Ayreon-Transitus

Ayreon,the project of guitar maestro Arjen Lucassen returns with a brand spanking new album entitled Transitus that takes us away from the sci fi universe and toward a Gothic Horror story.

“Fatum Horrificum,” starts things off. It is eerie and subtle. Tom Baker is simply fantastic as a narrator, setting the scene for what is to come and really hooking the listener into the chaos about to unfold.  The melodies that intertwine themselves within the listener’s conscious are simply phenomenal.

“Daniel’s Descent Into Transitus,” shifts and turns. Baker brings the sense of chaos and fear to the fore. Tommy Karevik is phenomenal as Daniel shimmering on the line between madness and perfection.

“Listen To My Story,” soars into being. The vocals are phenomenal, they twist and turn, the choirs and harmonies on this song are brilliantly executed.

“Two Worlds Now One,” is thoughtful, collective and mesmerising. A scene is being set and something epic is about to unfold.

“Talk Of The Town,” is epic. It carries echoes of Hamilton, and shifts into gear through measurements and metres that imbue the listener with a sense of chaos and the world unravelling before them.

“Old Friend,” is contemplative and thoughtful.

“Dumb Piece of Rock,” soars into being, charming the pants off the listener and shifting the gears ever so slightly.

“Get Out! Now!” is hard hitting, powerful and allows Dee Snider to really shine through.

“Seven Days, Seven Nights,” soars through time, building with energy and freneticism. Simone Simons is simply fantastic on this song.

“Condemned Without Trial,” turns heavy, the measurement of what is being considered and what may be lost is captured perfectly in the freneticism of the instrumentation and the vocals.

“Daniel’s Funeral,” is suitably sombre and reflective, turning in fits and starts, bringing together a world of chaos and thoughtfulness.

“Hopelessly Slipping Away,” slows things down ever so slightly. The acoustics shine through and contemplation is brought to the fore.

“This Human Equation,” shimmers through on the pathway. The vocals are a guiding light, turning the screws on the edge and delivering a shifting pulse.

“Henry’s Plot,” is sinister, shimmering and boundful.

“Message From Beyond,” captures the twisting screws in the world of time and light. The vocals play off one another perfectly.

“Daniel’s Vision,” allows Tommy Karevik to shine through. His vocals are perfect.

“She Is Innocent,” turns and twists. Bringing up all sorts of competing emotions.

“Lavinia’s Confession,” is suitably dark and grim, pressing through the bounds of time it works into the chaotic feeling that Tom Baker’s narration brings.

“Inferno,” is a monstrous song. A song that roars into being, and delivers a crushing blow to the antagonist.

“Your Story Is Over,” slows things down, twisting and shimmering into being, pressing through the catacombs of time.

“Abby In Transitus,” finishes things off with a nice touch here and there.

“The Great Beyond,”is epic. The vocal performance on this song is simply something else.

This is a phenomenal album. Do yourself a favour and be sure to get it when it comes out on 25th September.