THE SOURCE

Description

ARJEN LUCASSEN DELIVERS THE NEW CHAPTER IN THE AYREON SAGA With The Source, Arjen Lucassen adds a new chapter to his impressive body of work under the name Ayreon, for which he laid the foundations in the mid-90s. The Source once again offers everything that has allowed him to win devoted fans worldwide: an impressive cast of singers and musicians, enchanting tracks, ambitious sound, and a captivating story. Ayreon's international standing is such that Arjen Lucassen was able to write his characters with some of the most respected rock vocalists already 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). The musical contributions come from guitarists Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big), Guthrie Govan (The Aristocrats, Asia, Steven Wilson), Marcel Coenen, and keyboardist Mark Kelly (Marillion). As on all previous albums, Arjen Lucassen played a variety of instruments, while the extraordinary drummer Ed Warby (Elegy, Gorefest, Hail Of Bullets) once again delivered tremendous performances on an Ayreon album. The story of The Source is initially based on Alpha, a planet that faced a fatal crisis six billion years ago. Both ecological and political disasters threaten all human life. With the help of a central computer, The Frame, the population tries to change the course of events. Computer intelligence has largely surpassed that of humans. The computers conclude that the biggest problem is their creators. The Frame tries to save the planet but at the same time wants to exterminate humanity. This leaves the inhabitants of Alpha with no option but to try to escape this terrible fate. And at a high price! The Source is a title that offers several interpretations. It is a reference to water and therefore to the water planet where those who escaped Alpha find new refuge after a long and arduous journey. The Source also refers to the origins of humanity. Where do we come from? It is also an allusion to the entire Ayreon saga and the place of this piece within it. The Source can indeed be considered the prelude to this entire saga.