INTO THE ELECTRIC CASTLE

This is my first Ayreon review, I had several of their CD's bought but unlistened to, this was one of them. Well I missed out for the two years that I had the CD's in my possesion. I am going to give this CD a FIVE - I've got to because it is essential for any fan of symphonic progressive metal to have the ENTIRE Ayreon output in their CD stack. This CD is probably short of full progressive metal, because it doesn't have much in the way of a-typical thrash metal elements. It gets as heavy as Rush in several parts but this CD has more electronica and exquiste synth passages than you'd get in DT or Shadow Gallery (for example). It is a space opera (or so the title says) and it has lot's of story-telling vocals - thus it can claim to be operatic and I'll give it that ! Anyway, to the music, 2 CD's of music clocking in at 1 hour 44 minutes and 35 seconds. The first CD has lots of synth arpegios, breathtaking guitar solos and has parts reminiscent of Focus and Rush - I especially like the Flying Colours part of Amazing Flight - Excellent stuff. In fact there is loads happening on CD1 and it keeps you all the way to the end the only weak track is Tunnel of Light. So to CD2, and we have a bit of a Medieval feel to some of the music, especially "Valley of the Queens" - this 2nd part has some stunning instrumental passages - especially Evil Devolution, and lots of guitar pomposity and swirling synths. This is a good composition and has loads to offer the prog fanatic who wishes to while away an hour or two with the old headphones on - 4.5 Stars.