The Story Behind HOME

Five voices. Five characters. One journey into the human mind.

What does it mean to be home? Is it a place, a feeling, a memory – or something we carry within ourselves?

HOME, the debut album by ARDARITH, explores this question through an ambitious progressive metal concept album combining music, storytelling and the complexity of human emotions.

Five voices, one journey

At the center of the story stands Me, portrayed by Rob Lundgren. His journey takes him away from everything familiar, accompanied by four personified emotions:

• Me – Rob Lundgren
• Hope – Alina Lesnik
• Despair – Daniël de Jongh
• Guilt – Liv Jagrell
• Memory – Alexander Göhs

Each character represents a different aspect of the human experience, guiding and challenging Me on his search for belonging and self-understanding.

The journey ultimately leads to a simple but powerful realization: “Inside we're all the same.” Beyond its musical ambitions, HOME is a reflection on what connects us as human beings – regardless of our backgrounds, beliefs or differences.

The Musical DNA of ARDARITH

The musical and conceptual roots of ARDARITH reach into several different worlds. A particularly important inspiration was Arjen Lucassen's Ayreon album The Human Equation. Its concept of portraying the inner world of a human being through personified emotions helped spark the original idea behind HOME.

Other influences shaped the musical language of the album: the folk-inspired elements of Amorphis, the compositional depth of Opeth, and the symphonic grandeur of Nightwish.

Rather than following conventional song structures, HOME unfolds as a musical journey. Heavy guitars and progressive arrangements intertwine with atmospheric synthesizers and acoustic instruments including violin, piano and flute.

Across the album, eleven musicians and five vocalists bring the story to life, moving between intimate, fragile passages and powerful, dramatic climaxes.

Music across borders

Initiator, composer and lyricist Max Pfaffinger brought together musicians from different backgrounds to create an album with a shared message. Released on September 9, 2022, HOME is a studio project that uses progressive and symphonic metal to explore empathy, openness and the emotions we share.

Cover artwork: Colin Winkler.