After several years break again so a new Ayreon, finally! The new Ayreon has proven old and familiar. The mix of rock, metal, 70s prog, jazz-rock, symphonic and folk elements, layered vocals / choir, etc. The vocals Lucassen has done away: not as a gigantic roster as on the 01. And the music is not so bleak and moody as the 01 Also he has proved a very good hand in choosing the singer / inside and other musicians. For this purpose again an excellent production. And for the first time self-citations. Whether Lucassen now the ideas are considered and it was felt that it just fits, everyone must decide for themselves. After the first listening I was skeptical. Because, unlike its predecessors, this time there is no single song, but rather parts or fragments. Reminds me more of classical compositions. This has the disadvantage that you can get involved at the beginning hardly on something, because it is often up again is over quickly. Do not misunderstand: The two albums are full of good melodies, guitar riffs and excellent singing. Striking I find especially the keyboard sounds that are perhaps never so perfectly to the individual moments like this. Some melodies are just so beautiful that you would like to stay longer or more often it belongs. That is also the point of criticism for me on the album. Therefore it can not pick out individual things you really, you should take that as a whole and also hear the piece (if possible). This is nothing in between and for easy consumption. It reveals a story, a real listening experience. CD 1 is already class, on CD 2 a lot genuflection moments but then on top of it, as I do not even know them by their predecessors ago. As worked here with suspense, which were perfectly deposited with sounds and melodies, which is great cinema. Conclusion: The initial skepticism is gone, I'm excited and impressed. Lucassen has not made easily and delivered his most ambitious work. There is not a whit behind the other discs back, on the contrary, the 01lässt it well behind him, but if she tops Electric Castle and Human Equotion, I would deny it. Scarce five star and a strong buy recommendation for those who like this mix of style elements mentioned above. Newcomers to the genre might need a bit more patience, until one opens up everything, but Theoryist it anyway worth to be heard often.
