Simone Simons (Epica), Floor Jansen (Nightwish) plus many more.
Watch the brand new video for the 13 minute epic ‘The Day The World Breaks Down’ in our Video Zone.
It has had more than 50,000 views in less than 24 hours. If you like OTT, Prog’ rock meets classical meets metal meets bonkers, then this is for you! Think Rick Wakeman and Yes on LSD!
Ayreon releases the next chapter of the Ayreon Saga, “The Source,” on April 28th, the new album by the multi-instrumentalist and composer who brought the rock opera back to life in the mid 90’s. It is an exciting new chapter in the Ayreon saga, with contributions from renowned vocalists like James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Simone Simons (Epica), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia), and Russell Allen (Symphony X). “The Source” is released through Mascot Label Group/Music Theories Recordings.
While Ayreon’s “Forever/Planet Y” saga seemed to have reached its conclusion with the album “01011001”, it’s clear that Arjen Lucassen’s creative muses had other plans. The new album revisits the ‘Forever’ saga, adding a whole new chapter to Lucassen’s impressive body of work. With its top-flight cast of singers and musicians, compelling songs, overwhelming sound, and intriguing story, it offers everything that has gained Lucassen dedicated fans worldwide, since he laid the foundations of Ayreon back in the mid-90’s.
The story of “The Source” is set six billion years in the past relative to Earth. It begins on Planet Alpha, a world in the Andromeda system where computer intelligence has far surpassed that of humanity. Alpha is facing a massive global crisis, with ecological and political catastrophes threatening all human life. The Alphans (our human ancestors) try to save their planet by entrusting the global computer mainframe, ‘The Frame’, to find a solution.
Given total control of the planet, ‘The Frame’ reaches the logical conclusion that its creators are the cause of all the trouble. The only way to solve Alpha’s problems is to exterminate humanity. This leaves the Alphans no other option than to try and escape their horrific fate. But their escape comes at a terrible price. It’s the beginning of a story that contains everything that has made the Ayreon epics so endlessly fascinating all these years.
The international status of Ayreon enables Arjen Lucassen to write his characters with some of the most respected singers in rock in mind: James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Tommy Giles Rogers (Between the Buried And Me), Simone Simons (Epica), Mike Mills (Toehider), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus), Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia), Nils K. Rue (Pagan’s Mind), Zaher Zorgati (Myrath), Tommy Karevik (Kamelot), and Russell Allen (Symphony X). Special contributions were offered by guitarists Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big), Guthrie Govan (The Aristocrats, Asia, Steven Wilson), Marcel Coenen and keyboard player Mark Kelly (Marillion).
Just as on his previous albums, “The Source” has Arjen Lucassen playing a wide variety of instruments, while Ed Warby (o.a. Elegy, Gorefest, Hail Of Bullets) once again masterfully handling the drums.
2017 will be a particularly exciting year for Ayreon fans, thanks to a unique chance to see Ayreon live. Limited to three exclusive performances, “The Ayreon Universe” will take place in September in the prestigious 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland. This unprecedented live event features the best of twenty years of Ayreon music, brought to life by a top cast of musicians such as Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Russell Allen (Symphony X), Damian Wilson (Threshold), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), Tommy Karevik (Kamelot), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), Anneke van Giersbergen, and various others. The reclusive Arjen Lucassen himself is also expected to make a rare appearance on stage. The tickets for all concerts – 9,000 in total – sold out within a day.
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