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Arjen Lucassen returns with another double concept album
based on the planet Y and their race 'Forever', who send their
DNS on a comet which collides with earth and sees the start
of the human race. The 'Forever' wanted to use the human race
to get away from their own reliance on technology and get
back to feelings and emotions but the human race eventually
becoming ever dependent on technology and machines.***
Like previous Ayreon albums lyrically it focuses on technology
and our growing reliance on it and lyrically this album is
much darker than previous albums.***
As you'd expect there is a stellar array of guest vocalists
and musicians including Magnum's Bob Catley, Evergrey's Tom
Englund, Epica's Simone Simons, Derek Sherinan and Tomas Bodin
(The Flower Kings). The music is simpy breathtaking ranging
from heavy, aggressive riffing on the opening song 'Age Of
Shadows' through to more reflective, folk tinged playing as
can be heard on 'The Truth Is Here'. Disc two is the real
tour de force as the music and vocalists work so well together.
It is all very well gathering lots of vocalists together but
you need the music to suit their vocal style whilst keeping
a flow overall, which Arjen has done and then some! The two
real stand outs on here are Bob Catley, who suits this album
down to the ground and Ty Tabor of King's X on 'Connect The
Dots'. This song is the most instant on here and one you will
keep playing over and over. If there is ever a single lifted
off this CD then it should be this one.***
I thought Arjen couldn't top his last Ayreon masterpiece
'The Human Equation' but he has and I urge you to get this
CD as it is one of the best progressive music releases for
many a year. Words fail to do this album justice, simply stunning!
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