The Final Experiment
The Final Experiment
| Track List: 1. Prologue - 3:17 A. The Time Telepathy Experiment B. Overture C. Ayreon's Quest Act I 'The Dawning' 2. The Awareness - 6:36 A. The Premonition B. Dreamtime (Words Become A Song) C. The Awakening 3. Eyes of Time - 5:06 A. Eyes of Time B. Brainwaves 4. The Banishment - 11:08 A. A New Dawn B. The Gathering C. The Accusation D. The Banishment E. Oblivion Act II 'King Arthur's Court' 5. Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy - 2:46 6. Sail Away to Avalon - 4:02 7. Nature's Dance - 2:28 Act III 'Visual Echoes' 8. Computer-Reign (Game Over) - 3:25 9. Waracle - 6:44 10. Listen to the Waves - 4:59 11. Magic Ride - 3:36 Act IV 'Merlin's Will and Ayreon's Fate' 12. Merlin's Will - 3:20 13. The Charm of the Seer - 4:12 14. Swan Song - 2:44 15. Ayreon's Fate - 6:56 A. Ayreon's Fate B. Merlin's Prophecy C. Epilogue Transmission Records 1995 |
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| More Albums by Ayreon: Universal Migrator Part I: The Dream Sequencer (2000) Into the Electric Castle: A Space Opera (1998) The Final Experiment: A Rock Opera (1995) |
Related Bands: Arena Blind Guardian Pink Floyd Savatage |
| In 1995, former Vengeance guitarist & singer Arjen Anthony
Lucassen gave us The Final Experiment, the first album under the name of his new project,
Ayreon. This ambitious "rock opera" mixes overused elements of science fiction
and fantasy and uniquely combines them into a powerful and sometimes campy story line
about futuristic scientists, time travel, powerful magicians and the end of the world. At
the center of this story line is a 6th century blind minstrel named Ayreon. The story
tells us of Ayreon's quest to warn the world of its future destruction (which will happen
in the year 2084). The cd itself is divided into a prologue and four acts. Very operatic. What really makes this cd so fascinating is the number of musicians and singers, many of whom were already well-known, involved on this cd. Representing bands such as Kingdom Come, Elegy and Golden Earring, the wide variety of musicians and singers really adds to this album's depth. Their are many parts to be played on this rock opera and the different singers are key to making this cd work so well. But it would all be for naught if Arjen Lucassen hadn't written great songs. Mr. Lucassen's songwriting skills are fantastic. He combines epic metal with progressive rock and the result is unbelievably great. The songs on The Final Experiment range from the powerful and epic "Sail Away to Avalon", to the medieval and regal "Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy", to the dark, foreboding "Computer-Reign (Game Over)"--there is something here for everyone. There is even a one-minute death metal part! |
Ayreon's The Final Experiment combines the beauty and progressive rock of Pink Floyd and the grandness and epic metal of Savatage. But that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of Ayreon's complex and wonderfully melodic brand of rock/metal. You'll have to hear for yourself as this is unusual but extremely beautiful music. Highlights include the aforementioned "Sail Away to Avalon", :the beautifully ominous "The Awareness" and the grand, earth-shattering "Merlin's Will". Arjen Lucassen is obviously a fan of classic rock and '70s prog rock as those influences are present throughout The Final Experiment. Mr. Lucassen is also a metalhead as there are plenty of metallic moments on this album as well. I would try to write a description of every song but this cd is too big and too powerful for mere words: It must be felt. As I've said, comparable bands might be the aforementioned artists, Pink Floyd and Savatage. Other similar bands might be Arena, the Beatles and Blind Guardian but any comparisons I make will fall short. Find out how great this cd is for yourself! Rating: 9.7 |
