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Ayreon - The Final Experiment CD (album) cover

THE FINAL EXPERIMENT

Ayreon

 

Progressive Metal

3.42 | 354 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

magleto
5 stars I am not going to pick apart The Final Experiment, so ths may not be viewed as a "proper review". This is more about how this album affected -me-. I've always been a huge music lover; one who enjoys almost every genre known. I've loved new age (Synergy, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream) and most forms of rock for a long time. I've even had affinity for progressive-style rock before I knew what it was (Yes, Meatloaf, Pink Floyd, Alan Parsons...)

I am in my late 30's and was just recently introduced (formally) to the world of prog, with Marillion, IQ and Spock's Beard being my first dates. Spock's Beard really whetted my appetite and I started looking for more. Dream Theater was next and I was highly impressed with their precision, yet their vocals seemed extraneous and they left me wanting.

Then I stumbled upon The Final Experiment. Great GODS! I had never heard anything like this before. Track after track I was smashed over the head with how marvelous it is. I was listening to it at work and found myself stalled... unable to do much of anything productive. I kept mouthing (silently) "holy ***" with each new mood change. The power and beauty of this album (and the bonus disc) just flipped a switch in my soul and lit it up.

It single-discedly transformed me from a curious and casual purveyor of progressive rock to a rabid non-blinking prog fiend!! I made it a point to quickly buy everything Arjen that I could get my mitts on. This hunger has led me to other places as well; Porcupine Tree, Pendragon, Glass Hammer, etc...

That was about 6 months ago. I've since found other Ayreon and related Lucassen works that I like even better. That said, I do feel that "The Final Experiment" is a masterpiece. I don't expect it to have the same effect on most others as it has me, but for some, it just may stroke every sweet-spot on you. This album remains one of my top-ten albums of all time and I will always perceive my first listen as a life-changing event for me.

| 5/5 |

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