Ayreon

Ayreon is a Dutch music project by Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Ayreon has an original musical style which derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with different genres to form what some call a completely new style of music.

Ayreon's music is characterized by the combination of mellow rock and metal, often within the same songs. Use of rare instruments to support the more conventional rock instruments is common for Ayreon.

History

The first Ayreon CD, released in 1995, is The Final Experiment, a story of a man in 6th century Britain who begins to receive messages from scientists in the year 2084 when humankind has almost destroyed itself in a final great war. The album features thirteen singers and seven instrumentalists, most of them Dutch. The Final Experiment is often mentioned as one of the first metal operas and a reviver of the rock opera genre.

Ayreon albums are written by Arjen Lucassen who also sings and plays instruments on each album. All albums feature many guest musicians.

Actual Fantasy from 1996 is the only Ayreon album without a continuous story. With its individual fantasy stories, it can still be considered a concept album though. There are "only" three singers and three instrumentalists on Actual Fantasy.

Into the Electric Castle - A Space Opera (1998) is considered by many as the best Ayreon album. The double album is a story of eight people from different eras of humankind, locked together in a weird "place of no-time and no-space". There, a mysterious voice talks to them, guiding them on their quest to find a way home through the Electric Castle. This story full of science-fiction clichés is told in psychedelic rock by eight singers (along with a few supporters), each playing a role of a single character, and eleven instrumentalists.

The twin album The Universal Migrator (2000) features a science fiction story of the last human alive, living in the Mars colony. In the story of the first CD, Universal Migrator, Pt. 1: The Dream Sequencer, he begins a trip back in time to flashbacks of different peoples' memories during human history, using a device called Dream Sequencer. This first album consists of soft, atmospheric progressive rock. Later, he "pre-incarnates" further back, all the way to the big bang in the heavy second album, Universal Migrator, Pt. 2: Flight of the Migrator. Again, both of these albums have about ten singers supported by many instrumentalists. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) made an appearance on Flight of the Migrator, being probably the best-known musician to appear on an Ayreon album.

The latest Ayreon release is The Human Equation, released in 2004. As on Into the Electric Castle, there are several singers, each playing their own role. With The Human Equation, Ayreon turned away from the usual science fiction and fantasy themes with a story taking place inside the head of a man lying comatose in a hospital bed after a bizarre car accident in broad daylight, with no other cars in sight.

Starting in 2004, Arjen began rereleasing his Ayreon catalog, with enhancements ranging from basic (The Universal Migrator, issued as a two-disc set instead of two separate albums) to drastic (Actual Fantasy, "Revisited" with completely re-recorded drums, bass, synth and flute). In 2005, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Ayreon, The Final Experiment was reissued with a bonus semi-acoustic disc; this reissue is not yet available in the United States.

Discography

  • The Final Experiment (1995)
  • Actual Fantasy (1996)
  • Into the Electric Castle (1998)
  • Universal Migrator, Pt. 1: The Dream Sequencer (2000)
  • Universal Migrator, Pt. 2: Flight of the Migrator (2000)
  • Ayreonauts Only (2001)
  • The Human Equation (2004)

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In 2005, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Ayreon, The Final Experiment was reissued with a bonus semi-acoustic disc; this reissue is not yet available in the United States. 11, 2004. Starting in 2004, Arjen began rereleasing his Ayreon catalog, with enhancements ranging from basic (The Universal Migrator, issued as a two-disc set instead of two separate albums) to drastic (Actual Fantasy, "Revisited" with completely re-recorded drums, bass, synth and flute). Retrieved Dec. With The Human Equation, Ayreon turned away from the usual science fiction and fantasy themes with a story taking place inside the head of a man lying comatose in a hospital bed after a bizarre car accident in broad daylight, with no other cars in sight. Note 1: Bardin, Brantley.4AD band biography (http://www.4ad.com/artists/catalogue/belly/biography.htm). As on Into the Electric Castle, there are several singers, each playing their own role. Singles/EPs.

The latest Ayreon release is The Human Equation, released in 2004. Albums. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) made an appearance on Flight of the Migrator, being probably the best-known musician to appear on an Ayreon album. Tanya Donelly has since recorded several solo albums for 4AD. Again, both of these albums have about ten singers supported by many instrumentalists. Despite good reviews, the album was not a commercial success, and the group disbanded in 1996. 2: Flight of the Migrator. With the recruitment of Greenwood, the band adopted a rockier sound, resulting in King.

Later, he "pre-incarnates" further back, all the way to the big bang in the heavy second album, Universal Migrator, Pt. The lyrics to "Full Moon, Empty Heart," for example, were about a mother who threw herself and her child from a window after losing a custody battle. This first album consists of soft, atmospheric progressive rock. In keeping with their name ("It's both pretty and ugly," according to Donelly),1 Belly's sound matched pop melodies to Donelly's ethereal vocals and Gorman's echoey guitar work, often employing unnervingly emotional lyrics. 1: The Dream Sequencer, he begins a trip back in time to flashbacks of different peoples' memories during human history, using a device called Dream Sequencer. Their crossover breakthrough came with their third single, "Feed the Tree," which made the Top 40 in the British charts. The album that followed, Star, was a hit in both the UK and the USA, where it went gold. In the story of the first CD, Universal Migrator, Pt. Signed to the British label 4AD, the band's debut EP, "Slow Dust" (recorded with Pixies producer Gil Norton) topped the British indie charts.

The twin album The Universal Migrator (2000) features a science fiction story of the last human alive, living in the Mars colony. Hailing from Newport, Rhode Island, and based in Boston, Massachusetts, the band was comprised of Donelly on vocals, Abong on bass (replaced after their first album by Gail Greenwood), Tom Gorman on guitar, and his brother Chris Gorman on drums. This story full of science-fiction clichés is told in psychedelic rock by eight singers (along with a few supporters), each playing a role of a single character, and eleven instrumentalists. Donelly had also played in The Breeders. There, a mysterious voice talks to them, guiding them on their quest to find a way home through the Electric Castle. Belly were an alternative rock band formed in 1991 by former Throwing Muses members Tanya Donelly and Fred Abong. The double album is a story of eight people from different eras of humankind, locked together in a weird "place of no-time and no-space". 11, 2004.

Into the Electric Castle - A Space Opera (1998) is considered by many as the best Ayreon album. All Music Group biography (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47818DC4FAB7320C0803A45C4B772E007D755FB823E394B5DD3BA7F4B82006AF554E7868AE0A829F878ADE02FA5450DD3CAEA1AF8D66434378CEEB60045&sql=11:fq5e8qxtbtz4~T1) Retrieved Dec. There are "only" three singers and three instrumentalists on Actual Fantasy. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. With its individual fantasy stories, it can still be considered a concept album though. Tanya Donelly site (http://www.tanyadonelly.com/). Actual Fantasy from 1996 is the only Ayreon album without a continuous story. 4ad discography (http://www.4ad.com/artists/catalogue/belly/discography.htm).

All albums feature many guest musicians. Sun (Sire/Reprise, 1995). Ayreon albums are written by Arjen Lucassen who also sings and plays instruments on each album. Seal My Fate (4AD, 1995). The Final Experiment is often mentioned as one of the first metal operas and a reviver of the rock opera genre. Now They'll Sleep (4AD, 1995). The album features thirteen singers and seven instrumentalists, most of them Dutch. Super-Connected (4AD, 1994).

The first Ayreon CD, released in 1995, is The Final Experiment, a story of a man in 6th century Britain who begins to receive messages from scientists in the year 2084 when humankind has almost destroyed itself in a final great war. Moon (Reprise, 1994). Use of rare instruments to support the more conventional rock instruments is common for Ayreon. Are You Experienced (Warner Brothers, 1994). Ayreon's music is characterized by the combination of mellow rock and metal, often within the same songs. Feed the Tree (Warner Brothers, 1993). Ayreon has an original musical style which derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with different genres to form what some call a completely new style of music. Slowdust (4AD, 1992).

Ayreon is a Dutch music project by Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Gepetto (4AD/Warner Brothers, 1992). The Human Equation (2004). Sweet Ride: the Best of Belly (Rhino, 2002). Ayreonauts Only (2001). King (4AD, 1995). 2: Flight of the Migrator (2000). Baby Silvertooth (Japanese import, 1993).

Universal Migrator, Pt. Star (4AD, 1993). 1: The Dream Sequencer (2000). Universal Migrator, Pt. Into the Electric Castle (1998).

Actual Fantasy (1996). The Final Experiment (1995).