Ayreon--Flight of the Migrator

Ayreon--Flight of the Migrator (2000/InsideOut) Rating--8.6

Part 2 of the "Universal Migrator" set, and this one smacks of a heavy progressive feel. Threshold is brought to mind, and there's also the "big" key/synth feel of some of Queen's heaviest works.
A ton of guests make appearances, and some of their performances allow this release to truly shine. Just check out this list: Damian Wilson (Threshold), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Andi Deris (Helloween), Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Timo Kotipelto (Stratovarius), Ian Parry (Elegy), Michael Romeo (Symphony X), and Lana Lane-- plus others! A very experimental and enchanting release, and the guestlist is simply staggering...
A great acoustic beginning in "To the Quasar" eventually relents to a distorted nailgun chug, and Deris does a great job with the vocal work. Dickinson's soulful, hallowed singing creates a great atmosphere within "Into the Black Hole," and a heavy burn-groove creeps throughout the second half.
Stratovarius' Kotipelto fuels the drive and bobbing groove of "Out of the White Hole," and "To the Solar System" is yet another guitar-and-key back mover!
Scheepers appears on "Journey on the Waves of Tim," Parry on "To the Solar System," and both "Dawn of a Million Souls" and "Through the Wormhole" are good.
In all, a very diverse, fulfilling prog-metal experience.
TRACK LIST: Chaos/Dawn of a Million Souls/Journey on the Waves of Time/To the Quasar - a.) The Tauras Pulsar - b.) Quasar 3C273/Into the Black Hole - a.) The Eye of the Universe - b.) Halo of Darkness - c.) The Final Door/Through the Wormhole/Out of the White Hole - a.) M31 - b.) Planet Y - c.) The Search Continues/To the Solar System - a.) Planet of Blue - b.) System Alert/The New Migrator - a.) Metamorphosis - b.) Sleeper Awake

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