01011001

Basically, Arjen tried to make Human Equation part II buth with a different lyric concept ... and failed. Lets start with the lyrics, i'm someone who likes cheese very much but this is just over the top and plainly bad, just check this out: "I checked the web and left it on over night Downloading all the latest files Peer to peer, the torrent flows into my life And I disconnect" ... how on earth did Arjen thought this was a good lyric? In some parts the lyrics just seem badly placed and way forced over the music. Musicwise, this album has good and bad moments, mostly good but about 1\4 not up to the standards set by Human Equation ... and thats the main problem with this release, musically is way too close to that album and it gets ruined by some not so inspired sections, this sense of deja-vu leaves you bored after some listenings. The third problem with this album is the overkill of vocal talent, having 15-something top-rate singers in an album sounds like vocal heaven but what happens here is pure overkill of different voices meshed together, there isnt enough space for each singer to properly leave their individuality mark throughout the album, and even someone who is familiar with most of the singers will struggle to figure out who is who on the first few listens in certain parts; was that coverdale? ... oh it was jorn lande, or was it bob catley? or russel allen (he isnt in the album is he?)? or Hansi Kürsch? dont get me wrong, all these singers are great and have distinctive voices (except for the ubber-mega-coverdale clone in the form of Jorn Lande) but they do have the same type of vocal characteristics and it seems rather pointless to use them together, it gets very anoying after awile and is a pure waste, the singers that really do stand out are Magali, Jonas and Anneke precisely because they have very different vocal characteristics than all the others in this album ... human equation was dham near perfect in the way all those different kinds of vocals meshed together, 101010010101001110101010 110100001111 goes over the top and spoils it, this is a pure example of more != better.

As a hole(or even whole), this album has its moments but some severe weaknesses, and the main problem of this album is that The Human Equation is a near-impossible album to top, and making a second part of that with more of everything isnt the recipe for a good album. Arjen, listen dear, i love your music, but next time get some decent lyrics, half the singers you used in this album, and reinvent yourself a little bit ... and you will be fine. ;)