OK, back to the Hero of the Day format, for a while at least.

ARJEN LUCASSEN

His latest Ayreon project is just unbelievable. It's called "The Human Equation" and it's a concept album double disc which tells of the feelings and aggravations of this guy who had an accident and now is in a coma desperately trying to get back to life. This scenario turns into redemption and it's amazing how the story unfolds. Many special guests give body (and voice, of course) to the different characters in the concept, which are appropriately called names like "Fear", "Rage", "Love" or "Agony". Of the ones I know (I totally dig!) there's Dream Theater's James LaBrie, Devin Townsend (of Strapping Young Lad and other solo albums) and, most of all for my particular money, Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth fame! But apart from these, I completely loved every other voice. Check the project page for a complete list of every individual that took part of the recordings and for cool studio notes.

I'm totally blown away with this both lyrically and musically. This is totally unlike anything I've ever heard and that also means it is damn good. As the trailer for the special edition DVD claims, it's got 60s and 70s progressive rock elements brought together and evolved into the 21st century. All in all, this album is so musically diverse it's unbelievable. Mixing everything from great keyboards work, to flute, to lots of downtuned guitars and octaved vocals, this is easily a strong (if not the strongest!) contender for best album of 2004!

Already trying to get hold of all of Ayreon's entire back catalogue. Especially because Anneke van Giersbergen of The Gathering sings in one of them.. (Into the Electric Castle).