THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

Jeff Wayne

Crossover Prog

3.97 | 201 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

I was ten when Eve of War hit the charts. I was mesmerized. I had never heard anything like it. It is one of the songs that opened my mind to a whole new world of music.

Later I bought the album and I played it to death. And it stood the test of time for me.

The Eve of the War - A brilliant opener with great narration by Richard Burton. The theme of the album is so compellingly established here. Awesome. 10/10 Horsell Common and the Heat Ray - Ominous, foreboding, and brilliantly narrated and played 9/10 The Artilleryman and the Fighting Machine - The Martians attack and the song establishes the horror in a great way 9/10 Forever Autumn - At exactly the right point, the album comes with a song reminiscing what was lost 10/10 Thunder Child - A fitting closer to the first album. The earth belonged to the Martians. Ulaaaaaaah 10/10

The Red Weed - Eerie and somehow also beautiful. A great departure from the first album as here the Martians have taken over and established a new status quo 8.5/10 The Spirit of Man - Phil Lynott and Julie Covington are brilliant in their roles. For me, this song about hope vs despair is one of the absolute highlights 10/10 The Red Weed (part 2) - This second instalment of this song hammers home the hopelessness of humankind 9/10 Brave New World - At the absolute low point, this is a song of false hope that makes you feel there's no way this will ever end well 8.5/10 Dead London - The song starts ominously with the Martian theme, but then a hopeful piano takes over. This is the death of the Martians. How unbelievable that such a relatively short song can bring such a switch in the mood so quickly and seamlessly. 9/10 Epilogue (Part 1) - The apparent hopeful end of this horror. It would be brilliant if it would end here. 9/10 Epilogue (Part 2) - The final switch in the narrative leaves us devastated as the Martians return. 9/10

This is a one-of-a-kind and brilliant album. I give it 5 stars.

WJA-K | 5/5 | 2023-4-6

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