Ayreon – The Source

• Country: Netherlands
• Style: Progressive metal
• Label: Music Theories Recordings / Mascot Label Group
• Release date: 28 April 2017

Arjen Lucassen’s sci-fi rock operas live in a universe of their own, and The Source goes right back to where that universe began: planet Alpha, a computer mainframe that decides humanity is expendable, and an escape that comes at a terrible cost.

The cast is ridiculous in the best possible way. James LaBrie, Floor Jansen, Simone Simons, Tommy Karevik, Russell Allen, Tobias Sammet and Hansi Kürsch all trade lines, while Guthrie Govan and Paul Gilbert drop in for solos. Opener “The Day That The World Breaks Down” runs past twelve minutes and still never feels crowded, which is a small miracle with that many voices in the room. “Run! Apocalypse! Run!” is pure prog metal muscle, and “Star Of Sirrah” shows how well Lucassen still writes a chorus that sticks.

Two discs is a lot of album, and the back end, especially the short closing pieces, feels more like tying off the story than pushing it anywhere new. But the heavy sections hit hard, Ed Warby’s drumming keeps everything grounded, and the melodies are there whenever you need them. If any Ayreon record has ever worked for you, this one will too.

Best tracks:

The Day That The World Breaks Down
Star Of Sirrah
Run! Apocalypse! Run!
Everybody Dies

Author’s rating: 8.0/10