UNIVERSAL MIGRATOR, PART 2: FLIGHT OF THE MIGRATOR

Ayreon's second part of the Universal migrator - Flight of the migrator is released same year, 2000 and recived some good to very good comments around the world. This part is heavier, is rougher is way better then the first part who was more towards melancholic and mellow side of prog metal. Again an impressive line up and guest musicians from diverse genres, from heavy metal like Andi Deris from Helloween or Bruce Dickinson, Gary Wehrkamp from Shadow Gallery, Michael Romeo from Symphony X, some neo prog gods aswell featuring here, etc. On this album the music is much more choesive, here is more speed on instrumentsl passages, more keyboards arrangements, the pieces are more energic and gives a more precise feeling over musicians prestation. The constant quality of every piece is clear on this album, not a weak moments and each musician involved here did a great job, each one go hand in hand with the other, and the whole album sound very tight and without living any trace of flat sound or strange atmosphere. The sound is bombastic with some very strong instrumental passages like on Into the black hole where Bruce Dickinson has the main role, but aswell Lucassen sand Erik Norlander did a fabulous job, living the listner to say that Ayreon really done it with this part. On some parts Ayreon toying with rock, the progressive metal elements are melted very good with some rough edged rock moments like on Through The Wormhole with Fabio Leone from Rhapsody fame and Shadow Gallery guitarist Gary Wehrkamp showing his true talent. So this part two of the UNiversal migrator is much more diverse and stronger in concept, the strengh of the instrumental moments and bombastic atmosphere give to Ayreon a special status in prog metal field. Solid performance, solid pieces, solid album, solid sound, 4 solid stars for sure and better then previous part by far.