Ayreon, the (mostly) science fiction rock opera project by Dutch musician Arjen Lucassen, returns with The Source.

Ayreon has always been somewhat of a curiosity. Lucassen is notoriously shy, and seldom performs live, though he did organise a short run stage show of one of his albums in Rotterdam. Despite the lack of live performances, he has amassed a cult following, and brings a curious combination of folk, power metal, blues, and sci-fi. Lucassen has brought in vocalists from well-known acts like Dream Theatre, Symphony X, Nightwish, Blind Guardian, and Between the Buried and Me, but also up and coming Tunisian prog outfit Myrath, and all but unknown part time Australian band Toehider.

It’s not as over the top as one would expect a science fiction rock opera to be, but it has a delightful ebb and flow. There is one hitch with the album, though a masterful musician, Lucassen’s lyrics, or at least in English, can be rather clumsy and feel crow-barred at times, particularly in the more aggressive songs. The single ‘Everybody Dies’ is a prime example of this, and such heavy handedness also pops up in ‘Run! Apocalypse! Run!’, though it does not completely spoil either. ‘All That Was’ is a particular highlight, Simone Simmons of Epica shines, as Lucassen gets very folky.

It’s a lovingly crafted album, showing off the talents of more than a dozen vocalists, but it does go on a bit. Or it might just have been I got very hungry halfway through listening. Why not find out for yourself?

Edmund Goldrick