Ayreon - The Theory of Everything (2013)
Tracklist front / back album covers
CD 1
Phase I: Singularity
1. "Prologue: The Blackboard" 1:55
2. "The Theory of Everything Part 1" 3:01
3. "Patterns" Instrumental 1:03
4. "The Prodigy's World" 1:31
5. "The Teacher's Discovery" 2:58
6. "Love and Envy" 2:39
7. "Progressive Waves" Instrumental 3:16
8. "The Gift" 2:38
9. "The Eleventh Dimension" Instrumental 1:46
10. "Inertia" 0:45
11. "The Theory of Everything Part 2" 1:50
Total length: 23:29
Phase II: Symmetry
12. "The Consultation" 3:49
13. "Diagnosis" 2:48
14. "The Argument 1" 0:24
15. "The Rival's Dilemma" 2:22
16. "Surface Tension" 0:57
17. "A Reason to Live" 0:45
18. "Potential" 3:14
19. "Quantum Chaos" 2:09
20. "Dark Medicine" 1:23
21. "Alive!" 2:29
22. "The Prediction" 1:05
Total length: 21:31
CD 2
Phase III: Entanglement
1. "Fluctuations" Instrumental 1:01
2. "Transformation" 3:13
3. "Collision" 3:26
4. "Side Effects" 2:59
5. "Frequency Modulation" Instrumental 1:44
6. "Magnetism" 3:54
7. "Quid Pro Quo" 3:09
8. "String Theory" Instrumental 1:29
9. "Fortune?" 1:36
Total length: 22:34
Phase IV: Unification
10. "Mirror of Dreams" 2:30
11. "The Lighthouse" 3:16
12. "The Argument 2" 0:49
13. "The Parting" 3:27
14. "The Visitation" 3:27
15. "The Breakthrough" 2:00
16. "The Note" 1:11
17. "The Uncertainty Principle" 2:09
18. "Dark Energy" Instrumental 0:44
19. "The Theory of Everything Part 3" 1:29
20. "The Blackboard (Reprise)" 1:13
Total length: 22:20
Ayreon Band Members / Musicians
Vocalists
JB (Grand Magus) as The Teacher
Sara Squadrani (Ancient Bards) as The Girl
Michael Mills (Toehider) as The Father
Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil) as The Mother
Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder) as The Prodigy
Marko Hietala (ex-Nightwish, ex-Tarot) as The Rival
John Wetton (Asia, U.K., ex-King Crimson, ex-Family, ex-Roxy Music) as The Psychiatrist
Wilmer Waarbroek - backing vocals
Arjen Anthony Lucassen - production, mixing, recording
Brett Caldas-Lima - mastering
Musicians
Arjen Anthony Lucassen - electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, mandolin, analog synthesizers, Hammond, Solina Strings
Ed Warby - drums, percussion
Rick Wakeman (ex-Yes) - minimoog solo on "Diagnosis", synthesizer solo on "Surface Tension", piano
Keith Emerson (ex-Emerson, Lake & Palmer) - modular moog solo on "Progressive Waves"
Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment) - synthesizer solo on "Progressive Waves"
Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis) - guitar solo on "The Parting"
Troy Donockley (Nightwish) - uilleann pipes, whistles
Ben Mathot - violin
Maaike Peterse (Kingfisher Sky) - cello
Jeroen Goossens - flutes, bass flute, piccolo, bamboo flute, contrabass flute
Siddharta Barnhoorn - orchestrations
Michael Mills (Toehider) - Irish bouzouki
The Theory of Everything (stylized as ŦĦΣ ŦĦΣΦɌ¥ ΦƑ ΣVΣɌΨŦĦIΠG) is the 8th studio album from Ayreon, a progressive metal/rock opera project by Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released on 28 October 2013.
As with every Ayreon album, it is a concept album with each character being portrayed by one singer, however being released five years after 01011001 which concluded the original Ayreon story, The Theory of Everything is a fresh start from the Ayreon storyline developed since Ayreon's first album The Final Experiment in 1995; in addition, while previous albums which took place in a sci-fi context, it is set in a realistic world. Lucassen composed all the music, and wrote the story and lyrics with his girlfriend Lori Linstruth, making it the first Ayreon album in which he shares lyrics credit for all the songs.
