Transitus (album)

Transitus is the tenth studio album by the Dutch progressive rock/metal band Ayreon. It was released on 25 September 2020. The album is accompanied by a 25 page comic book, not included with CD or vinyl, and illustrated by Felix Vega.

The album's plot is one of the few not connected to the main Ayreon storyline; instead, it presents a sci-fi/gothic horror story partially set in the 19th century.

A total of five music videos were released for the album. The two first came out on 16 July 2020 for the singles "Get Out! Now!" and "Hopelessly Slipping Away". The former covers the part in the story in which protagonist Daniel (Tommy Karevik) is banished from his house by his father (Dee Snider) for having an affair with their servant Abby (Cammie Gilbert). The song features a guitar solo by Joe Satriani. The other song follows Daniel's ghost as he tries to contact Abby, who can't hear nor see him but does feel his presence.

On 3 September, a video for "This Human Equation" featuring Simone Simons was released. According to Ayreon's mastermind Arjen Anthony Lucassen, it contains several references to the project's universe, besides the title, which alludes to their sixth album. On 17 September, a lyric video for "Talk of the Town" was released, featuring images of Paul Manzi performing as Henry and studio footage of the instrumentalists recording their parts. The final video, titled "Daniel’s Descent into Transitus Medley", was released on 1 October featuring Simons, Karevik, Marcela Bovio and Caroline Westendorp (the latter two as the Furies).

Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's media notes.


 * Vocalists
 * Tom Baker (actor for Doctor Who) – The Storyteller
 * Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder) – Daniel
 * Cammie Gilbert (Oceans of Slumber) – Abby
 * Johanne James (Kyrbgrinder, drummer for Threshold) – Abraham
 * Simone Simons (Epica) – The Angel of Death
 * Marcela Bovio (ex-Stream of Passion) – Fury, Servant, Villager
 * Caroline Westendorp (ex-The Charm the Fury) – Fury, Servant, Villager
 * Paul Manzi (ex-Arena) – Henry
 * Michael Mills (Toehider) – The Statue
 * Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) – Father
 * Amanda Sommerville (Trillium, HDK) – Lavinia
 * Dianne van Giersbergen (Ex Libris) – Soprano
 * Dan J. Pierson, Jan Willem Ketelaers, Lisette van den Berg, Marjan Welman, Will Shaw, Wilmer Waarbroek – Villagers
 * Hellscore – Choir (directed by Noa Gruman)


 * Instrumentalists
 * Arjen Lucassen – Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Glockenspiel, Dulcimer, Toy Piano
 * Joost van den Broek – Hammond Organ, Piano, Fender Rhodes
 * Juan van Emmerloot – Drums
 * Ben Mathot – Violin
 * Jeroen Goossens – Flutes, Woodwinds
 * Jurriaan Westerveld – Cello
 * Alex Thyssen – French Horn
 * Thomas Cochrane – Trumpet, Trombone
 * Patty Gurdy – Hurdy Gurdy
 * Joe Satriani – Guitar Solo on "Get Out! Now!"
 * Marty Friedman – Guitar Solo on "Message From Beyond"