The Human Equation degli Ayreon

The Human Equation is Ayreon's sixth studio album, released in 2004. This is the most recent remastered triple-LP edition, featuring the original album (2.5 vinyls) and bonus tracks from the Ayreon archives (side B on the third).

Ayreon is a project born in 1995 with Dutch composer and multi-instrumentalist Arjen Anthony Lucassen, in the progressive metal and space rock genre.

The album features a large roster of "voices" (11 to be precise) for the various characters in the story, 10 of whom are "guests," including James LaBrie of Dream Theater and Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth, as well as Lucassen himself, who, in addition to vocals, plays electric and acoustic guitar, bass, mandolin, lap steel guitar, keyboards, and a Hammond synthesizer.

Guests also include numerous musicians, such as Ken Hensley on a Hammond solo (Uriah Heep) and eight other amazing musicians on drums, violin, cello, synthesizers, flutes, panpipes, didgeridoo, and bassoon, for a complete lineup of 20 singers and instrumentalists. A special mention must be made of Ed Warby's monumental performance on drums—a true giant!

The album recounts the twenty days of a man's coma as he fights between life and death, coming face to face with his feelings that invade his mind and try to overwhelm him, and it does so with a song for each day.

It's impossible to create a track-by-track social media experience with an album of this size and density. I'll share a few "images" that can perhaps give you an idea, but the only way to appreciate it is to listen to it and, as happened to me, listen to it again immediately afterwards:
There's a fantastic LaBrie-Akerfeldt duet, but also beautiful performances by the two, exploring unusual tonalities with great ease; the impetuous distorted Hammond and the general keyboard and synth work that dominates the entire album; the choirs are magnificent; and the acoustic sections accompanied by wind instruments are beautiful; the finale of the third song (the third day) is particularly marvelous, with acoustic guitars, wind instruments, violins, and female vocals. The album is pervaded in some sections by a 1970s prog sound, but with modern production and meticulous attention to composition. It's capable of moving by exploring a wide range of emotions, from adrenaline to emotion, with breaks and restarts, complex tempos, and compositions sometimes made of simple notes in an epic atmosphere.

Bonus Tracks:
"August Fire": A fresh atmosphere, acoustic guitar arpeggios, and splendid vocals, a bit folky, but in a pleasant way.
Cover of "No Quarter": A truly beautiful acoustic version, respectful of the original, with great taste and excellent vocals!
Cover of "Space Oddity": Great vocals by Eric Clayton and a modern arrangement that maintains the original's depth of sound, excellent keyboard work and sound research, fantastic distorted guitar riff, a touch of metal!
"Day Six" (acoustic version), excellent vocals by Marjan Welman and great piano...
Cover of "How You Gonna See Me Now," a wonderful version featuring vocals by Mike Baker, a truly moving version, listened to twice in a row.
"Bloopers": fun and completely a cappella with great vocals... just for a taste, but what a beautiful finale!

The Human Equation is, in my opinion, a masterpiece of progressive metal and probably Arjen Lucassen's best work, a beautiful album that should be in the collection of any prog lover. Highly recommended!

Tracklist

1. Day One: Vigil (1:33)
2. Day Two: Isolation (8:42)
3. Day Three: Pain (4:58)
4. Day Four: Mystery (5:37)
5. Day Five: Voices (7:09)
6. Day Six: Childhood (5:05)
7. Day Seven: Hope (2:47)
8. Day Eight: School (4:22)
9. Day Nine: Playground (2:15)
10. Day Ten: Memories (3:57)
11. Day Eleven: Love (4:18)

12. Day Twelve: Trauma (8:59)
13. Day Thirteen: Sign (4:47)
14. Day Fourteen: Pride (4:42)
15. Day Fifteen: Betrayal (5:24)
16. Day Sixteen: Loser (4:46)
17. Day Seventeen: Accident? (5:42)
18. Day Eighteen: Realization (4:31)
19. Day Nineteen: Disclosure (4:42)
20. Day Twenty: Confrontation (7:03)

Running Time 101:19

Bonus Tracks:
August Fire
No Quarter
Space Oddity
Day Six
How You Gonna See Me Now
Bloopers

Line-Up

- Arjen Lucassen - lap steel, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, mandolin, analog synthesizers, Hammond, keyboards, production and mixing

Featuring

- Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep) - Hammond solo (16)
- Oliver Wakeman (Nolan & Wakeman) - synthesizer solo (17)
- Martin Orford (IQ, Jadis) - synthesizer solo (15)
- Joost van den Broek - synthesizer (2), spinet (13)
- John McManus - bass flute (13, 16, 18), tin whistle (18)
- Jeroen Goossens - flute (3, 5, 9, 14, 18), alto flute (2), bass flute (5, 14), panpipes (6), soprano and soprano recorders (13), didgeridoo (16), bassoon (18)
- Robert Baba - violin
- Marieke van der Heyden - cello
- Ed Warby - drums, percussion

VOICES (and characters):
- Devon Graves (Dead Soul Tribe) as 'Agony'
- Devin Townsend (SYL) as 'Rage'
- Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine) as 'Reason'
- Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) as 'Fear'
- Magnus Ekwall (The Quill) as 'Pride'
- Heather Findlay (Mostly Autumn) as 'Love'
- Irene Jansen (Karma) as 'Passion'
- James LaBrie (Dream Theater) as 'Me'
- Marcela Bovio (Elfonia) as 'Wife'
- Mike Baker (Shadow Gallery) as 'Father'
- Arjen Lucassen as 'Best Friend'
- Peter Daltrey as 'Forever'
- Yvette Boertje as 'The Hospital Voice'
- Meri Pitkanen as "Sexy Cough"

Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.