[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]I first thought that Ayreon would be just something high-pitched and melodic power jingle, I still thought give it a try and the Human Equation sounded the most interesting one, and the most progressive too. The vocal work is mostly magnificent and the album has so many layers in it. Many aspects of it also strongly remind me of The Who's rock opera Tommy. Also the story is kinda similar, from a perspective of a person, who is totally unaware of his surroundings.
The flute parts also remind me about Jethro Tull. The record begins with Virgil, a short and soft intro, nice, but not anything particulary special. Then we hear the car crash and the story begins. Isolation works as an introduction for most of the vocalists, pretty good and one part is clearly from Dark Side Of The Moon. Multi-layered and will give a positive image still at this point. Magnificent solo by Arjen, also reminds me of DSOTM. Pain, has a gloomy and cool intro with nice vocals from Graves and Devin's screams are just pure perfection. Also Finlay's short bit as love works pretty well. The orchestral-interlude that comes out of nowhere after the second chorus is just orgasmic. Overall a great piece of music .
Mystery begins with acoustic guitar and kinda clever verses. It is also one of the stongest 'Tommy' songs on the album. Voices, another one with the ole' acoustic. The beginning is a bit cheerfull with violin, flute and stuff. Truly a Jethro. Pride's vocal lines are quite basic but Reason and Åkerfelt's Fear have some ballbreaking lines. Short, simple and melodic guitar solo stands up properly and overall this is again good stuff. Ends with Jethro.
Childhood has a very proggy keyboard opening, and the song is basically a simple ballad with violins and soft vocals. Hope is a short one, but it has a very cathy melody and the keyboards are pure classic. Lyrics are more brighter and..'hopeful'. Then we go to School, again the acoustic and soft voices, then goes Devin and shows his ultimate Rage, the man is simply a genious. The instrumental part is like from some epic viking stuff, Bathory etc, bit out of place but brings quite twisted athmosphere, which is just good.
Passion and Reason show their lungs and we return to acoustic with Townshend's commandments. Short time in the Playground with children playing. This is the only instrumental song on the album, it has again some good violin. Memories it's not so memorable, it has the good basic stuff on vocals and epic guitarring but nevertheless, something is missing. The first part of the album ends with Love, which i didn't like so much at the beginning. Still it's kinda poppish and stuff but in some wicked way, I really love it. Great vocals from everyone, i expecially like Passion's and Agony's co-operation.
The second part of the album begins with Trauma and Reason's preaching. Strong Passion stuff and excellent groans by Åkerfeldt. Sing, nice flute at start, the violin is a bit cheesy, but overall a nice ballad.
Pride, a bit heavier song, with LaBrie's vocals that are pure Dream Theater. The flute is like straight from the hands of Ian Anderson himself. Then we have Betrayal, with the nice opera by Reason and nice violins but not much else. But ah, then we have Loser, with the didgeridoo intro. I also just love all that celtic stuff. Vocals are good and this song has balls. This song has Mike Baker's (rip) only performance on this album as Father, he's just twisted and gold. Also Devin's screams at the end, pure excellency. The wicked keyboards are just prog. After the previous masterpiece, Accident is a bit boredom, nothing much to say about that, expect Oliver Wakeman's(Rick's son) brilliant keyboard solo-bit.
Realization has nice organ and one of the best flutes on the album, pretty good one.
Two more to go, Disclosure has a short bit of good keyboards but that's all. Then we have stillConfrontation, an epic closener for the album. The protagonist "wakes" from his coma and all the emotions just cause a huge wave of.. well emotions, ending with Åkerfeldt's giant roar.
Very, very versatile album as a whole, it's a pretty genious work. The concept is just brilliant, as the musicianship and the whole storyline and the vocals natrally.
Sorry for the kinda moodflowish, text, It's pretty old one, when I heard this one for the first time and was quite emotional about it
Enough the shit, get this one.
James LaBrie - Me
Mikael Åkerfeldt - Fear
Eric Clayton - Reason
Heather Findlay - Love
Irene Jansen - Passion
Magnus Ekwall - Pride
Devon Graves - Agony
Marcela Bovio - Wife
Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Best Friend
Mike Baker - Father
Devin Townsend - Rage
Sat Jun 30, 2018 8:17 am by metalfutte
Subject: Ayreon - The Human Equation 
