AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen has tapped former PORCUPINE TREE drummer Chris Maitland to record the drum tracks for his new project. The recording sessions took place November 9-12 (listen to a sample). Commented Arjen: "We recorded Chris Maitland's drums last month at RS 29 (the studio where I recorded drums for the first ...
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Former THE GATHERING singer Anneke van Giersbergen and her new band AGUA DE ANNIQUE will stage two unique shows in February 2009 — at the Melkweg in Amsterdam, Holland (Feb. 12) and at the Oosterpoort in Groningen (Feb. 13). At these intimate performances, Anneke will shed some light on her compositions through personal stories. Anneke ...
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Netherlands-based gothic/progressive metal band STREAM OF PASSION, which is fronted by Mexican female vocalist Marcela Bovio (AYREON), has entered the studio to begin recording its sophomore album, due in early 2009 via Napalm Records. According to a posting on the group's MySpace page, "To stick to their traditional distributed and de-centralized way of working, the ...
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GALEXIA, the industrial/progressive project led by Orange, Connecticut-based musician Kenneth Joseph Spaziani, will release its self-titled debut album on March 10, 2009. The CD features guest vocal contributions from Arjen A. Lucassen from AYREON, Damian Wilson from THRESHOLD, Marko Eskola of FARMAKON, Martyna Halas, and Gordon Tittsworth of IMAGES OF EDEN. In other news, Eskola ...
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A six-minute interview with AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen can be viewed below. He introduces vocalist Jasper Steverlinck (ARID), who is featured on the new track "Epilogue: The Memory Remains" from the recently released AYREON 3CD + DVD compilation album entitled "Timeline" Arjen Lucassen previously stated about "Timeline", "I've been asked many times before to release ...
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STREAM OF PASSION has been confirmed for the Monsters Of Mariaheide festival, set to take place January 17 in Mariaheide, Holland. For more information (in Dutch), go to this location. STREAM OF PASSION recently inked a deal with Napalm Records. The band has posted several new demo teasers on its MySpace ...
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Dutch guitarist/composer Arjen Lucassen has completed work on a new AYREON 3CD + DVD compilation album entitled "Timeline". "I've been asked many times before to release an AYREON compilation album, but it just didn't feel right to present fragmented bits of story by lifting individual songs out of their greater contexts," Arjen explains. "However, my ...
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Dutch metallers THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT have announced the departure of touring keyboardist Carsten Altena. Commented Altena: "A few days ago I made a decision. As of 2009 I'm leaving THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT as a live member. It was a difficult decision. Things are going extremely well for the band: the third album has been heralded ...
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STREAM OF PASSION has inked a deal with Napalm Records. Commented the band: "From the beginning, we had a very good feeling about all negotiations and talking to the nice people of Napalm; now it's the time to let you all know that a new chapter in the STREAM OF PASSION history is about to ...
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STREAM OF PASSION will support EPICA on October 16 at Paard van Troje in Den Haag, Holland. As previously reported, STREAM OF PASSION has posted several new demo teasers on its MySpace page. STREAM OF PASSION members Johan van Stratum (bass), Davy Mickers (drums) and Marcela Bovio (vocals, lyrics, violin) last year announced ...
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GALEXIA, the project led by Orange, Connecticut-based musician Kenneth Joseph Spaziani, has released two singles off its upcoming debut album, which will be issued in August/September via Astral Sun Records. Each single is available for purchase in high-quality MP3 format. The two singles are "Rose of Thorns" (purchase link), which features Arjen A. ...
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The fourth episode of the SPV podcast is now available. The podcast is hosted by "Freeman" and it features music, news, tour dates and more, from all the artists in the SPV and InsideOut family. The podcast is available on iTunes or you can view/listen to it on SPV's YouTube channel .This episode features tour ...
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An audio interview with AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen conducted by Search & Destroy from Mexico is available for streaming at this location (scroll down to bottom of the page to locate the audio player). AYREON's new album, "01011001", registered the following chart positions around the globe: The Netherlands: #2 Germany: #18 UK: #26 ...
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UK's heavy metal podcast and 'zine Ragnarok Radio has posted part two of a very special set of two shows that feature Arjen Lucassen of AYREON fame. In this episode, Arjen talks about his side project STAR ONE, the structuring of the AYREON albums and his plans for the future. Download the podcast at
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Audio samples from "Elected" a collaboration between Arjen Lucassen AYREON and Tobias Sammet (AVANTASIA) are available at this location. On January 25, 2008 the rock operas of Lucassen and Sammet, respectively AYREON's "01011001" and AVANTASIA's "The Scarecrow", were released simultaneously. The music press, always eager for a story, called this event the "Clash ...
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Holland's FaceCulture visited AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen at his Electric Castle studio where he explained how he worked on the track "The Fifth Extinction". The song appears on the fifth and latest AYREON CD, titled "01011001", and is very interesting because it features appearances by no less than six different singers. Lucassen offers ...
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STREAM OF PASSION has posted another new demo teaser dubbed "Demo 04" on the band's MySpace page. As previously reported, STREAM OF PASSION has scheduled the following dates: April 11 - Kasteel, - Alphen a/d Rijn, Holland April 12 - Tournai ProgFest - Tournai, Belgium April 13 - Spirit of 66 - Verviers, ...
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UK's heavy metal podcast and 'zine Ragnarok Radio has posted part one of a very special set of two shows that feature Arjen Lucassen of AYREON fame. In this episode, Arjen talks about how he got into music, wearing wigs and why Planet Y is called Planet Y. Download the podcast at this ...
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On January 25, 2008 the rock operas of Arjen Lucassen and Tobias Sammet, respectively AYREON's "01011001" and AVANTASIA's "The Scarecrow", were released simultaneously. The music press, always eager for a story, called this event the "Clash of the Titans," gleefully portraying the two musicians as bitter rivals and urging each to comment on the other ...
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"01011001", the new rock opera from AYREON — the brainchild of Dutch guitarist/composer Arjen Lucassen — will be released on vinyl. It will be a triple-album set on clear vinyl. However, the mid-March release date has been postponed. The new (but still tentative) release dates are as follows: Germany, Austria, Switzerland: April 11 Rest of ...
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STREAM OF PASSION has posted a demo teaser of one of its new songs on the band's MySpace page. As previously reported, STREAM OF PASSION has scheduled the following dates: April 11 - Kasteel, - Alphen a/d Rijn, Holland April 12 - Tournai ProgFest - Tournai, Belgium April 13 - Spirit of 66 ...
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"01011001", the new rock opera from AYREON — the brainchild of Dutch guitarist/composer Arjen Lucassen — has registered the following chart positions around the globe: The Netherlands: #2 Germany: #18 UK: #26 (Rock/Metal chart) Norway: #42 Hungary: #54 Sweden: #54 U.S.: #68 (Indie chart) Switzerland: #85 Canada: #86 (Hard Music chart) France: #90 "01011001" sold ...
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STREAM OF PASSION has announced the following dates: April 11 - Kasteel, - Alphen a/d Rijn, Holland April 12 - Tournai ProgFest - Tournai, Belgium April 13 - Spirit of 66 - Verviers, Belgium April 18 - De Kade - Zaandaam, Holland April 24 - Effenaar - Eindhoven, Holland April 25 - Fenix - Sittard, ...
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AFTER FOREVER guitarist Sander Gommans — who suffered a seizure last November while en route to a gig — has issued the following update: "First of all, again, I'd like to mention that I really appreciate your great support the past weeks! I know [AFTER FOREVER's decision to take a] break was a surprise and ...
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AYREON mainman Arjen Lucassen was recently interviewed by "Whiplash", a weekly metal show on Belgian national radio Studio Brussel hosted by AFTER ALL guitarist Dries Van Damme. Lucassen was joined by singer Marjan Welman for an exclusive three-song acoustic set. Listen to the chat and the live session in streaming audio at this ...
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"01011001", the new rock opera from AYREON — the brainchild of Dutch guitarist/composer Arjen Lucassen — has entered the Dutch "alternative chart" at position No. 1 and the overall Dutch album chart at No. 2 — the highest Dutch chart positions so far for any AYREON release! The album also entered the German album chart ...
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AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen will be joined by Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER) and Peter Vink (member of HDK, the side project of AFTER FOREVER guitarist Sander Gommans) this coming Monday (January 28) to perform one of the new AYREON songs on Dutch TV. The program is called "De wereld draait door" and it will air ...
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A 15-minute audio interview with AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen conducted earlier in the month by Vassil Varbanov of Bulgaria's Tangra Mega Rock is available for download at this location (MP3, 4 MB). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow: Tangra Mega Rock: How long does it take to create such ...
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AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen will make at least two in-store appearances this month. Joining him for a short acoustic set will be female singer Marjan Welman, whose powerful vocals are featured on the song "E=mc2" on the new AYREON album, "01011001". January 25 - 17:00 - Velvet Music in Breda, Netherlands January 26 - 17:00 ...
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A preview video for AYREON's upcoming album, "01011001", can be viewed below. The CD is scheduled for release on January 28 via InsideOut Music. AYREON is the brainchild of Dutch guitarist/composer Arjen Lucassen. The group will make its new rock opera, entitled "01011001", available in three editions: * a regular two-CD edition with a 28 ...
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