I dunno, maybe you didn't catch it, but the voice at the end is one of the characters from Electric Castle. And while it was an experiment, the events of the album actually did happen, as the Dream sequencer lets you relive a life that has already happened. My mind was blown.

I decided a few days ago, after long and profound consideration, that "The Human Equation" is the best Ayreon album this far. There's no denying it. It's got the best cast, the best and the most relatable story, and it's the most musically diverse.

One of my all time favourite albums. Just flawless. Great memories also from the late teens with this album and living kinda the first half of the album. Once on a new years eve I, with ten odd guys sung trough the whole album with everyone having their own characters. The girls didn't really get it.... :D But this is one of those albums that you can recommend to pretty much anyone and they'll like it.

Flawless album. One of the greatest albums ever recorded in my opinion. Ayreon rank: 1st place

You did a great job on this one. The Human Equation was my first album that i ever heard from him back in the day (2004) and i still remember the feel that i had after listening to it for a couple times. It opened for me totally new perspective on prog music in general and also introduce me for the first time, with great bands like DS Tribe and Shadow Gallery. Live version of this album that came out last year was one of my top albums of 2016. I think that when you finish with all the Ayreon albums, you should start reviewing-presenting the other projects-albums in Arjen's catalog like Ambeon, Star One...Also try to put the link for buying the albums that you review in the description. Once again, great job on this one.

I always misunderstood the line said by Fear: 'No one here is dancing to your tune' flipped around by Passion saying: I am here, dancing to your tune.' I used to think that the word 'tune' in that sentence said 'chains' and that single word changes the entire experience of the album. To me, it then gives the vibe that the lead character is trapped in his mind (the coma he ended up in) and everyone was willing to help him, except Passion who was at first calming him with her gentle words and voice, followed by betraying him and dancing to his chains. I still love the lyrics when I learned that I mistook that sentence, but this storyline never went away when I listened to this album. I guess I just love the idea that a single word in the right place can change so much about the story.

great review notes !!!! couple of thing about this album 1...Marcela Bovio performance in '' sign '' is just perfect [the highline of the album ] .if they are angels in heaven they might sing like marcela 2... Hevy Devy and Mike Baker are espectacular in ''loser'' 3... Ed Warby .the drums sounds so powerful 4 ...the artwork and even the booklet is really nice .

I do not like anything sci-fi, and knowing that subject is a favorite of his, the overall intensity and the amount of work he puts into his work, I decided to overlook my dis-like. I own this one (non sci-fi) and really love it. Thanks "Notes" for introducing me to a band I might have missed. My wife even loves it.

Although this is my favorite Ayreon album, I hope the new album changes my mind.

My first meeting with Ayreon, and for a long time the only one album from him I was listening to. I'm just keen on Pain and those vocals of Devon. "I am Pain, I'm real, and not a dream" Haaaaa so good. Great job anyway on that review ;)

This series is sending me back to albums I haven't listened to in a long time - and finding they are as enjoyable as I remember. Personally, I love the end to this one, but I can see why people might not. The UM concept always makes me thing of Nick Bostrom's theory (www.simulation-argument.com/), against which it is very hard to argue.

I mean, I searched for a review of the album and this was the first video that appeared. I'm glad I clicked! This is a fantastic review! Excellent work ;) I am currently listening to it and I am loving every single second!

I just listened to this album, and man was I blown away! I'm not usually a fan of guest stars on other band's work, but it really works here. I think having these different singers playing different characters is a really cool idea, and Tbh it might work better than just one singer singing all the characters. This album is a masterpiece and I'm looking forward to listening to the rest of his catalog!

This still stands as my favorite Ayreon album. It's very unique in it's it's song-to-song presentation, and if it weren't for the very last line in the album spoken by the Forever (Whom we now know to be the last humans who escaped earth and lost their humanity through the use of liquid eternity) this wouldn't even fit into the ayreon universe.

Only issue I am having with your reviews of Ayreon... you keep referring to them as a "band" and I'm not sure that really works. Ayreon, as a continuous unit, is just Arjen (pronounced "Ar-yen") Lucassen (and Ed Warby on drums on most of the records since Electric Castle). But it's definitely more than a simple solo project. So to be honest, I don't know what to call it. Band? Solo project? Rock opera series? I usually just call it a "project". Another thing you should check out is The Theater Equation, a live version of this album that started as a mere fan project, but eventually got many of the original singers and some of the backing musicians involved, and then eventually got the blessing (and involvement!) of Arjen himself and the funding to release the performance as a CD and DVD. It's probably Arjen's crowning moment of awesome!

Agree it is a masterpiece, shame you did not mención Marcela Bovio!

Really like your challen man

How come you use so little samples in these long videos? I've heard this album many times but it's hard to remember exact moments that you're talking about, a sample of the piece would help a lot, dude.

This album kinda rips off Deloused In The Comatorium as both main characters are in a coma and explore their “minds” but whatever.