Entire thing's been written. No big revelations on content yet, but drums have been recorded (mr Ed Warby is contributing again).
Oh, and the first vocalist is Magali Luyten (yeah, who?) - and she's recorded her parts.
THERE IS A SAMPLE~
http://ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer1.mp3
Confirmed Singers:
1. Magali Luyten (Beautiful Sin)
2. Simone Simons (Epica)
3. Ty Tabor (King's X)
4. Liselotte Hegt (Dial)
5. Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon)
6. Thomas Englund (Evergrey)
7. J
Not over the moon about the sample, but it definitely sounds like something Ayreon would put out. Anyways, this album has a lot to live up to after the Human Equation.
Note that it's a demo and they haven't recorded anything other than the drums yet. :o Also, Dan Swano was interested in it, and Arjen was interested in mister Swano, but he'd already chosen a lineup. How sad...
Interestingly, the lyrics in that sample seem to involve a "migrator"...
Universal Migrator Part 3?
Cool. Looking forward to it.
It'd be awesome if Daniel Gildenlow was in on this one. I don't think Arjen's used him yet, anyway.
Looking forward to it.
Hey, I rather like these vocals. Sounds very gospel.
hey let's post our wishlists for vocalists!
Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity)
Daniel Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation)
Anette Olzon (Nightwish)
John Haughm (Agalloch)
Garm (Ulver)
Kjetil Nordhus (Green Carnation)
Liv Kristine (Leaves' Eyes)
Robert Sjarnstrom (Machinae Supremacy)
Varg Vik- wait no
Daniel Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation)
John Haughm (Agalloch)
Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree)
Mathias Blad (Falconer)
Khan (Kamelot)
Russel Allen (Symphony X) I know Arjen's had him work in one of his projects, but it wasn't Ayreon. So technically, he'd still be a new addition.
Also, the girl from Within Temptation. As well as whoever sang 'Trul' on Gothic Kabbalah.
Tarja Turunen (:))
Liv Kristine (Leave's Eyes)
Roy Khan (Kamelot)
Daniel Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation)
Russell Allen (Symphony X)
Russell Allen was on one of the Universal Migrators I thought. Other than that, I agree with all the other suggestions. Especially Garm and Khan. And I think Matthew Bellamy would do pretty good on an Ayreon album too. He was suggested to Arjen by a friend of mine so it's a possibility.
Nah, I think he was on the Star One tour.
I forgot. Marco Hietala could be on there.
****, you are. Completely missed him on Universal Migrator Pt. 2.
[quote=Wikipeda]"Dawn of a Million Souls"
This song makes reference to the Big Bang itself, and according to Lucassen's fantasy, the primordial soul, the Universal Migrator — which subsequently divides into a million souls — is generated in this event. Vocals on this song were provided by Russell Allen and guitar solos were provided by Michael Romeo, both musicians are from Symphony X. Backing vocals were provided by Damian Wilson.
Yeah, you're right. I actually looked for it earlier.
Ah, ****, ninja'd.
I just realized that if Vamp picked the guy from Tenhi, I should say Neige. They're on the same record label.
Pretty much all of my favorite vocalists were used up THE, so I haven't had much to add to the wish list for this album.
EDIT: and no PHM i don't think he'd fit well with it
Yeah, I was thinking Neige, but his voice just isn't powerful enough. Also, Russell Allen's vocals ****ing suck.
You, my good sir, are wrong.
I'm gonna agree with Vamp. They're not that good.
Tom Englund (Evergrey)
Mock respect, etc etc
http://ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer2.mp3
New sample.
That's pretty good. Any idea who it is?
Nope. Some people are guessing it's Irene Jansen, but...
Oh, wait. It's Simone Simons (Epica's singer).
It sounds more like Simone than Irene.
Garm and Kahn
Would've liked to see Swano on it also though :(
Been a while since I updated this.
New vocalists: Ty Tabor (awesome), Arjen Lucassen (duh), Liselotte Hegt (who?), THOMAS ENGLUND.
OF EVERGREY.
[url=http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer3.mp3]Ty Tabor sample[/url]
[url=http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer4_5.mp3]Arjen and Liselotte sample[/url]
[url=http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer6.mp3]I SEE MANY REPTILES[/url] (Thomas Englund sample)
So far no vocalist I actually care to hear. Though Englund is pretty cool.
Englund HELL YES. His sample sounds amazing, too.
The sample featuring Arjen and Liselotte is called "The Truth Is In Here".
Also, Liselotte is married to Kristoffer Gildenlow.
I'd like to think that that's a hint from Arjen that Daniel's going to be on the album. But I doubt he will be. :(
Well here's an interesting thing a very well-placed e-friend of mine left on my blog. (Note: This guy fraternises with the likes of Dan Gildenlow, Russel Allen, other interesting metal people)
[quote]I sort of knew Englund was going to be in on this, since Arjen kinda gave it away when we handed him a copy of The Inner Circle: "I already have this, the singer is great", or something like that.
We also gave him The Perfect Element part I and Dreaming Neon Black, so don't give your final cheer just yet.
So... Dan G and Warrel D are likely possibilities!
I'm tingling in anticipation.
http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer7.mp3
New sample. J
http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer8.mp3
Singer number eight! And for once I actually recognised it as soon as I heard the voice.
It's Jonas Renkse of Katatonia, I'm positive. And there are growls. Awesome!
Triple posting! ****, look at me go!
Well I have here a very limited demo track someone nice hooked me up with. It was on Ayreon's Myspace page for a few hours in July, and only a lucky few were able to hear it. I scoured the internet for days afterwards, using every searching trick I could muster, and I couldn't find it. Seemed like nobody had ripped it, nothing. I even tried Soulseek, but no joy.
I came across somebody on Last.fm who hinted at having it, and asked after it. Bam, got it. Mother****ing hard to track down. VGC now has the slight honour of being the only place this seems to be publicly available.
[code]http://www.sendspace.com/file/an2l98[/code]
Heavy passages, violin, keyboards... Now all it needs is vocals.
Katatonia? Really? Now that was unexpected.
Yeah, it took me completely by surprise when I realized who it was. Our good friend Jack had all ready tried to spoil it for me; luckily, I ignored his random outburst as normal.
Hey Hyper! Did you know that I am actually the greatest person in all of existence? I am perpetually the greatest being to have ever imposed dominion upon an internet forum.
Ayreon is the most potent **** in existence as far as operatic progressive metal goes and I am enthusiastic about the magnitude of the awesomeness involved in this field.
**** everything.
The above post is evidence that I shouldn't be allowed to talk about music while drunk.
Anyway:
[quote]Thanks for the many compliments on vocalist sample #8! It will come as no suprise that it's indeed Jonas Renkse (not ReNSke as I recently learned myself!) because it's no secret that their last album 'The Great Cold Distance" is one of my favorite albums of the last years. And yes, especially for me he growled a couple of lines for the first time in 12 years, I'm honoured...and impressed. If you like the sample and you don't know Katatonia, check them out!
I liked the demo song. I'm glad we're the only people who have it right now.
Renkse being in there doesn't really surprise me that much. It's funny, he looks verrrrrry ****ed in that picture.
also, wtf is wrong with my font?
EDIT: Demo sounds AMAZING.
[quote]That album sucked.
You are wrong. It didn't suck, it was just borderline mediocre. It had a few awesome songs.
Now, Discouraged Ones, ****, that was awful.
Mediocre is bad in my books.
Eh, I don't listen to Katatonia for the album, but for the few songs that kick *** on it. July and My Twin <3
I don't listen to Katatonia at all, really.
I'd recommend Last Fair Deal Gone Down to absolutely anyone, and Brave Murder Day to Opeth fans.
I have the latter, I just didn't find it memorable enough to listen to more than one time, although I did accidentally loop "For Funerals To Come" about 190 times by mistake, and it's my top track on Last.fm right now.
Yeah, that does that say? Ftblaz? Failbt? Talk about fundamental kerning ****-ups.
Oh, and vocalist total has been bumped up to 17. Also, one of the songs featuring Simone Simons will be called "Web of Lies".
Well just don't do it. For some reason it turned "for the album" into "falbum." Just a protip.
Also, that's a lot of vocalists. More than I expected.
Yeah, and there's still nine(?) slots left to fill. Lots of possibilities.
[url=http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer9.mp3]Number Nine, Number Nine, Number Nine...[/url]
Uploaded about five minutes ago now. I caught it within thirty seconds. :)
And it's... I'm almost positive... Nay, CERTAIN.
It's Anneke van Giersbergen.
Now that was pretty good.
Yeah, I enjoyed that one.
There are three HIDDEN MESSAGES =o in this sample.
Binary translates to "HELP".
Yes/no and on/off are also binary, and translate to "SOS SOS" and "FOREVER" respectively.
Omni was telling me this. I said it's a cry for help. He's going to commit suicide shortly after the release. Heard it here first.
Flight of the Conchords binary solo ripoff, I'd say. :p:
But in all seriousness that sounded pretty great.
I have here a clumsy syncing job. Apologies for how awkward it sounds when he cuts in.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/34130899df302d/
I think we know what song Englund is on now!
[quote=shaaykaynu]Hate to disappoint you (and many with you) We did talk to Daniel G, and he was certainly interested, but alas, for this album it wasn't quite possible. The next hopefully.
Oh well. :( Still holding out for Garm, Robert and Warrel.
I'm surprised Steven Wilson isn't on one of these yet.
Arjen: "After Actual Fantasy I wrote letters to about 50 singers/musicians if they wanted to guest on Ayreon, and (besides those who agreed) I only got a few answers. Among them were Donovan, Phil Mogg (UFO), Stephen Duffy (ex-Duran Duran) and Steven Wilson. Steven liked Actual Fantasy (especially productionwise), and Strange Hobby even more. He wrote me a detailed review/letter on my material and I really appreciated that. Unfortunately my music was/is too prog for him. And he didn't consider himself to be a good enough singer/guitarplayer. Obviously I disagree."
Haha, there goes Shade's dreams. Also, I think Steven Wilson is a huge faggot now and I'm glad I'm not really a fan of his music.
That sounds like a pretty lame excuse if you ask me. Not saying PT is a complex prog band, but still...
More news...
There are two guest keyboardists, one guest guitarist, one drummer (Ed Warby), one violinist (Ben Mathot), one lead guitarist (Arjen Lucassen).
Nine lead roles, eight-plus supporting role. Note: The revealed singers so far aren't necessarily the lead cast.
Steven's music is great but he comes off as a dick sometimes.
Three new samples since I last updated:
http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer10.mp3
http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer11.mp3
http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer12.mp3
10 is Bob Catley of British melodic rock band Magnum.
11 might be someone named Phideaux Xavier, a slightly obscure prog artist. The sample is from the track featuring Simone, "Web of Lies". Check out PX's [url=http://www.myspace.com/phideaux]Myspace[/url].
12 is either Floor Jansen or Irene Jansen singing a duet with J
Haven't heard of any of those people, neat!
Irene Jansen was on The Human Equation. Floor Jansen was on The Dream Sequencer and Space Metal.
Oh right, she was Passion... Huh, totally forgot.
Confirmed: Phideaux Xavier and Floor Jansen.
Vocalist total has been raised to 18.
http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer13.mp3
Steve Lee.
Sounds goooooood.
http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer14.mp3
:)
:D
Who is that?
EDIT: Hansi of Blind Guardian? Do not want. I don't forgive him for ruining Queen music.
What a pleasantly unexpected surprise. Hansi is one of my favorite vocalists, so I'm really looking forward to the upcoming Ayreon album now.
yay hansi :cool:
Eh, it's okay. I like the violin part, though.
Hansi? Nice. I expect BG-like choruses at one point or another then.
Leading cast:
1. Tom Englund
2. Jorn Lande
3. Jonas Renkse
4. Anneke van Giersbergen
5. Bob Catley
6. Floor Jansen
7. Steve Lee
8. Hansi Kursch
9. Magali Luyten
10. ????
Supporting cast:
1. Simone Simons
2. Ty Tabor
3. Arjen Lucassen
4. Liselotte Hegt
5. Phideaux Xavier
6. ????
7. ????
8. ????
One more main cast singer (who hasn't been recorded yet), and two more supporting singers. These two will be relatively obscure people; Ayreon's going to be something of a big break for them. One guy, one girl.
There might be an eighteenth singer. Arjen keeps changing his mind.
daniel. ****in. gildenlow.
I'm surprised Klarth didn't post these.
http://www.ayreon.com/ayreon/ayreonseven/mystery_singer15_16.mp3
This is Wudstik and Marjan, people I have no idea who are.
**** YEAH
I hate that this computer has no audio right now. :(
That's your computer's way of telling you that you need to listen to music other than ****ty prog sometimes.
Pulling a Klarth right now, but the new album will be called 01011001.
So the album's name is "Y"? Huh...
I like what I hear so far. I'll either buy a copy, or steal a copy of Ian's, depending on who buys first.
I left before I could boast about this