Arjen Anthony Lucassen
Encyclopedia
Arjen Anthony "Oswold Jr." Lucassen (born 3 April 1960, Hilversum
) is a progressive metal
/rock
composer, singer and musician from the Netherlands
, best known for his long-running progressive opera
project titled Ayreon
.
Lucassen plays a wide variety of instruments, chiefly guitar
s, keyboards and synthesizer
s, but also others such as the bass guitar
, piano
, flute
, hammond
, banjo
, lute
and mellotron
. He is also the creator and member of Star One
, Guilt Machine
, the currently inactive band Ambeon
, and the creator and former member of Stream of Passion
.
Overall, in his career and including all his bands and projects (as principal instrumentalist/creative force or as a member), Lucassen has released twenty studio albums, two live albums, four EPs
and seventeen singles
. He has also made many minor participations alongside various artists, and the number of studio albums that include Lucassen is more than 50.
Lucassen stayed with Bodine until 1984, recording two albums with them, Bold and Brass and Three Time Running.
. He started writing and composing songs, but wanting to go into a more progressive direction, Lucassen left the band in 1992 to pursue a solo career.
, under the name "Anthony" in 1994. It was a commercial flop.
, and began recording The Final Experiment
, which was released in 1995 on a small Dutch label, Transmission Records. The album featured a wide array of musical styles, ranging from folk
to progressive metal
, and established Lucassen as a notable composer of rock opera
s. It was soon followed by Ayreon's first single, "Sail Away to Avalon
".
One year later, Actual Fantasy
was released. It became later the exception in Ayreon's discography, as the only Ayreon release that does not feature a single overarching story concept
. The single "The Stranger from Within
" from this album was also released. It was a relative commercial failure. Lucassen decided to make one more album, and to stop Ayreon if this one did not become a commercial success.
In 1996 Lucassen released Strange Hobby
, as his little-known eponymous side-project, despite he was not credited for any participation. It is his second work where he sings on all the songs and plays all of the music himself, but also the only band or project of his career since Bodine
where he did not participate as a composer (despite arranging all the songs himself).
In 1998 was released the commercially successful and critically acclaimed Into the Electric Castle
. It's still considered by many as the best album in Lucassen's career. The extremely good reception to the album made Lucassen decide to continue the project Ayreon.
and Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator
. The two was sold well and were received positively, despite the Part 1 is considered as superior than the Part 2. The single "Temple of the Cat
" from Part 1 was released the same-year, before being re-released one year later in an acoustic version.
In 2001 Lucassen create the side-project Ambeon
to explore a softer music. It mainly consisting of him as the principal instrumentalist and 14-years old female singer Astrid van der Veer. They released their first (and only) album Fate of a Dreamer
the same year, along the single "Cold Metal". The album had a limited success.
In 2002 Lucassen created an other side-project (the only with he had made more than one studio album), entitled Star One
. Much like Ayreon, Star One
had many guest singers and musicians, but still focused in four of them : Dan Swano
, Russell Allen
, Floor Jansen
and Damian Wilson
; in the band Lucassen played guitar
, keyboards and hammond organ
. Their first album Space Metal
was released in 2002. The album also had limited success, although it was more successful than Ambeon. Live on Earth
, the first live album
in Lucassen's career which also includes Ayreon's songs, was released one year later.
Four years after Universal Migrator, Lucassen released Ayreon's sixth album, The Human Equation
. It was a commercial success (the album got to #7 in the Dutch album chart), and some critics considered the album as Lucassen's best since Into the Electric Castle.
Special editions of all of Ayreon's album were released in 2004 when Lucassen switched labels from Transmission to InsideOut Records.
in 2005 to make a more conventional progressive metal band with symphonic
and gothic
inspirations. He also wanted to showcase the talents of his friend and mexican singer Marcela Bovio
, who also sang on The Human Equation, who had won a contest on Lucassen's website.
He recruited a bassist, drummer, and keyboardist and started the band. It was the first time he was not the only major compositor of one of his projects, with Bovio writing and composing a lot of the music with him. They released the album Embrace the Storm
in 2005. Like Lucassen's did with Star One, Stream of Passion toured and released a live album, Live In The Real World
, in 2006. Like Star One, the tour featured many Ayreon
songs as well as songs from the album. He finally left the band in 2007, as he had planned before. The band continued without him: they released two albums since, The Flame Within
and Darker Days
.
In early 2007, Lucassen sank into depression, due to his recent divorce and affliction with anosmia
. However, he got back to the studio to record 01011001
, which achieved commercial success, reaching #2 in the Dutch album chart in February 2008. The album is the conclusion of Ayreon's story, and after it's release Lucassen decides to temporally stop Ayreon, because he was not inspired to continue and also because many critics (despite the album being well reviewed) said that there was nothing new being offered in 01011001.
. The project features a very limited line-up, comparing to other Lucassen's side projects: himself on many instruments and backing vocals, Jasper Steverlinck (Arid
) on lead vocals, Chris Maitland
(ex-Porcupine Tree
) on drums and Lori Linstruth
(ex-Stream of Passion
) on lead guitar. Their first album On This Perfect Day
, released the same year, received a very good critical reception but was Lucassen's least commercially successful album in many years.
In 2010, Lucassen reunited the seven other members of Star One, inactive since 2003, and released the band's second studio album Victims of the Modern Age
. The album received critical acclaim and was a big commercial success.
Lucassen announced his next album will be a solo album, the first since Pools of Sorrow, Waves of Joy, released 19 years ago.
, Lucassen progressively gained notoriety to rock and metal reviewers, with many critics calling him a "genius", and praised his composition abilities and originality. In his review of 01011001
Allmusic reviewer stated "Music this over the top almost defies criticism. Reviewing it is like reviewing the world's tallest building. It doesn't care; it just goes on and on."
Ayreon is also partially acclaimed for it's use of many singers, famous or unknown but generally all very well received. Despite Ayreon still his most famous project, his other works also aroused admiration, especially Star One
praised for it's darker atmosphere.
and Vengeance
.
Hilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
) is a progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
/rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
composer, singer and musician from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, best known for his long-running progressive opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
project titled Ayreon
Ayreon
Ayreon is a project by Dutch composer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen.Ayreon's musical style derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with genres like folk, classical and electronica...
.
Lucassen plays a wide variety of instruments, chiefly guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, keyboards and synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, but also others such as the bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, hammond
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
and mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
. He is also the creator and member of Star One
Star One
Star One is a Dutch progressive metal supergroup/side-project of Arjen Anthony Lucassen of Ayreon fame. Unlike Ayreon, the band did not follow one storyline; instead, each song was a different story with a sci-fi concept, most of the tracks based on existing movies and series.-Origins and first...
, Guilt Machine
Guilt Machine
Guilt Machine is a musical project by Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen, owner of other musical projects such as Star One, Ayreon and Ambeon. The project's debut release, On This Perfect Day, was released in August 2009.- Background :...
, the currently inactive band Ambeon
Ambeon
Ambeon is a Dutch progressive metal act, a project consisting mainly of multi-instrumentalist composer Arjen Anthony Lucassen and vocalist Astrid van der Veen. The act's first and only album to date, Fate of a Dreamer, was recorded in 2001, when van der Veen was just 14 years old...
, and the creator and former member of Stream of Passion
Stream of Passion
Stream of Passion is a progressive metal band with symphonic metal and gothic metal influences founded by Arjen Anthony Lucassen and Marcela Bovio. Because the musicians in the band lived thousands of miles apart, Lucassen composed the group's debut album, Embrace the Storm, over the Internet...
.
Overall, in his career and including all his bands and projects (as principal instrumentalist/creative force or as a member), Lucassen has released twenty studio albums, two live albums, four EPs
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
and seventeen singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
. He has also made many minor participations alongside various artists, and the number of studio albums that include Lucassen is more than 50.
Bodine (1980-1984)
In 1980, Dutch band Bodine was looking for a new singer, and Lucassen brought his guitar to the audition in hopes of becoming their second guitarist. After being rejected for his singing abilities, he was hired as a guitarist.Lucassen stayed with Bodine until 1984, recording two albums with them, Bold and Brass and Three Time Running.
Vengeance (1984-1992)
In 1984 Lucassen quit Bodine after being offered a slot in a new band, VengeanceVengeance (band)
Vengeance is a metal band from the Netherlands formed in 1983. Arjen Anthony Lucassen, the head of Ayreon and other progressive metal projects, played in the band from its formation until 1992, when he left to pursue a solo career....
. He started writing and composing songs, but wanting to go into a more progressive direction, Lucassen left the band in 1992 to pursue a solo career.
First solo album (1992-1994)
Lucassen released his first solo album, Pools of Sorrow, Waves of JoyPools of Sorrow, Waves of Joy
Pools of Sorrow, Waves of Joy is the debut solo album of Dutch composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released under the name Anthony. He sang most of the vocals and played all the instruments himself....
, under the name "Anthony" in 1994. It was a commercial flop.
Ayreon's debut and fame (1995-2000)
After his first unsuccessful solo album, Lucassen proceeded under the name AyreonAyreon
Ayreon is a project by Dutch composer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen.Ayreon's musical style derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with genres like folk, classical and electronica...
, and began recording The Final Experiment
The Final Experiment
The Final Experiment is a progressive metal/rock opera album released in 1995 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen. Originally penned Ayreon: The Final Experiment with no artist noted, at the suggestion of the record label the subject was later detached, and used as the name for what...
, which was released in 1995 on a small Dutch label, Transmission Records. The album featured a wide array of musical styles, ranging from folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
to progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
, and established Lucassen as a notable composer of rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
s. It was soon followed by Ayreon's first single, "Sail Away to Avalon
Sail Away to Avalon
"Sail Away to Avalon" is the first single by Ayreon, released on 1995, from their album The Final Experiment. The song combines elements of medieval classical music with heavy metal and folk using instruments such as the harpsichord for the rhythm sections...
".
One year later, Actual Fantasy
Actual Fantasy
Actual Fantasy is a progressive metal album released in 1996 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen and is the second album of his Ayreon project...
was released. It became later the exception in Ayreon's discography, as the only Ayreon release that does not feature a single overarching story concept
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
. The single "The Stranger from Within
The Stranger from Within
"The Stranger from Within" is the second single by Ayreon, released on 1996, from their album Actual Fantasy. It features as B-sides "Dawn of Man", another song from Actual Fantasy, and the album version of the song, since the single version is 4 minutes shorter.- Track listing :#The Stranger From...
" from this album was also released. It was a relative commercial failure. Lucassen decided to make one more album, and to stop Ayreon if this one did not become a commercial success.
In 1996 Lucassen released Strange Hobby
Strange Hobby
Strange Hobby is the first and only album of Arjen Anthony Lucassen's musical side-project Strange Hobby. The album features covers of songs that have influenced his musical development, mainly from the '60s....
, as his little-known eponymous side-project, despite he was not credited for any participation. It is his second work where he sings on all the songs and plays all of the music himself, but also the only band or project of his career since Bodine
Bodine (band)
Bodine was a Dutch heavy metal band which was active from 1978 until 1984.The band released three albums: Bodine , Bold as Brass and Three Times Running . Bodine debuted with Jay van Feggelen as the vocalist, who performed as the Barbarian in the album Into the Electric Castle by Ayreon...
where he did not participate as a composer (despite arranging all the songs himself).
In 1998 was released the commercially successful and critically acclaimed Into the Electric Castle
Into the Electric Castle
Into the Electric Castle is a progressive metal two-disc album released in 1998 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen. It is the third album of his Ayreon project....
. It's still considered by many as the best album in Lucassen's career. The extremely good reception to the album made Lucassen decide to continue the project Ayreon.
Universal Migrator, The Human Equation, Ambeon and Star One (2000-2005)
In year 2000 Ayreon released two albums simultaneously, considered as the two part of the same story : Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream SequencerUniversal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer
Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer is a progressive rock album released in 2000 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen, and is the fourth album of his Ayreon project....
and Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator
Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator
Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator is a progressive metal album released in 2000 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen, and is the fifth album of his Ayreon project....
. The two was sold well and were received positively, despite the Part 1 is considered as superior than the Part 2. The single "Temple of the Cat
Temple of the Cat
"Temple of the Cat" is the third single by Ayreon, released on 2000, from the album Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer. It was re-released on 2001, as an acoustic version, and containing a different track listing.- Music :...
" from Part 1 was released the same-year, before being re-released one year later in an acoustic version.
In 2001 Lucassen create the side-project Ambeon
Ambeon
Ambeon is a Dutch progressive metal act, a project consisting mainly of multi-instrumentalist composer Arjen Anthony Lucassen and vocalist Astrid van der Veen. The act's first and only album to date, Fate of a Dreamer, was recorded in 2001, when van der Veen was just 14 years old...
to explore a softer music. It mainly consisting of him as the principal instrumentalist and 14-years old female singer Astrid van der Veer. They released their first (and only) album Fate of a Dreamer
Fate of a Dreamer
"Cold Metal" is the only single from this album, and the only by Ambeon. It has samples of Ayreon's "Into the Black Hole", from the album Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator.-Track listing:# "Cold Metal "# "Merry-Go-Round"...
the same year, along the single "Cold Metal". The album had a limited success.
In 2002 Lucassen created an other side-project (the only with he had made more than one studio album), entitled Star One
Star One
Star One is a Dutch progressive metal supergroup/side-project of Arjen Anthony Lucassen of Ayreon fame. Unlike Ayreon, the band did not follow one storyline; instead, each song was a different story with a sci-fi concept, most of the tracks based on existing movies and series.-Origins and first...
. Much like Ayreon, Star One
Star One
Star One is a Dutch progressive metal supergroup/side-project of Arjen Anthony Lucassen of Ayreon fame. Unlike Ayreon, the band did not follow one storyline; instead, each song was a different story with a sci-fi concept, most of the tracks based on existing movies and series.-Origins and first...
had many guest singers and musicians, but still focused in four of them : Dan Swano
Dan Swanö
Dan-Erland Swanö is a Swedish musician who is currently the vocalist, guitarist, ex-bassist and ex-drummer for the band Nightingale as well as the Owner of Unisound but he achieved fame as the vocalist and songwriter of progressive death metal band Edge of Sanity.As a multi-instrumentalist he is...
, Russell Allen
Russell Allen
Russell Allen is the singer of the American progressive metal band Symphony X.-Biography:Before working with a rock band, he was a jouster at a Medieval Times Dinner Theater. He was introduced to the band Symphony X by former singer Rod Tyler...
, Floor Jansen
Floor Jansen
Floor Jansen is a Dutch singer, who was the lead singer of the symphonic metal band After Forever which disbanded in 2009, and is the current singer for ReVamp.-After Forever:...
and Damian Wilson
Damian Wilson
Damian Wilson is a singer known in the progressive rock genre. He is lead singer with the band Headspace along with Adam Wakeman and is lead singer for Threshold....
; in the band Lucassen played guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboards and hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
. Their first album Space Metal
Space Metal (Star One album)
Space Metal is an album by Star One released on the recording label Inside Out in 2002. It was issued in two versions, a standard version containing just the first CD and a limited edition version with more elaborate packaging and both CDs....
was released in 2002. The album also had limited success, although it was more successful than Ambeon. Live on Earth
Live On Earth
Live on Earth is the first live CD and DVD by Dutch band Star One. It features not only songs from their debut album, Space Metal, but also songs from Ayreon, another musical project by Arjen Anthony Lucassen...
, the first live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
in Lucassen's career which also includes Ayreon's songs, was released one year later.
Four years after Universal Migrator, Lucassen released Ayreon's sixth album, The Human Equation
The Human Equation
The Human Equation is the sixth album by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released under the name Ayreon. It was released on May 25, 2004. As with other Ayreon albums, it features guest appearances from several musicians previously unrelated to the project, including James LaBrie of Dream Theater, Mikael...
. It was a commercial success (the album got to #7 in the Dutch album chart), and some critics considered the album as Lucassen's best since Into the Electric Castle.
Special editions of all of Ayreon's album were released in 2004 when Lucassen switched labels from Transmission to InsideOut Records.
Stream of Passion, depression and 01011001 (2005-2008)
Lucassen created Stream of PassionStream of Passion
Stream of Passion is a progressive metal band with symphonic metal and gothic metal influences founded by Arjen Anthony Lucassen and Marcela Bovio. Because the musicians in the band lived thousands of miles apart, Lucassen composed the group's debut album, Embrace the Storm, over the Internet...
in 2005 to make a more conventional progressive metal band with symphonic
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
and gothic
Gothic metal
Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
inspirations. He also wanted to showcase the talents of his friend and mexican singer Marcela Bovio
Marcela Bovio
Marcela Alejandra Bovio García is a Mexican singer and violinist. She was one of the founding members of the Mexican band Elfonía, she responded to a "casting call" of sorts for relatively unknown singers to be featured on Arjen Lucassen's Ayreon album The Human Equation where she landed the part...
, who also sang on The Human Equation, who had won a contest on Lucassen's website.
He recruited a bassist, drummer, and keyboardist and started the band. It was the first time he was not the only major compositor of one of his projects, with Bovio writing and composing a lot of the music with him. They released the album Embrace the Storm
Embrace the Storm
Embrace the Storm is Stream of Passion's debut album released on October 24, 2005 by InsideOut Music. It was preceded by the single "Wherever You Are" and was followed by the single "Out in the Real World" , both featured on this album.The album was also released as a dual disc, including on the...
in 2005. Like Lucassen's did with Star One, Stream of Passion toured and released a live album, Live In The Real World
Live In The Real World
Live in the Real World is the first live CD and DVD album by Dutch/Mexican progressive metal band Stream of Passion. It features not only songs from their debut album, Embrace the Storm, but also songs from Ayreon and Star One, which are other musical projects by Arjen Anthony Lucassen.- Disc one...
, in 2006. Like Star One, the tour featured many Ayreon
Ayreon
Ayreon is a project by Dutch composer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen.Ayreon's musical style derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with genres like folk, classical and electronica...
songs as well as songs from the album. He finally left the band in 2007, as he had planned before. The band continued without him: they released two albums since, The Flame Within
The Flame Within
The Flame Within is Stream of Passion's second studio album released on May 27 2009, by Napalm Records. It is the follow-up to their debut album, Embrace the Storm and their first without the original creator Arjen Lucassen.-Track listing:...
and Darker Days
Darker Days (Stream of Passion album)
Darker Days is third studio album by the Dutch symphonic metal band Stream of Passion, released in 2011 on Napalm Records.-Track listing:All songs written by Marcela Bovio, Johan van Stratum and Joost van den Broek except "The Mirror" by Stream of Passion and "Nadie Lo Ve" by Bovio and Jeffrey...
.
In early 2007, Lucassen sank into depression, due to his recent divorce and affliction with anosmia
Anosmia
Anosmia is a lack of functioning olfaction, or in other words, an inability to perceive odors. Anosmia may be either temporary or permanent. A related term, hyposmia, refers to a decreased ability to smell, while hyperosmia refers to an increased ability to smell. Some people may be anosmic for one...
. However, he got back to the studio to record 01011001
01011001
01011001 is the seventh studio album by Arjen Anthony Lucassen's long-running Ayreon project. "01011001" is the binary representation of the ASCII value of the letter Y...
, which achieved commercial success, reaching #2 in the Dutch album chart in February 2008. The album is the conclusion of Ayreon's story, and after it's release Lucassen decides to temporally stop Ayreon, because he was not inspired to continue and also because many critics (despite the album being well reviewed) said that there was nothing new being offered in 01011001.
Ayreon's hiatus, focus on other projects (2009-present)
After the temporally end of Ayreon, Lucassen announced in february 2009, in his website his new side-project: Guilt MachineGuilt Machine
Guilt Machine is a musical project by Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen, owner of other musical projects such as Star One, Ayreon and Ambeon. The project's debut release, On This Perfect Day, was released in August 2009.- Background :...
. The project features a very limited line-up, comparing to other Lucassen's side projects: himself on many instruments and backing vocals, Jasper Steverlinck (Arid
Arid (band)
Arid is a Belgian rock band, formed in the mid-1990s, made up of four members: Jasper Steverlinck , David Du Pré , Filip Ros and Steven Van Havere .-History:...
) on lead vocals, Chris Maitland
Chris Maitland
Chris Maitland is an English drummer.After being the drummer for No-Man on their Autumn 1993 tour , Maitland was asked by the band's Steven Wilson to join his other main project, the progressive rock band Porcupine Tree...
(ex-Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven...
) on drums and Lori Linstruth
Lori Linstruth
Lori Linstruth is a guitarist. She currently resides in the Netherlands where she lives with Arjen Lucassen.-Warbride:Linstruth first came to prominence in the late eighties when she was featured in Mike Varney's "Spotlight" column in Guitar Player magazine...
(ex-Stream of Passion
Stream of Passion
Stream of Passion is a progressive metal band with symphonic metal and gothic metal influences founded by Arjen Anthony Lucassen and Marcela Bovio. Because the musicians in the band lived thousands of miles apart, Lucassen composed the group's debut album, Embrace the Storm, over the Internet...
) on lead guitar. Their first album On This Perfect Day
On This Perfect Day
-DVD :Audio Bonus Tracks#The Stranger Song - vocals Jasper #Michelangelo - vocals Arjen #Fan Messages #Perfection? - guide vocals Arjen...
, released the same year, received a very good critical reception but was Lucassen's least commercially successful album in many years.
In 2010, Lucassen reunited the seven other members of Star One, inactive since 2003, and released the band's second studio album Victims of the Modern Age
Victims of the Modern Age
Victims of the Modern Age is the second studio album by Star One released on the recording label Inside Out on October 25, 2010 in the United States...
. The album received critical acclaim and was a big commercial success.
Lucassen announced his next album will be a solo album, the first since Pools of Sorrow, Waves of Joy, released 19 years ago.
Critical analysis
Since the creation of AyreonAyreon
Ayreon is a project by Dutch composer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen.Ayreon's musical style derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with genres like folk, classical and electronica...
, Lucassen progressively gained notoriety to rock and metal reviewers, with many critics calling him a "genius", and praised his composition abilities and originality. In his review of 01011001
01011001
01011001 is the seventh studio album by Arjen Anthony Lucassen's long-running Ayreon project. "01011001" is the binary representation of the ASCII value of the letter Y...
Allmusic reviewer stated "Music this over the top almost defies criticism. Reviewing it is like reviewing the world's tallest building. It doesn't care; it just goes on and on."
Ayreon is also partially acclaimed for it's use of many singers, famous or unknown but generally all very well received. Despite Ayreon still his most famous project, his other works also aroused admiration, especially Star One
Star One
Star One is a Dutch progressive metal supergroup/side-project of Arjen Anthony Lucassen of Ayreon fame. Unlike Ayreon, the band did not follow one storyline; instead, each song was a different story with a sci-fi concept, most of the tracks based on existing movies and series.-Origins and first...
praised for it's darker atmosphere.
Critical response
| Album | Allmusic | Metal Storm Metal Storm (webzine) Metal Storm is a webzine specializing in various forms of heavy metal music. It is based in Tallinn, Estonia but caters to an international audience, symbolically recognized by the acquisition of an EU domain in 2008... |
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| The Final Experiment The Final Experiment The Final Experiment is a progressive metal/rock opera album released in 1995 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen. Originally penned Ayreon: The Final Experiment with no artist noted, at the suggestion of the record label the subject was later detached, and used as the name for what... |
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| Into the Electric Castle Into the Electric Castle Into the Electric Castle is a progressive metal two-disc album released in 1998 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen. It is the third album of his Ayreon project.... |
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| The Dream Sequencer Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer is a progressive rock album released in 2000 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen, and is the fourth album of his Ayreon project.... |
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| Flight of the Migrator Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator is a progressive metal album released in 2000 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen, and is the fifth album of his Ayreon project.... |
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| Fate of a Dreamer Fate of a Dreamer "Cold Metal" is the only single from this album, and the only by Ambeon. It has samples of Ayreon's "Into the Black Hole", from the album Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator.-Track listing:# "Cold Metal "# "Merry-Go-Round"... |
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| Space Metal Space Metal (Star One album) Space Metal is an album by Star One released on the recording label Inside Out in 2002. It was issued in two versions, a standard version containing just the first CD and a limited edition version with more elaborate packaging and both CDs.... |
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| The Human Equation The Human Equation The Human Equation is the sixth album by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released under the name Ayreon. It was released on May 25, 2004. As with other Ayreon albums, it features guest appearances from several musicians previously unrelated to the project, including James LaBrie of Dream Theater, Mikael... |
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| Embrace the Storm Embrace the Storm Embrace the Storm is Stream of Passion's debut album released on October 24, 2005 by InsideOut Music. It was preceded by the single "Wherever You Are" and was followed by the single "Out in the Real World" , both featured on this album.The album was also released as a dual disc, including on the... |
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| 01011001 01011001 01011001 is the seventh studio album by Arjen Anthony Lucassen's long-running Ayreon project. "01011001" is the binary representation of the ASCII value of the letter Y... |
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| On This Perfect Day On This Perfect Day -DVD :Audio Bonus Tracks#The Stranger Song - vocals Jasper #Michelangelo - vocals Arjen #Fan Messages #Perfection? - guide vocals Arjen... |
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| Victims of the Modern Age Victims of the Modern Age Victims of the Modern Age is the second studio album by Star One released on the recording label Inside Out on October 25, 2010 in the United States... |
(Positive) |
Discography
This discography only includes studio albums. For the live albums, EPs and singles of the bands or projects he created, see this page. For his discography along previous bands, see BodineBodine (band)
Bodine was a Dutch heavy metal band which was active from 1978 until 1984.The band released three albums: Bodine , Bold as Brass and Three Times Running . Bodine debuted with Jay van Feggelen as the vocalist, who performed as the Barbarian in the album Into the Electric Castle by Ayreon...
and Vengeance
Vengeance (band)
Vengeance is a metal band from the Netherlands formed in 1983. Arjen Anthony Lucassen, the head of Ayreon and other progressive metal projects, played in the band from its formation until 1992, when he left to pursue a solo career....
.
Ayreon
- The Final ExperimentThe Final ExperimentThe Final Experiment is a progressive metal/rock opera album released in 1995 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen. Originally penned Ayreon: The Final Experiment with no artist noted, at the suggestion of the record label the subject was later detached, and used as the name for what...
(1995) - Actual FantasyActual FantasyActual Fantasy is a progressive metal album released in 1996 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen and is the second album of his Ayreon project...
(1996) - Into the Electric CastleInto the Electric CastleInto the Electric Castle is a progressive metal two-disc album released in 1998 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen. It is the third album of his Ayreon project....
(1998) - Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream SequencerUniversal Migrator Part 1: The Dream SequencerUniversal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer is a progressive rock album released in 2000 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen, and is the fourth album of his Ayreon project....
(2000) - Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the MigratorUniversal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the MigratorUniversal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator is a progressive metal album released in 2000 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen, and is the fifth album of his Ayreon project....
(2000) - The Human EquationThe Human EquationThe Human Equation is the sixth album by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released under the name Ayreon. It was released on May 25, 2004. As with other Ayreon albums, it features guest appearances from several musicians previously unrelated to the project, including James LaBrie of Dream Theater, Mikael...
(2004) - 010110010101100101011001 is the seventh studio album by Arjen Anthony Lucassen's long-running Ayreon project. "01011001" is the binary representation of the ASCII value of the letter Y...
(2008)
Star One
- Space MetalSpace Metal (Star One album)Space Metal is an album by Star One released on the recording label Inside Out in 2002. It was issued in two versions, a standard version containing just the first CD and a limited edition version with more elaborate packaging and both CDs....
(2002) - Victims of the Modern AgeVictims of the Modern AgeVictims of the Modern Age is the second studio album by Star One released on the recording label Inside Out on October 25, 2010 in the United States...
(2010)
Vengeance
- Vengeance (1984)
- We Have Ways to Make You Rock (1986)
- Take It or Leave It (1987)
- Arabia (1989)
Guest appearances on other artists' releases
- Pythagoras - After the Silence (1981)
- Ian Parry - Symphony of Dreams (1993)
- Alex Bollard - Pink Floyd Songbook (1994)
- Ian Parry - Thru the Looking Glass (1995)
- Biscuit - Between you and me (1996)
- Veralin - Opposites (1997)
- Helloise - A Time And Place For Everything (1998)
- Block Busters - Powder to the People (1999)
- Ian Parry - Consortium Project (1999)
- Peter Daltrey - Candy (1999)
- Rocket ScientistsRocket ScientistsRocket Scientists is a progressive rock band formed in the late 1980s by keyboardist Erik Norlander and vocalist / guitarist Mark McCrite. The band released their first CD, Earthbound, in 1993 joined by session bassist Don Schiff...
- Oblivion Days (1999) - Erik NorlanderErik NorlanderErik Norlander is an American musician who describes himself as a 'keyboardist, composer, producer and engineer'. Norlander has produced albums for Rocket Scientists and his wife, Lana Lane. He also has a progressive rock solo project titled simply Erik Norlander...
- Into The Sunset (2000) - Ian Parry - Shadowman (2000)
- Glass HammerGlass HammerGlass Hammer is a progressive rock band from Chattanooga, Tennessee. They formed in 1992 when multi-instrumentalists Steve Babb and Fred Schendel began to write and record Journey of the Dunadan, a concept album based on the story of Aragorn from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings...
- ChronometreeChronometreeChronometree is the fourth studio album of the band Glass Hammer. It is a tongue-in-cheek concept album concerning a young man called Tom, who becomes convinced that aliens are trying to communicate to him through his albums...
(2000) - Within TemptationWithin TemptationWithin Temptation is a Dutch symphonic gothic metal/rock band founded in 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. Their music is described as symphonic metal, although their earlier material, such as Enter, was gothic metal. In an interview, Den Adel said they fell into a...
- Mother EarthMother Earth (album)Mother Earth is the second studio album by Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation. Originally released on December 4, 2000 in the Netherlands, and August 21, 2001 in other parts of Europe, it quickly became a success in the band's heartland, reaching platinum status in the Netherlands...
(2000) - Lana LaneLana LaneLana Lane is a North American rock singer. She sings lead in her eponymous band, and has sung backing vocals for the band Rocket Scientists and guest sung on Ayreon and Erik Norlander albums....
- Secrets Of Astrology (2000) - After ForeverAfter ForeverAfter Forever was a Dutch symphonic metal band with strong progressive metal influences. The band relied on the use of both soprano vocals and death grunts. In February 2009, it was announced that After Forever had disbanded.-Biography:...
- EmphasisEmphasis/Who Wants To Live ForeverEmphasis/Who Wants to Live Forever is a 2002 single by Dutch symphonic metal band After Forever, featuring guest vocals from Damian Wilson of Threshold.-Track listing:#"Emphasis" - 4:18#"Who Wants to Live Forever " - 4:46...
(2002) - Nolan / Wakeman - The Hound Of The Baskervilles (2002)
- Wicked Sensation - Reflected (2002)
- Nightingale - Alive Again (2003)
- Ars Nova - Biogenesis (2003)
- Gary HughesGary HughesGary Hughes is an English hard rock singer, songwriter and musician. Apart from his work as a solo artist, Gary Hughes is the front man and main songwriter of Hard Rock/Melodic Rock band Ten...
- Once and Future King Part IOnce and Future King Part I-Track listing:All songs written by Gary Hughes.# "Excalibur" – 6:22# "Dragon Island Cathedral" – 6:03# "At the End of Day" – 4:30# "The Reason Why" – 4:36# "Shapeshifter" – 4:45# "King for a Day" – 4:47# "Avalon" – 4:00# "Sinner" – 5:01# "In Flames" – 5:03...
(2003) - Space Mirrors - The Darker Side of Art (2004)
- Amadeus' Spell (2004)
- Morning - Hour of Joy (2005)
- Elfonía - This Sonic Landscape (2005)
- Freak Neil Inc. - Characters (2005)
- Shadow GalleryShadow GalleryShadow Gallery is an American progressive metal band formed in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, United States, during the early 1980s, originally under the name Sorcerer. After changing their name to Shadow Gallery and recording a short 8-track demo, the band was signed to Magna Carta Records in 1991...
- Room V: Special Edition (2005) - Kalisia - Cybion (2008)
- Galexia - Galexia (2008)
External links
- Official homepage
- Audio Interview with Arjen Part One conducted by Ragnarok Radio
- Audio Interview with Arjen Part Two conducted by Ragnarok Radio Interview with Arjen Lucassen
- Interview with Arjen on Lebmetal.com October 2009