Ayreon 013 is the 13th album in the rock opera series created by Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen under his Ayreon project. First released in 2017, Ayreon 013: The Source features an all-star cast of vocalists bringing the futuristic sci-fi story to life.
The Ayreon albums are known for having different singers take on the roles of characters in an epic science fiction tale set in a variety of time periods. The Source is set in the distant future and serves as a prequel story to the original Ayreon album The Final Experiment.
With its complex narrative and range of vocal roles, each Ayreon album requires an ensemble cast of talented singers. The Source is no exception, featuring 16 guest vocalists from bands and projects like Nightwish, Arch Enemy, Lacuna Coil, and many more.
Main Vocalists
Here are the main vocalists who took on lead singing roles in The Source:
Tommy Karevik
Karevik is best known as the lead singer of Swedish melodic metal band Kamelot. In The Source he sings as The Historian, The Chemist, and The Captain.
Simone Simons
The lead singer of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, Simons performs as The Counselor in The Source.
James LaBrie
As the lead singer of acclaimed progressive metal band Dream Theater, LaBrie is a veteran of the genre. He takes on the role of The Diplomat in The Source.
Tommy Johansson
The vocalist for Swedish power metal band Sabaton, Johansson sings as The Opposition Leader in the album.
Supporting Vocalists
In addition to the main roles, The Source features a deep bench of talented singers in supporting parts:
Michael Mills
The lead singer of Irish gothic metal band To The Bones, Mills performs as The Prophet in The Source.
Russell Allen
As the vocalist for American progressive metal band Symphony X, Allen takes on the role of The President in the album.
Floor Jansen
Also known for being the lead singer of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, Jansen sings as The Biologist in The Source.
Hansi Kürsch
The frontman of legendary German power metal band Blind Guardian, Kürsch performs as The Chemist’s Father in the album.
Mike Mills
The bassist and one of the vocalists of alternative rock pioneers R.E.M., Mills sings as The Achiever in The Source.
Paul Manzi
The vocalist for British progressive rock band Arena, Manzi takes on the role of The Astronomer in the album.
Tommy Rogers
As the lead singer for American progressive metal band Between the Buried and Me, Rogers performs as The Hotshot Pilot in The Source.
Cristina Scabbia
The vocalist for Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil, Scabbia sings as The Royalty in the album.
Complete Vocal Cast
Here is the full list of vocalists and the roles they played on Ayreon 013: The Source:
Singer | Role |
---|---|
Tommy Karevik | The Historian / The Chemist / The Captain |
Simone Simons | The Counselor |
James LaBrie | The Diplomat |
Tommy Johansson | The Opposition Leader |
Michael Mills | The Prophet |
Russell Allen | The President |
Floor Jansen | The Biologist |
Hansi Kürsch | The Chemist’s Father |
Mike Mills | The Achiever |
Paul Manzi | The Astronomer |
Tommy Rogers | The Hotshot Pilot |
Cristina Scabbia | The Royalty |
Behind the Scenes
In conceiving his elaborate Ayreon universe, creator Arjen Anthony Lucassen puts a huge emphasis on storytelling. For each album he composes a complex storyline then meticulously casts vocalists to bring the characters to life.
After writing the music and lyrics, Lucassen sends recording sessions to each vocalist. While they have some freedom in interpreting their roles, Lucassen provides direction to fit the overall narrative vision. The vocal tracks are compiled and edited together into the finished album.
The rich vocal ensemble combined with Lucassen’s intricate instrumentation creates an immersive audio experience on every Ayreon release. It has established a reputation among rock fans for more depth and emotion than a typical concept album.
Looking Ahead
The most recent Ayreon album was 2020’s Transitus, with another strong cast including Tommy Karevik returning alongside singers like Cammie Gilbert, Dianne van Giersbergen, and more.
Lucassen has hinted that more Ayreon albums are on the way to add to the mythology and reveal more about the future world first introduced on 013: The Source. Given his track record, future releases are sure to feature more top-flight vocalists bringing their talents to sing in the Ayreon universe.
Conclusion
Ayreon 013: The Source features an impressive collection of seasoned rock and metal vocalists playing various characters in a complex sci-fi concept album. Tommy Karevik, Simone Simons, James LaBrie, and Tommy Johansson took on major singing roles, supported by an accomplished ensemble cast of musicians from high-profile bands.
With his intricate compositions and conceptual vision, Ayreon mastermind Arjen Anthony Lucassen has established one of the most immersive projects in the prog/metal scene. The list of vocalists he attracts reveals the respect his work has earned.
Fans eagerly await the next installment to see what new voices might be added to the Ayreon universe.