Thanks so much for your interesting and positive comments, Doug, much appreciated! You sure know your business, hats off. Many of my listeners referred me to your reaction video. And... you certainly know how to give a compliment... better than Andrew Lloyd Webber, wow! JC Superstar is my biggest inspiration... so I'm not worthy. And yes, Lennon is never far :-) Thanks again and please keep up the good work!
@Doug.Helvering
3 жыл бұрын
I’m pleased to meet you. Congrats on your music success!
@talaniel
3 жыл бұрын
Hehe, yes, I knew that Arjen will like that compliment and that he will not consider himself worthy! Mr. Lucassen, you're a great musician!
@Metal_Auditor
3 жыл бұрын
@@Doug.Helvering you should pin this comment.
@avarast
3 жыл бұрын
@@talaniel Arjen sees everything !
@TheDondoran
3 жыл бұрын
Today, my brother recommended a song for me. "Leland Street" by Guilt Machine. And I was SO disappointed because I've gotten him to listen to Ayreon on many occasions, and he loves the theatricality and composition. And he didn't think I knew about Guilt Machine. I am so sad. Once I pointed it out, he immediately understood. But it is too late. He is not my brother anymore. Love you, friends!
@alyssacrnkovic2691
3 жыл бұрын
The singer Tommy Karevik is phenomenal. He deserves to be listened to in his own band(s). He's currently the lead singer of Kamelot which is a much more well known band, however his lesser known but older band is Seventh Wonder, and THIS is where you need to hear him. Seventh Wonder gives him a lot more space to play with his voice, and he can do some crazy things with it. I would suggest Welcome to Mercy Falls as the song to start with.
@ConfessorRahl
3 жыл бұрын
Seventh Wonder is hands down one of the most under appreciated bands around. Just beauty all around. When Tommy joined Kamelot it was the only choice that was able to take the sting out of losing Khan.
@alyssacrnkovic2691
3 жыл бұрын
@@ConfessorRahl ugh right?! Every time a reactor does this song, I urge them to listen to SW to hear Tommy instead of Kamelot, and every time I’ve been ignored. No one has reacted to them yet! And they deserve to be heard!
@TheDoctorIWho
3 жыл бұрын
Thinking about Seventh wonder: "The Great Escape" will be a great pick for you.
@DonCarnage42
3 жыл бұрын
@@TheDoctorIWho Would love to hear Doug do a reaction to the song The Great Escape!
@imokin86
3 жыл бұрын
SW is a better choice for Doug, because their composing style is more advanced than Kamelot, especially the latest Kamelot albums (I do like the newer Kamelot, but it is what it is, more straightforward music, almost pop).
@fnglert
3 жыл бұрын
Floor is a common collaborator on Ayreon projects. As someone else once put it, Arjen loves setting her off like a bomb in the finale.
@CBadger
3 жыл бұрын
Just to add to your comment. Floor and her sister Irene have been in Ayreon since long before her fame, pre-2000/2001 and were originally backing vocalists called Ayreon's Angels. They were also both backing vocalists for Star One, Arjen's other sci-fi prog project.
@fnglert
3 жыл бұрын
@@CBadger First time I heard Floor was her backing vocals on My House On Mars.
@CBadger
3 жыл бұрын
@@fnglert Yeah. Universal Migrator part 1 from 2000. Those two albums (Universal Migrator 1 and 2), in my opinion, are Arjen's most solid and best work. Part 2 particularly.
@fnglert
3 жыл бұрын
@@CBadger I'm more partial to The Human Equation, but UM is also a favorite.
@damienmaynard8892
3 жыл бұрын
Have you seen Arjen standing next to Floor? He is SO tall!!!!
@adamclark6756
3 жыл бұрын
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal - NWOBHM
@jimmyggs91
3 жыл бұрын
Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, Diamond Head, Saxon, Mötorhead, Venom, just to mention a few examples of NWOBHM bands.
@RealRuler2112
3 жыл бұрын
LOL - just hit that part of the video & came to the comments to define NWOBHM for him. =) Pronounced nu-eh-bum.
@TheCyberMantis
3 жыл бұрын
Poor Doug.... he has a lot of catching-up to do. ;-)
@iceddevil2005
3 жыл бұрын
I recommend documentary " headbanger journey" - very good stuff describing heavy metal music
@adamclark6756
3 жыл бұрын
@@iceddevil2005 Metal Evolution is another good documentary too, it traces the origins and then goes into all the sub-divisions of metal.
@michanowak7060
3 жыл бұрын
Welcome aboard, fellow Ayreonaut! Almost all albums by Ayreon are concept albums, basically rock operas, as you mentioned Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals, Arjen is a huge fan of his work, he mentioned Jesus Christ Superstar as a great inspiration, Pilate's Dream in particular. His last album, Transitus is more on musical side. It was made with being a movie in mind, but you know, Pandemic, plans changed but it will be a full musical one day! On rock side you got Into The Electric Castle, whole rock opera was played live 2 years ago, Amazing Flight is a great example, and guess what? Whole concert was narrated on stage by John de Lancie aka Q from Star Trek! People from all over the world (myself included) traveled to Netherlands to witness it. For 3 days Tilburg was the Ayreon capital with Ayreon beer for sale and Ayreon burgers in restaurants ;p The Human Equation is amazing album too. It's about a man in coma, with all different singers representing different emotion, story is told in 20 songs, each one is one day of the coma. This was also played live as a Theater Equation shows. The Theory of Everything is odd one. Again very personal story, but whole album consists of only 4 songs... 20 minutes each! Reactions to whole albums at once, this is what we need, just beware not to be blown away by too much awesomeness at once :)
@pahema472
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this comment. I was going to attempt the same, but you did it better, I think. Cheers from Downundah. ;D
@roblaw4554
3 жыл бұрын
Yep, quite the body of work! Over 25 years he masterminded 10 Ayreon albums, 7 of which (and 1 of his solo discs) all occur in the same shared universe as TDTTWBD. Plus a couple other band projects. And finally in the last several years a few live shows. Was super fortunate to get to see Electric Castle Live! I regret very little in my life but missing out on the chance to see Universe and Theater just sucks. Thankfully there are super well-done DVDs! And even video of the Star One show...
@scorpiusbalthazar4327
3 жыл бұрын
I love Transitus but apparently not a lot of people do. I've heard it said that it doesn't sound like Ayreon but I disagree. Get out! Now! is awesome.
@scorpiusbalthazar4327
3 жыл бұрын
I thought the Theory of Everything had like 30 songs or more? Nothing is longer than 4 minutes or so.
@michanowak7060
3 жыл бұрын
@@scorpiusbalthazar4327 Theory of Everything has 4 'phases' which are meant to be listened as whole songs. I believe Arjen sent it to his friends for feedback and when they told him 4 epics are too much to take he just cut songs into pieces without rearranging it. tbh I think it wasn't his best idea. I'd cut this album a bit differently :P As of Transitus, Dumb Piece of Rock is one of my favorite Ayreon songs! But album as a whole got too much repetition near the end for me.
@garanceadrosehn9691
3 жыл бұрын
Arjen isn't just out to write epic works, he's also determined to have a lot of fun while doing it. 🙂
@KelbenArunsun
3 жыл бұрын
James LaBrie (Dream Theater) Tommy Karevik (Kamelot) Tommy Rogers (Between the Buried and Me) Simone Simons (Epica) Nils K. Rue (Pagans Mind) Tobias Sammet (Edguy and Avantasia) Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian, also know as the Masters of the Crowds) Mike Mills (Toehider) Russell Allen (Symphony X) Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus) Floor Jansen (Nightwish) Next Ayreon Song could be either The eye of Ra or Everybody Dies Both awesome songs, with lots of cool stuff to talk about
@ruudkeijzer9106
3 жыл бұрын
Live performance of everybody dies is a great idea!
@picolete
3 жыл бұрын
Hansi also from Demons & Wizards
@KelbenArunsun
3 жыл бұрын
@@picolete Demons and Wizards is a Colabproject with John Schaffer from Iced Earth... but that guy stormed the capital.. so i wouldnt reccommend them ^^
@gnupungo
3 жыл бұрын
Tommy Karevik is also the singer for Seventh Wonder :)
@scorpiusbalthazar4327
3 жыл бұрын
The Eye of Ra is a Star One album, not Ayreon.
@spikeysnack
3 жыл бұрын
I Still consider "Into The Electric Castle" as a definitive Masterpiece.
@Barthzord
3 жыл бұрын
Definitely my favorite Ayreon album. Would love to see Doug react to Amazing Flight!
@TheCyberMantis
3 жыл бұрын
That is about the time I discovered them. Over 20 years ago.
@md1476
3 жыл бұрын
Absolutely their best album to listen to as am album. Live concert is phenomenal too.
@Visionoir
3 жыл бұрын
Agreed. In the years after he has been repeating himself all over, with same chord progressions and formulas
@Metalton95
3 жыл бұрын
Theory of Everything (pure art, a modern symphony in 4 parts, with synths - masterpiece) 01011001 (absolute hit parade, and a handful of 8+ min songs!) Into the Electric Castle (classic, the definitive Ayreon sound & album) The Human Equation (the lyrical & conceptual masterpiece) The Source (great recap of everything Ayreon has to offer)
@davguev
3 жыл бұрын
Next Ayreon song could be Everybody Dies. It's awesome!
@kiwitron
3 жыл бұрын
Yes! Live version from Ayreon Universe!!!
@jaeoskyldig
3 жыл бұрын
And Into the Black Hole
@willowb518
3 жыл бұрын
Please not, its always these two Ayreon Songs they react to. Garden of Emotions Twisted Coil Amazing Flight Druids turn to stone
@someonesusingmyname
3 жыл бұрын
Was going to suggest this.
@deeduffjr
3 жыл бұрын
AMAZING live performance!
@MountainMetal
3 жыл бұрын
Amazing stuff. So much extraordinary talent and creativity packed into one song. Inspired, I am.
@GAIS414
3 жыл бұрын
Fun fact, the binary part sung by Michael Mills translated into text says: trustTH1
@randalljones4370
3 жыл бұрын
Lols !! gonna dereference a null pointer if he makes that word wider.
@69Tiburoncito
3 жыл бұрын
True
@Brunillion
3 жыл бұрын
The name TH1 is a “tribute” to Mike’s band ToeHider
@69Tiburoncito
3 жыл бұрын
@@Brunillion In Toehider we trust. Mike/Michael Mills is also an amazing multi instrumentalist (very very good guitar player and a good Keyboard Player).
@572Btriode
3 жыл бұрын
It's in the good, old fashioned ASCII.
@cbh440
3 жыл бұрын
The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal started in 1979 and ran roughly up to 1984. It was a rather fun time to be a metalhead!
@dontanton7775
3 жыл бұрын
If you like epic long songs with lots of different parts, check out "And Then There Was Silence" by "Blind Guardian". (It's the band from the vocalist at 11:39 in this video). Though not the live version, it lacks a lot of layers.
@stewartterry7090
3 жыл бұрын
Ayreon generally doesn't do live shows, but they have on a couple rare occasions. With proper recording, thankfully! Highly recommend you check out the live performances of Everybody Dies and Intergalactic Space Crusaders
@AJ_NL_1963
3 жыл бұрын
Great choices. And indeed live performances are brilliant
@myewgul
3 жыл бұрын
I can't stress this enough. And then There Was Silence by Blind Guardian, please. What a journey of a song!
@imokin86
3 жыл бұрын
Yes, a true epic.
@georgiatsetsonivocals
3 жыл бұрын
Arjen is a genious!!Amazing composer,i love him
@preludePT
3 жыл бұрын
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Doug. Now that you're becoming a metalhead you have to familiarise yourself with the acronyms 😁
@paveldronov9944
3 жыл бұрын
Did you mean Dutch?
@preludePT
3 жыл бұрын
@@paveldronov9944you have to see the whole video to understand 😊
@discostoo
7 күн бұрын
Karevik absolutely smashes this. What a pair of lungs that lad has.
@KhordLizardMage
3 жыл бұрын
Arjen has been doing this Ayreon project for a LONG time. He generally uses new musicians and singers on each album. This was one of the first that had singers come back into the project from previous albums. He very seldom plays live, especially since getting SOO many singers to your together is a logistical nightmare. He has performed a few select shows, look up Ayreon Universe. It was after this album and he had some of the singers on stage (Hansi, Mike Mills etc). Fantastic performance all around.
@talaniel
3 жыл бұрын
@@allie9452 Hm, I do not think he's running out of names, I think he just uses these great people again just because they are great.
@chessbrainiac
3 жыл бұрын
He had singers coming back already on Actual Fantasy and Into the Electric Castle . Several of the singers on his debut album The Final Experiment sang on his first 3 albums. Only when you got to The Human Equation did he start using mostly new singers on his albums.
@macarenamarissi2785
3 жыл бұрын
Finally Ayreon! Yo need to try Therion
@anastasisanastasia1436
3 жыл бұрын
Enter Vril-Ya :-)
@icaroprado2720
3 жыл бұрын
Next: Blind Guardian - And Then There Was Silence (he has to know Hansi a bit more haha)
@jimz6850
3 жыл бұрын
Hansi can read the ingredients on a cereal box and the fans would sing along with him!
@nettocap
3 жыл бұрын
Oh! It would be fun to watch Doug react to ATTWS!
@nathanadam4666
3 жыл бұрын
OH my god yes. Cannot state this enough
@bravenewozzy
3 жыл бұрын
I Vote this! Amazing song. Over 200 tracks mixed into this, Blind Guardian's Magnum Opus!
@bravenewozzy
3 жыл бұрын
I Vote this! Amazing song. Over 200 tracks mixed into this, Blind Guardian's Magnum Opus!
@anastasisanastasia1436
3 жыл бұрын
You need to review Into the Black Hole by Ayreon with Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden singing. Epic track. Don't worry you're not going to hell it just sounds like you are.
@gabolujan
3 жыл бұрын
Bruce's best performance of his career, imo.
@harrygorrod4463
3 жыл бұрын
I second this, such an epic song and one of Bruce's strongest, yet most underrated, vocal performances.
@69Tiburoncito
3 жыл бұрын
@@gabolujan Bruce Dickinson was so impressed by Arjen Anthony Lucassen hé wanted to make a whole Album with him. Lucassen was so happy and exited about the idea he told it to some journalist and Dickinson became very angry because it was leaked so the project got canceled.
@anastasisanastasia1436
3 жыл бұрын
@@69Tiburoncito always wondered why that record never happened. It still needs to happen though.
@MrEddison84
3 жыл бұрын
A vote for this! That track is a pure celebration of Bruce's awesomeness! Belt singing at its finest.
@hansevers8605
2 жыл бұрын
For me, this is composing on the next level. Arjen and Tuomas bin the greatest composers from this era on any level.
@pdutchie4924
3 жыл бұрын
The Floor bomb at the end always works 😁 They did a live concert called ‘Universe’, the whole concert is Epic! I advice you to just do everything 😄🙋🏼♀️
@robertorazevedo
3 жыл бұрын
Arjen is such a amazing musician. This is the first Ayreon song i have heard. The "Ayreon Universe" and "Electric Castle live and Other Tales" are incredible to watch in a home theater system.
@rikvanommen9564
3 жыл бұрын
I totally agree. I love those live albums/DVD's over the studio albums of Ayreon.
@erikleenhouts834
3 жыл бұрын
Hi Doug! I'm glad you came to Ayreon; loads of great stuff to choose from. Needless to say I'm enjoying your video's very much :)
@WadeTunnell
3 жыл бұрын
This whole album is a wonderful piece of work. Absolutely phenomenal vocals by everyone involved
@crabuki1273
3 жыл бұрын
Yay! Was hoping you'd get around to this! I adore all of Arjen's projects. He's the man. Arjen didn't want to play this live for years because of how hard it is to get all the people together, in addition to his own stage fright. But he did it in 2018 and a few times thereafter, and it's AWESOME. Check out the live version of "Everybody Dies" for a wonderful example. Thank you so much for doing Ayreon, Arjen deserves a lot more attention. Almost all of Arjen's Ayreon albums are concept albums. He also has other projects, like Star One, the Gentle Storm, and Stream of Passion (among others) which are all pretty good. There's an Ayreon album called The Human Equation which, similar to The Source (the album this track came from), has multiple roles, both people and individual emotions (one of whom is played by Devon Townsend). I'm fanboying a little, but it's also a great album. I mean I say that like all his work isn't worth getting into. He's just a wonderful, inspiring composer and I like to think he must be a pretty good guy or else all these people wouldn't keep working with him. Floor and Irene have worked with him for ages.
@Mr88Shadows
3 жыл бұрын
Amazing, I love Ayreon! So now, you gotta do Symphony X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy. It has LOTS of classical influences.
@PeTTs0n88
3 жыл бұрын
Long time Ayreonaut here, been following and listening to Arjen regularly since Star One (Floor Jansen along with her sister did vocals and choir on the first album in 2002 by the way, can definitely recommend checking it out for some perspective on the musical journey of both Arjen and all the guest musicians and vocalists!) about 20 years ago, and this is one of the more interesting analyses I've seen - digging through the technical aspects of the complexity that his prog works often are. His works definitely deserve the attention, and you did a great job looking at it in more detail and giving your thoughts on it! :)
@dave-bk6vt
3 жыл бұрын
"oh he's giving away the chord by showing it with his hand" - the sign of a true professional If you like metal and classical being mixed, I'd recommend Epica ft Floor Jansen - Sancta Terra live @ Retrospect
@rolsen1304
3 жыл бұрын
@Doug Helvering Epica is for sure something you should give a few listens, Sancta Terra, Kingdom of Heaven parts 1-3, Design Your Universe, Consign to Oblivion and so on are all good choices.
@darkiee69
3 жыл бұрын
How about Stabat mater dolorosa from the same show?
@avnerben-ishai5193
3 жыл бұрын
Regarding the comment about not having to play the solo on stage, Arjen is known to have a stage fright and he usually comes to the stage for only one or two songs during Ayreon shows. Those live shows themselves are also quite rare, since it's hard to gather all the musicians and singers together for a concert. They take place only once in several years for a dew consecutive nights in the same venue in the Netherlands (and I really hope to be in the crowd on first post-Covid Ayreon show, hopefully not very far into the future).
@RobCaldera
3 жыл бұрын
Check out Avantasia. It's a similar project like Ayreon where each album is a story with multiple characters. It's a bit less progressive but still really good. Try the song "The Seven Angels". For Ayreon, you just have to dive into entire albums like The Source, The Human Equation or Into the Electric Castle...all as incredible as what you just watched.
@gsresener
3 жыл бұрын
Funny thing, i suggested the same song before seeing your comment
@markhoward2811
3 жыл бұрын
There are clips from his live shows on KZitem. Everybody dies from this same album is recommended. Others are from Ayreon and his other project albums like The Eye of Ra, Valley of the Queens, Age of Shadows, Isis and Osiris, Day 11:Love, Intergalactic Space Crusaders and Another time, Another Space.
@darkiee69
3 жыл бұрын
Don't forget And the Druids turned to stone. It's a masterpiece.
@MycontentisgoldJerryGold
3 жыл бұрын
Very good reaction to this song. I liked how you recognized so many aspects right before they were mentioned in the running commentary. "Everybody Dies" and "Intergalactic Space Crusaders" would be great follow-ups.
@ruudkeijzer9106
3 жыл бұрын
YEAH!!! The moment I saw this, I thought: "Doug's gonna love this". Arjen's music is so complex, well thought out and still easy to listen to casually. Guy's one heck of a composer! What to do next? Hmm? Track by track listen-through of the Human Equation album? That's a rock opera for you!
@josephbloomquist6850
3 жыл бұрын
Haha, been waiting for this one! I wish every reactor did this one sooner in their journey.
@JudaGoethe
3 жыл бұрын
Nice reaction Doug, Ayreon actual ly has 2 live recordings, you should react to some songs such as "Everybody Dies (live)", "The eye of Ra (live)" or other ones from the DVD Ayreon Universe. There are a lot of singers playing in these concert
@talaniel
3 жыл бұрын
Yes, The Eye of Ra is great live. There was also a Star One DVD (another Lucassen's project from which The Eye of Ra comes), but never seen that.
@adrienambroise333
3 жыл бұрын
Defintely should go for a Haken song😁 Crystallised would blow your mind I'm pretty sure😊
@davguev
3 жыл бұрын
That song makes me happy.
@TheCpEric
3 жыл бұрын
Yes!!!
@talaniel
3 жыл бұрын
YES!! Crystallised is my favorite. Also Pareidolia, The Architect, Puzzle box,...
@jedinxf7
3 жыл бұрын
The Cockroach King Muppet video would be my favorite thing to see reactions to but I wish they hadn't cut the jazz part of the song for no obvious reason
@jedinxf7
2 жыл бұрын
well I'm glad that happened!
@joaopaulohanke
3 жыл бұрын
You know one great album from Ayreon I would like to see you reacting? The Human Equation. It's a very long album (1h40m total), but it is a true masterpiece! If I need to pick two songs from it, I would recommend "Day Eleven: Love" and "Day Sixteen: Loser"
@JasonTaylorRocks
3 жыл бұрын
Stop messing around and react to Unleash the Archers.
@andrewjaman4697
3 жыл бұрын
I don't hear music like this so much nowadays. This is so cool! Doug - thanks for turning me onto them!
@KhordLizardMage
3 жыл бұрын
Ar-yen by the way, lol. Ayreon is freaking AMAZING! Such a humble human being as well.
@lisbelbarzaga8238
3 жыл бұрын
By the way, you should listen to AVANTASIA with TOBIAS SAMMET......you can do a reaction video of the song THE SCARECROW (The Flying Opera)
@TenZrzut
3 жыл бұрын
Everybody gangsta until the zero-one part hits.
@fnito500
3 жыл бұрын
Every reaction to The Day that the World Breaks Down: "Oh, wow I love this This is epic ... Floor!"
@frankjones1830
3 жыл бұрын
You really need to check out “The Bard’s Song” by Blind Guardian, the live version. Incredible!
@argantyr5154
3 жыл бұрын
Wall of text of incoming. Ayreon is the project of Dutch composer, producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist Arjen Anthony Lucassen. He does scifi concept albums and has had over 80 different singers on his 9 (double)albums. He has been doing this since mid 90's. Most of the stories of the albums combined are part of the bigger story called The Ayreon Universe. Besides Ayreon he has some other projects: StarOne, Stream of Passion, Gentle Storm, Ambeon, Guilt Machine and some solo stuff. Singers: • James LaBrie as The historian (from the band Dream Theater) • Tommy Karevik as The opposition leader (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder) • Tommy Rogers as The Chemist (Between the Buried and Me) • Simone Simons as The counselor (Epica) • Nils K. Rue as The prophet (Pagan's Mind) • Tobias Sammet as The captain (Edguy, Avantasia) • Hansi Kürsch as The Astronomer (Blind Guardian) • Mike Mills as TH-1 (Toehider) • Russell Allen as The President (Symphony X) • Michael Eriksen as The diplomat (Circus Maximus) • Floor Jansen as The biologist (Nightwish, After Forever, ReVamp) • Will Shaw, Wilmer Waarbroek, Jan Willem Ketelaars, Lisette van den Berg as The ship's crew • Zaher Zorgati as The preacher (Myrath) Instrumentalists • Joost van de Broek - piano and electric piano (After Forever) • Mark Kelly - synth solo on The dream dissolves (Marillion) • Maaike Peterse - cello (Kingfisher Sky) • Paul Gilbert - guitar solo on Star of Sirrah • Guthrie Govan - guitar solo on Planet Y is alive! (Asia) • Marcel Coenen - guitar solo on The dream dissolves (Sun Caged) • Ed Warby - drum kit • Ben Mathot - violin • Jeroen Goossens - flute, wind instruments • Arjen Anthony Lucassen - all other musical instruments The binary code means Trust VH1, which is the role that Michael Mills plays.
@OlliLeino_sportstuff
3 жыл бұрын
Hi! Thanks for the channel, I enjoy following your insights to songs. Ayreon is one of the kind project combining singers and musicians together. I have understood that it is a priviledge and pure joy for an artist to be in these Ayreon projects. If you haven’t already reacted to one of Arjen’s trusted female singer Anneke van Girrsbergen you should check her out. She has performed with so many artists. Originally started in band The Gathering. Maybe Ayreon songs ”Beneath the Waves” or ”Age of Shadows” would be a nice tracks for you to react.
@lucastepuk9077
2 жыл бұрын
Ayreon is totally insane!!!!!
@vivk1593
3 жыл бұрын
Ayreon 🤩 There is SO MUCH to discover 🤘😁🤘 Go for it and you will love every second of the journey, I promise 😍
@andystrange7405
3 жыл бұрын
I was truly excited about watching this a s you didn’t disappoint. Keep up the good work Doug, loving the reactions so far. New Wave of British Heavy Metal - NWOBHM, a term referring to a clutch of bands emerging in the ‘80s and having an impact on the metal genres. Arjen is a great musician and there is so much to listen to. Most are rock operas and without a shadow of a doubt he always works with great talent. He has also been doing the remote recording since 2007 when he worked with a singer from an Ayreon album to start a band. The band was called Stream of Passion. Stream to refer to the remote recording and working of the different members and Passion as that’s who Marcela Bovio played on his Human Equation album. She is also worthy of checking out. For the next songs I’d pick Amazing Flight In Space from Ayreon Universe, Garden of Emotions from Into The Electric Castle Live, Twisted Coil from the same live show, Starchild from Star One Live and Songs of the Ocean from Ayreon Universe. But in reality pick a song and you shouldn’t be disappointed, they vary in technicality, catchiness and length but that diversity is also a mark of the man, who is a top bloke by the way. Had a chance to meet him and the Stream Of Passion band (plus Damian Wilson, amazing vocalist and ex-Valjean) after a gig in London, all were down to Earth and as friendly as they come.
@joostwinter
3 жыл бұрын
As for the question 'Does he never play live', actually he does, but quite rarely. :) I've seen him live four times! :D
@PaulyV56
3 жыл бұрын
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.
@TheSyncos
3 жыл бұрын
In order of Appearance: James Labrie - Dream Theater Tommy Karevik - Kamelot Tommy Rogers - Between the Buried and Me Simone Simons - Epica Nils K. Rue - Pagan's Mind Tobias Sammet - Avantasia Hansi Kürsch - Blind Guardian Mike Mills - Toehider Russell Allen - Symphony X Michael Eriksen - Circus Maximus Floor Jansen - Nightwish
@gsresener
3 жыл бұрын
If you are into metal opera, you should give a go at Avantasia. It's somewhat like Ayreon, but put together by Tobias Sammet (yes, captain in this song), and their first two albums are actually called "the metal opera", pt 1 and 2. I really dig Farewell, such amazing vocals. And the seven angels is really epic
@darkiee69
3 жыл бұрын
"In quest for" from mo pt 2 is my go to song.
@geopoliticsweekly
3 жыл бұрын
Rhapsody’s “Sacred Power of Raging Winds” and/or Rhapsody of Fire’s “Son of Pain.” Two names but same band.
@mrpappa4105
3 жыл бұрын
Hey Doug so happy for every new subscriber and view u get. All the best from Sweden since 19k subs. Keep doing this.
@davidclare2340
2 жыл бұрын
Hey doug, your insight into music has changed thhe way i listen to music , i thank you greatly. I have one for you , not necessarily to review/react to, but 1 i think youll just love if you havent heard before. The butterfly ball album, a collective effort from the 70s with a whos who of prog rock/early metal including the likes of ian gillan, ronnie james dio just to name a few. Keep rocking on man, thanks again.
@gandalf8216
5 ай бұрын
12:10 yup. nailed it
@HeviRane
3 жыл бұрын
I thought Helloween - Keeper of the seven keys would be a mindblower, but ok Ayreon is next level
@robertvarga5788
3 жыл бұрын
Helloween is the next level :)
@renevw5812
3 жыл бұрын
I would recommend: Twisted Coil (Live). Every album of Ayreon is a real treat. Just look at his site or look for it on internet. His last album, besides fantastic music you also get fantastic cover and a comic book. His albums are all amazing.
@scorpiusbalthazar4327
3 жыл бұрын
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
@christianrojas3357
3 жыл бұрын
Great video. Next one please oh please "Isis and Osiris" or "And the Druids Turn to Stone". Ups, 3 AM, I must sleep or tomorrow my world'll break down!
@Momo-rv6en
3 жыл бұрын
He does play live, but mostly other artists are singing and are playing the instruments. Arjen has stage freight.
@martindoorn9638
3 жыл бұрын
But not always! On Ayreon Universe he is in three songs and in Into The Electric Castle he is in almost all songs
@@TheCyberMantis well, could be a typo :-) Not nice to laugh, just correct :-)
@rxhx
2 жыл бұрын
The whole song gives me multiple goosebumps! One of the favorite moments is Hansi Kürsch' vocals!
@paulkasiola4041
3 жыл бұрын
This is my favorite quarantine new artist. I heard a reaction and found myself humming the song the next day. I went right out and purchased the album. Glad you got to see and react to this. There is a full album lyric video that give you the story of the source. You might like checking out Everybody Dies live.
@bigg2988
3 жыл бұрын
Btw, who else thought Everybody Dies Live is such a boss pun! \m/\m/
@clivematthews5296
3 жыл бұрын
Also to hear more of Simone and Floor singing together try Epica ft Floor Jansen performing Sancta Terra.
@Gingerbreadley
3 жыл бұрын
Just found you today and now you are doing Ayreon amazing. If you want a suggestion I think you would love the Whirlwind by transatlantic. It’s often considered the best prog album of the 21st century (that’s not just me saying that the prog report the largest prog news network said that as well) it’s a super group with members from bands like dream theater. (It is a bit long tho as it’s a full album song)
@SulacoNY
3 жыл бұрын
You had me at "better than anything ALW could ever write". "Lloyd Webber's awful stuff runs for years and years and years" - Roger Waters (it's a miracle)
@talaniel
3 жыл бұрын
Actually, It's a bit funny cos I think Webber did Jesus Christ Superstar, right? That is a rock opera Arjen Lucassen likes a lot and it is one of the sources of inspiration for Ayreon project, if I am not mistaken.
@neuroticgothguy
3 жыл бұрын
NEXT. HAS. TO. BE. NE OBLIVISCARIS - And Plague Flowers The Kaleidoscope!!!!!!!!!
@filipbozic4303
3 жыл бұрын
His albums are full stories with a bunch of different famous (at least in rock and metal circles) singers and musicians, a lot of them connecting to one long story. A whole metal opera universe is ahead of you
@maxmaidment96
3 жыл бұрын
This makes me so happy. Not my choice of the vast catalogue of Arjen, but undeniably an exciting showcase of a bunch of singers. My personal fav is Twisted Coil by his side project called Guilt Machine.
@talaniel
3 жыл бұрын
Yes, that one is great! Both the original version with Jasper and live version with Damien.
@maxmaidment96
3 жыл бұрын
@@talaniel I loved the original so much before I found out about the live version with Damien, and he absolutely nails it. So powerful.
@karolienharbrinknuman7820
3 жыл бұрын
I loved your reaction! NWOBHM stands for new wave of British heavy metal. The binary part played by Mike Mills as TH1, the computer, means 'trust TH1'. Arjen does play live, but seldom. He has a terrible case of stage fright. To continue your Ayreon journey, I reccommend 'the eye of ra', 'everybody dies', 'Age of shadows' and 'the valley of the queens'. Stay healthy!
@juyifan7933
3 жыл бұрын
You should check out some tracks from the Ayreon Universe live DVD. Ayreon very rarely performs live, so whenever it happens its a big event. It is very rare to see so many prominent metal singers singing together. I recommend "Everybody Dies".
@Leo-zt7fo
3 жыл бұрын
If you're going to listen to more Ayreon, there is no way around "Isis And Osiris" (1998)
@talaniel
3 жыл бұрын
Yes, that one is stunning. One of my Ayreon favorites. The Fifth Extinction is also interesting.
@Oceanborn07_05
3 жыл бұрын
Hi Doug, thanks for letting me comment here today, I hope you are ready for my daily Blood Brothers or The Nomad by Iron Maiden request :)
@joshmeads
3 жыл бұрын
Tommy Karevik's (the guy you said could really sing) band Seventh Wonder!
@mattsdpell5029
3 жыл бұрын
I love the way you listen, Doug. When you find out that there was Russell Allen from Symphony X I cried a little. So beautiful watching a man like you. Thanks
@peterkostov9562
3 жыл бұрын
N.W.O.B.H.M. means New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Judas Priest and many more are referred as the new wave of British heavy metal bands.
@randalljones4370
3 жыл бұрын
For another Ayreon, maybe the live version of 'Everybody Dies; .... from same concept album.
@valentin_din_romania
3 жыл бұрын
react to '' Swarm '' by Thank You Scientist
@crhu319
3 жыл бұрын
This reminds me a lot of the Richard Harris narrated War of the Worlds. Almost as if this genre existed in the 60s and now but not between. It may be that collaborations could be funded back when great musicians weren't so busy and overly restricted by contracts, and can now due to pandemic.
@roykliffen9674
3 жыл бұрын
If you mean Jeff Wayne's musical version of WotW, the narrator was Richard Burton, another giant of the British stage with a beautiful bariton voice. The latest released project of Ayreon is "Transitus" - a horror prog rock opera - narrated by Tom Baker, the much beloved 4th Doctor Who (from when the show was actually cultural relevant)
@RD-wg2nt
3 жыл бұрын
I’m with you Doug. First time hearing this myself. Magnificent, such an eclectic musical landscape. Will check out more for sure. 👏
@atriplexa2462
3 жыл бұрын
So glad you discover Ayreon. Arjan is a genius composer, Just like Tuomas. I would love to see you react tot Wintersun🤘🥰
@MazeMouse
3 жыл бұрын
For Ayreon you should do streams and get the entire albums in an single sitting. Get the full stories because they are so worth it.
@LongandWeirdName
3 жыл бұрын
Seconded. Ayreon should be heard as full concept albums for full appreciation. While Arjen is a great composer, it's a storyteller that he truly shines as. Two of the albums are actually life changing.
@branlopgar
3 жыл бұрын
@@LongandWeirdName "Two of the albums"? Let me guess. Into the Electric Castle and The Human Equation? Because, if so, I totally agree
@edwardmalthouse973
3 жыл бұрын
Another one of Lucassen's projects is called the Gentle Storm, which features Anneke van Giersbergen, who is also great! I'd start with the song Amsterdam.
@chickenoncheese
3 жыл бұрын
Really glad you're now finding Ayreon. He has some very cool/different stuff. Big time talented writer! Thanks for the videos!!
@sophuz
3 жыл бұрын
Oh dear, this is a rabbit hole that you can deep dive. Next i would say Eye of Ra or Everybody Dies (both live)
@davidputterman2719
3 жыл бұрын
Great song, great reaction. One of the singers, Simone Simons is the lead singer of Epica (which you definitely need to listen to). Epica's song, Sancta Terra has Floor and Simone singing together with a full orchestra and chorus behind the symphonic metal band.
@gandyhyoga6942
3 жыл бұрын
Wait for Arjen to show up in the comments!
@69Tiburoncito
3 жыл бұрын
NWOBHM stands for New Wave Of Heavy Metal (type of heavy metal music invented by Judas Priest and Iron Maiden and Saxon). You are right the albums are opera’s. I will now name some albums and songs of Ayreon. The first album is The Final Experiment, an rock opera about a blind minstrel called Ayreon who could See visions of the future. There Adel some nice Songs on the Album and The Prologue is the best and most bombastic (classical and roman and rock music, epic) intro ever made. The 2nd album is called Actual Fantasy (that’s an Computer SF Opera... except one song or two I am not a fan of That album). The 3rd album is really good (Into The Electric Castle) an space/rock opera. The best songs are Castle Hall and Amazing Flight, Accros the rainbow bridge and valley of the queens. There is an amazing live/concert version of Valley of The Queens (Ayreon Universe concert). Then the 4th album is a double Album and every cd is an different album but with one story. The Albums are called Universal Migrator part 1 (The Dream Sequencer) and Universal Migrator part 2 (Flight of the Migrator). The Dream Sequencer is a very nice and melodic album (with even Beatles and Pink Floyd vibes in it. The Album has nice songs like One Small Step (about watching the moon landing live on Television in 1969), The Shooting Company of Frans B. Coq (very nice song about the famous shooting company Rembrandt painted on his world famous Night Watch (De Nachtwacht) painting. My House on Mars and The First Man On Earth (Beatles style song) are Nice. The Universal Migrator part 2 (Flight of the Migrator) is the cd with the heavy space music (pink floyd meats synths and heavy metal) there are some nice songs on the album and Iron Maiden Fans will recommend Into The Black Hole (because Bruce Dickinson sings on it). From this Album I would recommend Dawn of a Million Souls and Journey On The Waves of Time. The Album After that is a really nice album: The Human Equation. Album is about a man who lies in a coma After an car crash and experience his whole life (songs and characters are about emotion types and fases of the life of the man. Nice songs are: Day Six: Childhood, Day Seven: Hope (only because Arjen Lucassen Sings on this Song), Day 8, Day Eleven: Love, Day Sixteen: Loser. Ayreon had some live shows with this album (Theater Equation tour/concerts). There is the album 01011001. Nice songs are: Comatose, River of Time, Web of Lies (Yeah about the Internet haha), Ride the Comet. And some other songs. Them there is the BRILLIANT album: The Theory of Everything: the double album consists of 4 “tracks” of 20 minuten each but the 4 tracks consists of different parts (songs) and all those parts together are one songs (so 4 long songs Made up by smaller songs). There are 42 Parts (“songs”) and That is a reference to the Hitchhikers through The Galaxy books/films because 42 stands for everything. The album is about a scientist/Math/physician/mathematist who wants to invent the Theory of Everything (like Albert Einstein). The Title track (whole Song) Is very good, there is a very nice video of it. The Titel track is called The Theory of Everything. The Song Magnetism is very cool (also the video of the Song from the Ayreon Universe concert). 2 Guys from Nightwish are on the Magnetism Song (Marko sings amazing and Troy plays a kind of wind instrument). The Theory of Everything album has 3 of the best Keyboard/synth/piano players of All Time with Keith Emerson, Wakeman, and Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater. The Next album is The Source (very nice album) and the Titel track is The Day That The World Breaks Down (think you That you commented on a video about this amazing Song). The Song is the favorite Ayreon song of Arjen Lucassen himself (most proud of that song). Sea of Machines is a very nice Song of the album (would be nice of you did and comment on that Song 2 and also a comment on the Theory of Everything Song). Everybody Dies Will be recommend by Some on tour Channel. All That Was is a very beautiful song with Anneke Van Giersbergen (amazing vocalist from The Netherlands) and Floor Jansen (Nightwish) and James LaBrie and another Male vocalist, a very nice Song. Aquatic Race (very nice and cool Song). From the last Album (Tranistius) the Song The Talk of The Town is a nice Song and has an amazing Video clip.
@CharlesSook
3 жыл бұрын
React to The amazing flight!!
@talaniel
3 жыл бұрын
Now which version? Studio? Live from Ayreon Universe? Live from Electric Castle? I would go with a live version, but which one?
@shuriken4852
3 жыл бұрын
Next I would suggest reacting to the performances at Ayreon Universe concert, especially the following Intergalactic Space Crusaders, River of Time, Merlin's Will, Valley of the Queens, Ride the Comet, Star of Sirrah, And the Druids Turn to Stone, Age of Shadows & Everybody Dies.
@ConfessorRahl
3 жыл бұрын
Ayreon is truly one of the most consistently exciting projects out there. Album after album he delivers, and this song is one of the most epic. Great video as always Doug! I’m going to recommend Meshuggah’s Clockworks (live) or Bleed (Live). Pay close attention to the drums, Tomas Haake is a legend
@BidonRacing
3 жыл бұрын
Aeryon is rfeally awesome ! It's pretty hard to find the Aeryon Universe live BD but i recommand you to have it your colletion !!! Nice job as usual :)
@alexandre_am
3 жыл бұрын
Hey Doug! Since you enjoyed Ayreon and you seem to like Bruce Dickinson a lot, may I suggest "Into The Black Hole", easily one of Bruce's top 5 performances of his entire career
@sVieira151
3 жыл бұрын
Great reaction! I think you should give The Human Equation a listen in full at some point. Has quite a few singers you'd recognise (Mikael Akerfeldt, Devin Townsend, James La Brie among them) and I think it's Ayreon's best album to date.
@Luzarioth
Жыл бұрын
I can not overstate how awesome the entire album is ! Do yourself a Favor and just listen to it, you will NOT regret it :)
@damienmaynard8892
3 жыл бұрын
Arjen is a giant. I feel Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds in here! Michael Mills 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 !!!! Tommy Karevik is the singer from Kamelot (worth checking out!) His partner is Kobra Paige from Kobra and The Lotus (also worth checking out) - Metal is Family! Delain (another symphonic Dutch metal band) started out like this as a "project" (Check them out too!!!) Simone Simons (Epica) knows THE dirtiest jokes! 😜 Fun fact! - Like Tuomas, Floor wanted to be a biologist when she was younger! Yo, all these gorgeous Dutch metal dames - Floor, Simone, Sharon, Charlotte, Anneke, Diane.... no wonder my kids are half Dutch! 😜 (their mother was a Doro lookalike!)
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