I have a passionate love for certain things that I simply can’t explain properly to other people. Some things sound mundane even when you use the right words. Others just defy description entirely.
Ayreon is one such thing.
To quote a certain popular sci-fi movie:
“No one can be told what Ayreon is. You have to see it for yourself.”
And no, I haven’t lost my mind (yet). Let me try anyway.
It’s Not a Band. It’s an Orbit
The first mistake would be calling Ayreon a band.
Yes, we’re talking about music here, though I’m already failing to describe it. Let’s reboot.
I think it was around 1998 when I first heard Actual Fantasy. Maybe earlier. ICQ 98 hadn’t even been released yet. This was the pre-Spotify era, when finding a new band felt like uncovering an ancient relic in an archaeological dig.
Ayreon isn’t a band. It’s a… thing, created by one very tall Dutchman: Arjen Anthony Lucassen. The best way I can describe it? A sprawling, interdimensional metal opera, a blend of fantasy, science fiction, and prog rock that somehow exists in a category all its own.
But it’s not always rock. It’s not always metal. Sometimes there’s a lot of analog synth. And It’s always filled with an absurd number of vocalists who are all, somehow, annoyingly, discouragingly brilliant.
There’s no one song that represents Ayreon. You can’t say, “It sounds like this.” Because on the next album, it sounds completely different. And yet, it’s still unmistakably Ayreon. It’s like the universe shifting tone but staying in tune.
Not Albums. Chapters.
I also can’t recommend just one album. Ayreon is an ongoing story (well… sometimes). Jumping into the latest release or the most popular album would be like watching a random episode of The Expanse or starting Game of Thrones from Season 5. You’d have no idea how we got here or why the irish minstrel is in space now.
But if you’re patient, the reward is immense. Once you tune in to Arjen’s frequency, you start to realize this isn’t a band. It’s a cosmic narrative set to sound.
Tilburg: Where the Stars Aligned This Year
By some miracle of sonic gods, I managed to get tickets to Ayreon’s 30th Anniversary show in Tilburg.
I even delayed my surgery to be there. (Yes, my doctor was thrilled to find out that I was going to a heavy metal gig instead.)
And it was worth it. One of the best shows I’ve ever attended.
Of course, I can’t tell you to “catch them when they play your town” because they don’t tour.
They perform once every few years, in one city, and tickets sell out faster than a warp jump.
Like all great things, Ayreon is rare.
Uncommon. Legendary.
Unique.
A Gateway to the Galaxy
For years, Ayreon felt like a secret I couldn’t quite share.
Until a few years ago, when the music video for The Day That The World Breaks Down dropped.
No, it doesn’t capture everything Ayreon is, how could it?
But every journey through this galaxy starts with that first launch.
So here’s your boarding pass:
Now click on this and set your controls…
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