Musical Analysis/Reaction of Ayreon - Everybody Dies (live - Ayreon Universe)
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- čas přidán 20. 05. 2021
- #ayreon #reaction #everybodydies #ayreonuniverse #ayreonlive
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🎵🎸Moody, atmospheric, instrumental, one-man-band prog? Right this way 👇
czcams.com/video/1nWe3g_7pqA/video.html
3 years later, still watching your analyses! You're the man!!! Respect. I learn also a lot from you as a multi musician myself.
Thanks sir, I am very grateful !❤❤
Arjen is very shy and stage sick. H did play live during his shows 3 times I guess, but he rather stays behind the curtains. Such a lovely ~sweet awesome soul Arjan is.
In the backing vocals you have 3 Dutch metal ladies, also Floor her sister Yvonne. The female on stage with Tommy (Camelot) and Hansi, is Maggy and she s a Belgium metal singer, the girl has GRIT! Love it.
Musicians were Dutch from several well known Dutch metal bands. Ed (Dutch drummer) always works with Arjen. Bass player and female singer of awesome Dutch band "Stream of Passion"
All singers (except Maggy from Nightmare) you also heard in the first clip. Michael Mills from Toe Hider (Australia) (awesome singer who did the 0001 0001 etc in your first reaction) is symbol for the computers running amok, hence his wires on his head haha. H is AMAZING.
Ayreon is not a band. It's Arjans projects. He writes the music and lyrics, plays several instruments and works with amazing singers all over the world. He's got several great projects.
He also played a lot with Simone and Floor in their former bands. He's a virtuoso.
They did not go on tour, but did live concerts in Tilburg, a Dutch city. Hope there will be more soon of Arjan.
I would like to point out the female trio. You heard how much layering and complexity there is in the studio record. A lot of Ayreon songs are like that. I would not have thought it possible to perform live without extensive vocal tracks. These three ladies - Irene Jansen, Lisette van den Berg and Marcela Bovio - are there for most of the show and doing all of that supporting vocal "dirty work" live. Almost any time the camera shows the trio you can see them summoning mad notes, blending with the front singers when needed, or being heard distinctly. And headbanging.
YES!!!! The Ayreon trip has started!
I just love Mike Mills’ happy face in the background.
All three guys are in the other one as well. The first dude (Michaeal Mills) is the robot with the crazy harmonies, one you correctly identified (Hansi Kürsch). The last one is the one you see from the side in the studio Tommy Karevik). Btw the keyboardist and drummer are also in the The day that the world breaks down.
The universe feels a little bit more aligned whenever someone new discovers Ayreon and Arjen's work.
3 years later, still watching your analyses! You're the man!!! Respect. I learn also a lot from you as a multi musician myself.
Thanks sir, I am very grateful !🤗
And the griddy voiced singer is Maggy Luyten from Belgium. The most left back vocalist is Irene, the sister of Floor. And yes, Floor is also present ;-)
Also, these Ayreon concerts are a once every few years sort of thing. They don't take it on the road. They get together all the people and put on one big show in the Netherlands. Performers and fans fly in from all over.
don´t worry. it was a great expertly reaction. nobody can expect a complete analysis/review after one first listening.
On this first ever Ayreon show (and no, this does not tour) Arjen wasn't on stage much but he was massively involved in the whole thing together with his music director Joost van den Broek (the guy on keyboards, he basically figured out how to play all of this, put the band together and lead the rehearsals).
He does show up at some point in the show, which is awesome!
Not the first show either. It was the second. The first was the "Electric Castle" album in it's entirety.
@@tammymoyer7518 don’t know what you mean but the first official Ayreon live show was the Ayreon Universe show. The second run was the Electric Castle And Other Tales show.
@@tammymoyer7518I just bought the limited edition dvd cd and a book all together. I can’t fn wait for it to get here. There’s no way I could ever afford to goto the Netherlands so I’m grateful he made a dvd for these. 🤘🤘
Awesome reaction again, thanks!
Your love for music is infectious! I just get happy watching. You truly are a great "reactor" you can tell you have so much love for the music and can appreciate everything. Great job
I agree 100%. I get so much from watching him. It’s like hearing it for the first time all over again watching him. Most of these reaction channels are a joke. We got a gem here though
Great stuff again fella. Arjen is so generous with his comments, congrats on getting a personal comment from him! That stage oozes talent, the rest of the live set is every bit as good as this and features many more awesome artists.
Floor's sister is the tall girl in the backing vocals
The singer you remembered is Hansi Kürsch from Blind Guardian. They are very, very popular over here in Germany (where they are from).
I can really suggest you to experience them on your channel. A perfect start would be the Wacken 2016 double: "The Bard's Song & Valhalla". Both songs are so different but belong nevertheless together for a first time experience of BG.
(PS: If you nowadays pass Wacken grounds and listen carefully, you can still hear the 2016 crowd sing those two songs)
You can choose every song of this concert, they're all different. Keep on rockin, love your reactions!
Everybody Dies is a song from The Source album. The setlist of Ayreon Universe show features great music from all Arjen’s projects.The whole show is amazing. From ballads to heavy metal and anything in between. Many many vocalists participated (you saw 5 of them in this song). Joost van den Broek on keyboards keeps everything together, Ed Warby on drums, Marcel Coenen on lead guitar is fabulous, but also Ben Mathot on violin, Jeroen Goossens on flute etc, a cello player, of course I missed a few.
A few songs they performed in this show or Electric Castle show: The Star Of Sirrah, The Eye Of Ra, Songs Of The Ocean, Intergalactic Space Crusaders, Age Of Shadows, Valley Of The Queen, Twisted Coil (love this one).
Also Arjen’s latest published project, Transitus, has some great songs. This was to be a movie project so there are some nice videos of songs on his YT channel.
Personally I love the Star One songs a lot. There are 2 albums, Arjen is currently working on nr 3. Songs are based on scifi tv shows and movies, like Star Trek, Alien, Blade Runner, etc. Some if the songs I have already mentioned as beingperformed live.
Other projects that I know of: The Gentle Storm, The Theory Of Everything, Guilt Machine, etc.
Enjoy the ride and this rabbit hole. It gives me enormous pleasure and wonder to listen to it all.
This comment is very underrated! I'm with you, I Love everything from Star One!!! Most people don't realize many of these songs that people love are from Space Metal. I adore Maggie. But, Sir Russell Allen and Damien Wilson?!?! You can't go wrong!!! 💕🙏🇺🇸
I love your reactions. You are always honest and candid especially here where you admit to being a bit overwhelmed. Honestly, I have seen this video many times, and just your observation of the guitar riffs that would normally or often be drum fills was something I had not even thought about. I am not a musician and bring a much more simplistic ear to the listening but I am learning or maybe understanding more of what I hear because of your keen observations. Thank you for the unpacking!
I totally agree!! It’s the same for me. It’s like being in music class when I watch him. I love it!!
I had three favourite reactors, now it is four. Groetjes from the Netherlands 🇳🇱
:) Nice one! Thank you! Greetings from Northern Ireland!
Who are your other favs?
@@barbaravance6774 TankTheTech, Julia Nilon, Chase Carneson. I like other reactors as well, but these are more technical. Each in their own way. Technical stuff, singing and compositions.
Hi John, on the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th of september 2023 Ayreon will be back on stage with his album 01011001 at Tilburg in the Netherlands. On the 27th of october this year the ticket sale started and all concerts were sold out within 2 to 3 hours. I was lucky and bought three tickets for my sons and myself. It will be recorded so the people who are too far away to join this spectacle, can enjoy the concert later. For me Arjen is a musical mastermind or wizard. Love to everyone from the Netherlands. Proud to be a Dutchie.
Will be there too, can't wait!
I can’t even imagine the adrenaline rush after a show like this. You’ll be ready to conquer the world after this. 🤘🤘
Flying from Australia for it
😊🇳🇱🤘
The intro was impressive, quite alot of dream theater influence to be enjoyed on a JEM, what could be better. The reaction is great. I love watching you fall into this rabbit hole. Its pretty deep.
Thank you, man!
Your reactions are great and I wouldn't stop doing that! However, I really would enjoy a thorough analysis. I wouldn't be offended if you did both. Also, nobody else has mentioned it so I will, this is from one of Aryeon's occasional live shows. It would be next to impossible to take all these renowned musicians on a regular tour because of their commitments to their own bands. I wish he could, I would LOVE to see it.
Off to Holland we will go, when the next one is announced!
The point of a reaction video is to see your first reaction to this.
Don't worry about what you think you may be missing. You have a greater knowledge and understanding of music and composition than most people. So you are more aware of the complexity of this music, and what intricacies you may be missing. Most people would not even be aware of the stuff you think you're missing. It just goes over the top of normal people's heads.
The more you learn about a subject, the more you realise how much you still don't know. That's just the way life is. And it's why educated people can appreciate how much they don't know, while ignorant people have no idea just how clueless they really are. So don't sweat it. Your concerns arise from your deeper understanding of music. You're doing a lot better than 99% of us ever could! 😊
Reccomendation: TOEHIDER -MEET THE SLOTH. Its the guy with the helmet and falsetto in the intro of this song. He's a new Zappa for sure.
If you haven't heard wintersun I highly recommend you do that.
Start with "sons of winter and stars"
Live rehearsal at sonic pump studio
Be prepared for your brain to explode of epicnes
Arjen appears in a couple of songs in the 'Ayreon Universe' live performances. Castle hall from 'Ayreon Universe' is brilliant and Arjen plays on stage in it. First time I hear Ayreon, I was blown away and I haven't stop listening.
all 3 are in the day the world brakes down....greets from the Netherlands
You should ask Arjen what song he like you to react too, so it not just the same that always :D
Hey John 🤚
Believe me, the way you are doing your reactions are totally okay and the way they should be. Being surprised by finding something special and that is absolutely up your sleeve. And if you can't capture everything in one reaction, what's keeping you from doing a deeper reaction? Just keep on going 😊👍🤘
Greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱 🤘
Thanks for the reaction. I liked it a lot. The song can be overwelming indeed. And this is just one song of that show.
Awesome job!. Love your breakdown. Love this project.
Next Ayreon: Eye of Ra or Valley of The Queens
And some Anneke/Gathering in general
Eye of Ra is just insane.
You'd be happy to Know that Devin was featured on an older Ayreon album. Check The Human Equation out.
Great song 😁 Arjen rarely is on stage, i've read somewhere that he has stagefright 🙈 i'll throw in another live Ayreon you might want to check out; Eye of Ra. 👍
I like the way you do it, keep on going like this.
Arjen says he doesn't like to play live much. Nevertheless he plays in a couple of songs of that show, which was the first one to be played live (besides the theater equation, a live show where the whole human equation album was played highly recommended). There is show from 2019 where they played the whole Into electric castle live, and some other songs from other arjen projects. I recommend Garden of emotions or Isis and Osiris from that show
Don't forget, Arjen did some acoustic 'Gentle Storm' shows together with Anneke here in Europe.
Another Ayreon!! Really enjoyed your reaction. Stay safe 🤘✌
I said it before and I say it again. Love your music, Keep on the good work mate. Thumbs up form from here :-)
It's always a pleasure to watch someone who really knows their stuff react. Well done!!!!
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both the guy on the right and left that was Tommy Karevik(2nd singer after James LaBrie) and Hansi Kursch(The guy who sang the Yes!)
The two industrial robots were named Betty and Wilma.
Thank you for this fantastic reaction. Welcome to the wonderful world of Ayreon. Arjen Lucassen made a lot of amazing music. And the lineup well. if you are a musician and you perform for Arjen, well you have to be very very good. Very very scary to perform
For a live Rock Opera you should watch the entire "Into the Electric Castle live" probably record it in one sitting, but release it into 10 or 15 videos...
I second that motion! 👍❤️✅ That would be amazing!
Really enjoy your reviews, keep up the good work 😁 Yeah Aryeon is mind-blowing and so so good. 🙂
Absolutely loving how playing a video game, has introduced me to so much new music, inspiration and artists. Blown away by Ayreon, and can't wait to start listening to your own material John Wilson!
If you like metal, ever changing timelines and being trown off listen to Wintersun- "Darkness and Frost & Time" or "Sons of winter and stars". Both live rehearsals at sonic pump studios. Both very long but epic songs. you wont regret it i promise.
Yeah, I want me some Kai endurance reaction xD
Gotta say that intro song in the video is fucking awesome man im definitely subbing. The second you said that a 5 min song is short i immediately knew "this guy is definitely a prog music kinda guy"
"I've got something in my eye"
Haha, yes you did, it was your finger!
Doing great!
A reaction is a reaction, a review is a review.... all good
Thx i learn a lot of your comments i lissen on a different way to this musik now
I got a Zappa vibe from the pre-verse as well. I can almost see Ruth Underwood playing the percussion in my mind.... I'd be shocked if Arjen was not a fan of Yes and Zappa!
A few other of the popular Ayreon reactions I've seen are live performances of the eye of Ra, valley of the queen's, and age of shadows. Eye of Ra is especially cool to me because Floor and Her sister Irene have a harmony part during the chorus and also I don't want to spoil too much but will just say the song finishes in very epic fashion
Honestly, since he likes prog I think some other songs would be more exciting for him.
Some of those props are industrial 5-axis robots which would be next to IMPOSSIBLE to tour with. Plus, to work/play that near to them without a cage around them is hella dangerous.
The guy with the strange helmet in the very beginning is Mike Mills, in TDTTWBD he was the android TH1, singing in binary: trust TH1🤓
Yes. We demand more Ayreon.
Nice video, love the analysis. Hope you look at other records from Ayreon. The Human equation and The theory of everything are both amazing. Also, the Electric castle is a classic. I also love this video a lot because you can see how happy everyone is to play this music.
Part of the fun is watching people being introduced to things we love, because it allows us to relive the joy, the bemusement, the moments where our upper lip curls back of its own accord and our heads start bobbing and we think, "Oh HELL yes." Would we enjoy a deeper dive sometime? Sure! But it's not an either/or situation. You could do both. I'd save the in-depth stuff for songs you really connect with, of course. Since people tend to click on vids about songs they enjoy, you probably wouldn't get a lot of good feedback to a "this is why this song sucks" vid. ;-)
Four of the five lead singers are present from The Day That The World Breaks Down.
Tommy Karevik - Opposition Leader - Lead Singer from Kamelot
Hansi Kursch - Astronomer - Lead singer from Blind Guardian
Mike Mills - TH1 (the robot who does the vocal harmonies with 0s and 1s, which is why you heard the vocoder effect of a robot) - Toehider
Floor Jansen - Biologist - Nightwish
Maggy Luyten - Guest performer - Nightmare
It is impossible to follow Arjen's stuff and get everything in the first listen, so don't beat yourself over it! Arjen did perform with Rick Wakeman in "The theory of everything" album. Part of the joy of a reaction channel is watching someone who clearly is talented like yourself, fall in love with a song and artist that we love. I could sit and watch you unpack the entire "The Source" album, and you'll notice callbacks and reprises from the start of the song, but also from the earlier songs in the album. Arjen is also known to throw in callbacks to earlier albums in tiny chunks, so it is always a treat when we catch onto it. However, you might not have the time to do something as extensive. One of Arjen's song that gets overlooked is "Twisted Coil" - Electric Castle Live and Other Tales. As someone who loves prog, it'd be delightful if you ever did that song or atleast looked at it in your spare time.
Stay safe and have a good day :)
Thanks for the info and the kind comments! 😊🤘👍
@@JWSoundworks2 If you want to get a feel of Arjen, watch this: czcams.com/video/G9U2RXOq6KI/video.html
You'll like him, I'm sure.
Do a YT search on "Star One - The making of Victims of the Modern Age" and you'll find a 3 part 'making of'. Arjen at work in his studio with the singers and 'casual interviews'. It gets you to understand how and why very busy musicians take the time to make Ayreon albums. Personally I get the feeling they're all friends, nice people, bonded by music.
Thx for this reaction. This concert was the best I ever went to (September of 2017, 013 in Tilburg)
Hahaha when I saw you had done this one, I was wondering how soon it would take before commenting there is a lot to unpack. 😂 So much going on in this song it’s complete chaos. But I love it.
Must mean Epica: Sancta Terra is coming up.
Very appropriate shirt for this video: Arjen has a song about A Clockwork Orange in his Star One project: "Victim of the Modern Age."
The guy on the right is Hansi and on the left is Tommy Karevik
So, yes, you did recognize some of the vocalists from the previous one. Not every vocalist who appeared on the studio album this song was on was at this live show. And yes, Arjen wasn’t visible in this video. He doesn’t appear much on stage during these shows, but usually does toward the end. They’ve done three of these epics shows - four over a weekend each time - in Holland only, two years apart. So, they don’t tour. Not anymore. Each show has focused on either a different album, or a Best of…, like this one. Arjen is heavily involved in organizing the shows and of course the set designs, lighting, props, getting the vocalists to come and participate from various countries, etc., but he’s become a bit of a recluse over the years and actually has some sort of phobia for appearing on stage now, from what I understand. In any case, if you can EVER make it to one of these live shows, it’s totally worth the money/time. I’ve fortunately been to all three. My Mom has even come from the U.S. each time to see it as well. There’s always so much to unpack with his Ayreon albums. Each one is a rock opera. I discovered Ayreon on a compilation disc that came with a metal magazine I bought way back in 1998. It blew me away, and still does today. I feel like you every time I listen to an album, though I’ve heard them all so many times now. Check out Isis and Osiris, the song I was talking about, which is from the 3rd album Into the Electric Castle. czcams.com/video/dxpBDwrif94/video.html. That album was the focus of the last series of shows, in September 2019. He has created side projects from Ayreon, including Star One (songs about his influences from Sci-Fi TV series and films growing up), and Ambeon, (a one-off ambient metal album), Guilt Machine and Stream of Passion (which he left after making the first album).
P.S. you mentioned Devin Townsend. He actually sang on a previous Ayreon album, the Human Equation. He portrays the emotion Rage, for example, Day Three: Pain (czcams.com/video/6vYYMghd5so/video.html), and "Day Sixteen: Loser" (czcams.com/video/iPD1Min7Qug/video.html).
Nice reactions! I'm a bit "old school" about music and like to listen to an album from beginning to end, rather than picking certain songs. So it would be really cool if you did a reaction, or maybe more apropriate, a review, to "The source" in it's entirety. I know it would take a very long time to do, but it would be really cool. And I think the album, "The Source", as a concept-album, is really a treat for your ears and mind!
Thanks Johannes - I agree. And when I listen to music when I'm not "reacting" (lol) this is what I also like to do. A full album review would be great. Although I may work my way up to that kind of thing down the line a little bit as I get more into the whole "reaction" thing. Thanks!
@@JWSoundworks2I can’t believe they said that, because it was the first thing I thought of after you watched tdttwbd. I just think that would be so amazing to see you do that. I didn’t say it because I was like that’s crazy he won’t do that. 😂 but I’d you think about it many people react to the whole 2013 waken nightwish show so it’s not that diff. Definitely keep it in the back of your head. 🤘🤘
A singer myself, I'm a big fan of the two ladies. Maggy is simply badass with her iron voice and Floor... she's Floor. The Valkyrie.
Love the way she twirls on to the stage, gets to the mic and gives her turn.
All those musicians look like they are having a party!
I got three words for you: Run! Apocalypse! Run!
Right on with the Zappa vibes on this one, as well as the Wakeman influences in some of the keyboard parts. Arjen has stage fright and only appears at the end. Joost…the keyboard player…is basically the musical director for this production, and no, they don’t tour. Another good live Ayreon performance that may be a little easier to digest on first listen is The Valley of the Queens.
I like your approach with no background knowledge and your "on the run" explanations. For me this is very fine!
PS: I've seen Ayreon videos hundred times :-)
But unfortunately not live :-(
I so much would love to shoot on e of his incredible shows.
I´d be so happy, to see you react to my all time favourite from Ayreon. Song is called "Chaos". Wont tell anything more. Just a little hint: Get the best stereo-headphones possible for that^^
Btw: "The guy on the right", Hansi Kürsch, lead singer of Blind Guardian was in The day that the world breaks down. So was the left guy, Tommy Karevik, Singer of Kamelot.
The furthest left one of the female background singers is Floor Jansens sister, Irene.
Devin Townsend was part of a Ayreon-project once, as was Rick Wakeman^^
You keep mentioning these "big names", and i´m sitting here, like "yeah, was part of ayreon once, too" XD
Who hasn’t been involved in his repertoire of music would be a better question 😂😂
I know Ayreon since about two years now and it very quickly became my third favorite band after Pink Floyd and Nightwish.
Both live concerts are epic.
Ayreon Universe live
The electric castle live and other tales
Don’t forget The Theatrical Equation
Arjen has a stage fright and he performs only in the second half of the concert; the first time since ages.
They don’t tour. This was a three? day concert in 013 in Tilburg, my hometown, in the Netherlands.
All three male singers and Floor were in The day that the world brakes down.
Don't worry, you'll get there ;o) You'll find your way if you keep on reacting to Ayreon - have fun!
The whole ‘Universe’ concert is so epic!
They were both in ‘the day the world breaks down’
Best order is do the whole concert from start to finish😄
A thorough analysis of another Ayreon song would be great!
all lead singers from this except Maggie were in the first ayreon you did. The guy doing the crazy highs is Mike Mills who did the crazy harmonies in the other song. He is kinda crazy...he has an original key Wuthering Heights version which is crazy as well!! I was a huge fan of Arjen's Star One a long time ago and didn't realise Ayreon existed until this live concert came about in 2017/18 and I saw a new version of Star of Sirrah and Eye of Ra which were from Star One and now I love Ayreon as well.
I am a wee bit late here. Hahaha glad to see you've fell in love with ayreon aswell. Have you heard the last star one album yet? Amazing..
Wow, you were close to discovering Arjen on your own. If you like Devin, you should know Anneke. And she sang for Ayreon, too.
Didn't know that! I liked her work on the Addicted album! Thats was a great album!
@@JWSoundworks2 For me it was the other way around. Going Ayroen - Anneke - Devin. So happy to have discovered them all. And happy, you did, too.
Anneke and Arjen did a whole tour together
"Beste Zangers" 2021, Anneke, Belle Perez, Karsu.
Loved your reactions to this one and to TDTTWBD! :) You really know your musical stuff and I like how giddy you get over music that I love myself. If you'd be interested and don't know them yet, I'd love to see/hear your thoughts on Snarky Puppy, which is another musical style all together but also a massive musical group making great music. Without wanting to spoil stuff for you: I know 'Lingus' is their most hyped up piece (as a pianist you'll have some stuff to geek out to), but 'Shofukan' and 'What about me' are great as well. If you'd like to see jazz/fusion combined with an orchestra, with both piano and synth pieces, I'd say 'The Curtain' is a must :)
Where to 'start' with Ayreon is a bit of a tricky question.
His Ayreon albums are all stories that take place in the same universe. And there's both time travel and prequels involved too. Ehm, there's a flow chart somewhere that probably needs updating since the latest album Transitus.
For live video reactions, there are three main live sets to choose from Ayreon Universe, The Electric Castle Live and The Theater Equation. If you want to see Arjen himself live, I would recommend 'The Eee of Ra Live' for the whole 'Universe' Cast on stage or 'Amazing Flight' and/or 'The Castle Hall' For 'Castle hall' watch the Electric Castle Live version :-)
my favourite is The Human Equation but that isn't the best place to start for a reason that I won't spoil haha
Dude. Decades long Ayreon fan. Discovered you because of your Day that the world breaks down video. I LOVE that “my brain just exploded” look you get towards the end of both videos. I know that feeling well. I think its pretty clear you’re “one of us”. If you’re interested in reacting more, I have two different paths.
Path 1: you’ve already reviewed two songs from his 2017 album The Source. I recommend you react to all the songs, in album order, so you can learn/appreciate the story as well as all the music. CZcamsr Taycott has some lyric videos that are incredible and practically essential to really digging into the albums.
Path 2: lets do an entirely different album. Each ayreon album is like a different doctor in Doctor Who. Similar enough, but ultimately each beautifully unique different things. If you plan on getting into the rock opera story elements, I would recommend one of the more standalone albums, such as The Theory of Everything or The Human Equation. You mentioned you like Devin Townsend. He’s one of the vocalists on Human Equation. There’s also the flawless perfection of Into the Electric Castle. Not as complex musically as the newer stuff, but still brilliant.
As you’ve already figured out, Ayreon kinda breaks everything, including the “reaction video” format. To really appreciate his genius, you pretty much have to react to entire albums. Even if you break it up over a period of weeks.
Whatever you choose to do (or not do) I’ll continue to watch. You make me laugh, your knowledge is really impressive (what a great ear you have!!). Plus you like Clown Core. How bad could you be.
Other random Song/band suggestion. Anything by Jungle Rot. Burning Cinder is a favorite.
Keep up the great work, man.
You recognized Hansi Kürsch from Blind Guardian. And, fun fact, you were talking about Lord of the rings - Blind Guardian has a song called "The lord of the rings" which is really cool! You should check them out, too. "Mirror Mirror" live or "The bards song/Valhalla" live from Wacken could be a nice start.
The guy on the right is indeed Hansi Kürsch, the "yes" man in TDTWBD, the guy on the left is Tommy Karevik (from Kamelot), and the guy with the laser helmet is Michael Mills, the guy with the "Queen like" 1010101010 vocals and visuals in TDTWBD. Actual this the second song from "The source", the album from which TDTWBD is the opening / introduction
The red-haired backup singer, Marcela Bovio, was in her own band 'Stream of Passion' which started out as another Arjen Lucassen project album. Especially their first album contains a lot of 'Ayreon-sounding' tracks, you should check it out.
If you didn't realise the guy singing first was Michael Mills the 01001 etc guy from Australia. To hear early Arjen/ Aryeon try Star One (live 2003). Female singers are Floor and her sister Irene Jansen.
Just one thing. Play it loud!
Notes on personnel:
Arjen does not appear in this number. He does show up in "Amazing Flight in Space" and "The Eye of Ra" and a couple others I'm forgetting. The Guitarist you're referring to is Marcel Coenen. You can get an introduction to some of the other members of the band in "The Two Gates", which has a break in the middle where Irene Jansen (Floor's sister) introduces them. Really good song, too.
The first lead singer is Michael Mills, who does appear in "The Day That the World Breaks Down" as the android TH1, along with the next two, Tommy Karevik (The Opposition Leader) and Hansi Kürsch (The Astronomer, IIRC). Michael's "band", Toehider would be an interesting reaction. I put "band" in quotes, because it seems to be just him, playing all the instruments and handling all the vocals. "Whatever Makes You Feel Superior" is an interesting song that displays many of his talents.
Tommy, of course, is the lead singer of Kamelot and Seventh Wonder. Hansi is the lead singer for Blind Guardian. Both monstrously talented guys.
The woman is Maggie Luyten, who is a vocal coach and has sung for many bands, most recently Nightmare. A new band, "THE PRIZE" has been announced, but I'm not sure if any music has been released.
Excellent info, sir! Thank you!
Opening intro riff is sick dude...and great tone! What are you using (amp or plug ins)?
Thank you, man! For that one I was using Neural Dsp Plini Plug-in. Have used Bias fx in the past but Neural blows it out of the water imo. Also recently bought a Kemper stage!
Space metal opera!
Nice Dali.
Please react to “and plague flowers the kaleidoscope” by Ne Obliviscaris this song was included in a teaching curriculum at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the song being analysed for its composition. Have a good day
Really wish you did some more. Arjen has new music out now via Star One - another of his projects. This one is brilliant - Lost Children of the Universe - Star One (Roy Khan, Tony Martin, Marcela and Irene, Steve Vai)
It works great to hear you do first time listen, You obvious know a lot, and makes good points. Maybe react to Valley of the Queens by Areon - only 3 singers :-)
I really liked your thoughts on this and the other Ayreon song - I just popped in from that one.
I'm also a Devin Towsend fan, and he's on an Ayreon album too! Consider checking out The Human Equation sometime. It's a fantastic concept album, but I don't believe there are any live recordings with Devin, so if you wanted to do a reaction video it would have to be from the videoless studio recording.
Great review. You really can point out well how you feel and take time to sort through the technicalities of the songs. Ayreon is the rabbit hole of rabbit holes and don't feel upset not to get it all, I still listen to Into The Electric Castle on a monthly basis and I still find new things there even after all these years.
Just my drop of a few ideas that will make you happy to listen to:
Porcupine Tree: "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here" or "Anesthetize"
Marillion: "This Strange Engine" or "Grendel"
Focus: "Hocus Pocus (live in 1973)"
Bon Jovi: "Dry County" amazing guitar work there on some of the live versions out there.
Fields of the Nephilum: "For Her Light"
Don’t compare everything,but enjoy it !!
What's that song you play in the end? Love the chiptuney synths you have going there.
guy on the right....Hansi....Yess....guy on the left Tommy from Kamelot....guy in the Middle.....Michael Mills.
The Winery Dogs. Elevate. Live in Japan. Billy Sheehan. Richie Kotzen. Mike Portnoy.
I'd love to see your reaction to TesseracT - Of Matter... this song is amazing and I thing you will like.
Sure it's like Zappa ........ the three ladies are the new Mothers of Invention 😉.
About Hansi Kürsch, watch a great interaction with the crowd and a huge singalong, see *BLIND GUARDIAN* (live at Wacken 2016) with ”The Bard’s Song & Valhalla” : czcams.com/video/i-IcX_bccFc/video.html