Prog4you.com - Progressive Rock Review

Band/artist: Ayreon
Title: 01011001
Released: 2008
Label: Inside Out / SPV

Track listing CD1:
1. Age of Shadows
2. Comatose
3. Liquid Eternity
4. Connect the Dots
5. Beneath the Waves
6. Newborn Race
7. Ride the Comet
8. Web of Lies

Track listing CD2:
1. The Fifth Extinction
2. Waking Dreams
3. The Truth Is in Here
4. Unnatural Selection
5. River of Time
6. E=MC2
7. The Sixth Extinction

: : The Players : :

Arjen Anthony Lucassen (guitars, bass, keyboards, synths, programming), Lori Linstruth (guitars), Michael Romeo (guitars), Ben Mathot (violin), David Faber (violoncello), Jeroen Goossens (flute), Derek Sherinian (keyboards), Joost van den Broek (keyboards), Tomas Bodin (keyboards), Ed Warby (drums). VOCALISTS: Arjen Anthony Lucassen, Anneke Van Giersbergen, Bob Catley, Daniel Gildenlöw, Floor Jansen, Hansi Kürsch, Jonas Renkse, Jorn Lande, Liselotte Hegt, Magali Luyten, Marjan Welman, Phideaux Xavier, Simone Simons, Steve Lee, Tom S. Englund, Ty Tabor, Wudstik

: : 01011001 : :

Arjen Lucassen has had quite a career in music. With his roots in Dutch heavy metal band Vengeance, few would have suspected that he would establish himself as a multi-instrumentalist in charge of making a career out of making prog-tinged concept albums for what is now the major part of his career. And that he would be able to get major stars from the world of music to contribute to his releases is something I'd think Arjen himself wouldn't have dreamed of when Ayreon was formed back in 1994.

01011001 is the seventh regular release by the Ayreon project, and it is a huge release, in more manners than one. Two CDs worth of music is not that unheard of, but having two dozens of musicians involved in a release - now that is something you don't come across every day; especially in the world of hard rock and prog metal.

Musically it is arguably the most evolved of Ayreon's concept albums. Production, mixing and performance are all high class of course; but it seems like Lucassen has evolved quite a bit as a songwriter as well now. Industrial samples and loops are used cleverly to create variation and enhance moods, and influences from groups like Tangerine Dream can be heard often. Several folk music and folk music influenced passages are heard throughout the album too.

This results in songs with much variation; the amount of drama and melodrama are reduced compared to earlier releases. The dramatics are still present of course; but when used more sparingly they have much more of an impact.

The mix of electronic/ambient, folk, hard rock and prog metal comes across as well planned and executed; and the overall structure of the songs seems to have evolved to a higher level compared to earlier releases.

The songs are well written too. With a release of this magnitude it's quite impressive to only find a couple of average tracks - and for anyone following the storyline through the lyrics these average tracks will be appreciated for their place in the storyline.

Overall this is a solid release; and an impressive effort. Worth checking out by fans of concept albums and prog metal alike; as well as the adventurous metal fan.

Rating: 8 (out of 10)
Reviewer: Olav Bjornsen

: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :

: : Discography : :
01011001 (2008)
The Human Equation (2004)
The Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator (2000)
The Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer (2000)
Into the Electric Castle (1998)
Actual Fantasy (1996)
The Final Experiment (1995)

Review (originally written for our friends over at www.progressiveears.com )