Musicians react to hearing Ayreon for the first time ever!

Hey everyone, Chris and Sam are back with another reaction video!
We asked for suggestions a few weeks ago and this one came up.
This is our first time checking out Ayreon!
Here is our reaction to Ayreon - The Day That The World Breaks Down - The Source (2017)
#reaction #reactionvideo #dutch #metal #symphonicmetal #ayreon
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[@cjmacleod3976]

The live version of Everybody Dies would be a great next step on the Ayreon path.

[@elvwood]

I concur!

[@deborahfoster5520]

I concur!

[@karinjanssen8987]

I concur

[@Mistrabbit]

Agreed!

[@EmanueleCorsi]

everybody concurs 😂😂

[@antivanti]

The Ayreon Universe live show is amazing. And at the end all the guest singers and backing singers come out on stage to form the most stacked metal choir ever assembled =P

[@galadballcrusher8182]

While i appreciate it and i am a big fan of Ayreon let's not exaggerate, ever heard of the project "stars" or "We are Stars" RJD had made? Comparatively...

[@thecaptainmarko]

RDJ Dio happily involved himself with Ayreon as did Bruce Dickinson and many thereafter.

[@galadballcrusher8182]

@@thecaptainmarko that suppose to be a retort? Cause if yes you totally missed the point. Dio was a sweet guy and all but that has nothing to do with what i pointed out. So let me put it simply : as much i love plenty of them including Marko, Floor, Hansi, Mike,Tommy etc... Compared to the stars project by Dio that was like MJ project " we are the world" but in metal the eye if Ra is *NOT* "the most stacked metal choir ever assembled" the way op put it above, that title i argue belongs to "stars" project. Get it now?

[@adamhaywood4808]

The 11 guest singers are: James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder), Tommy Rogers (Between the Buried and Me) , Simone Simons (Epica), Nils K. Rue (Pagan's Mind), Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), Mike Mills (Toehider), Russell Allen (Symphony X), Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus), Floor Jansen (Nightwish) Try some live stuff live Everybody Dies is great

[@elizabethparker4511]

Everybody Dies is a song I just have to listen a couple of times a week at least.

[@honorarythamesman5732]

Everybody Dies - is a total must. Live too - super impressive - Floor's Sister Irene is on bv's!😊

[@scottb.4472]

When I saw that you guys were reacting to this I said to myself there are no two other reactors that are going to enjoy this more than you to that part of it is because you know I know you guys would dig this based on what you've reacted to and your comments but you guys are also big guitar nerds I mean come on you can face it now and admit it LOL I'm an American but this puts we are the world to shame......lol

[@scottb.4472]

By the way the amount of great singers from the small country of the Netherlands it's just insane....... And by the way there were so many great singers in the Netherlands that were not in this video and by the way all of the other videos from this Albemarle from this project are done live there might be a couple other music videos here and there but someone else will be able to answer that 100% but man the live ones are phenomenal also this is a great rabbit hole!!!! Looking forward to the next one...... Everybody dies should be on deck LOL

[@MetalBackingTracks]

Probably one of the best shows and song ever, 100/10

[@LenaDee666]

Next up Everybody Dies, for sure!!! The Ayreon Universe live concert is a true experience, even "just" on video

[@pdutchie4924]

The whole ‘Universe’ concert is epic❣️ The amount of talent on that stage is amazing, can’t wait to see them live this September! The binary translates as: Trust TH1

[@charlesfuller4363]

Twisted Coil live with Damien is one of my favorite Ayreon recordings

[@chrismatthew8812]

This is simply epic. For more, I would suggest checking out ‘Everybody Dies’ another fantastic track with lots of collars including Hansi and Floor.

[@sondebueu]

So the next with Ayreon must be a reaction to a LIVE.. "Everybody Dies". it's a good one.. ;)

[@mandje2002]

Buckle up because we are going on a trip into the world of Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon, Ambeon, Star One, Supersonic Revolution, Guilt Machine, Gentle Storm, Stream of Passion) aka Ayreon Universe. (about 100+ artists thick) ….. Enjoy the music!!🤘 his name is pronounced Ar-Yun. The binary stands for TRUST-TH1

[@chriso6719]

Thanks for checking this out. Enjoyed your reaction. First song on The Source , which is , chronologically , the first in the story arc. Mike Mills character is a machine, TH-1. The binary code translates to Trust TH-1. TH for his band Toehider. The other singers that you didn't already know: Tommy Rodgers is from Between the Buried and Me, Nils K Rue from Pagan's Mind, and Micheal Eriksen from Circus Maximus. Mostly a studio project , they have put together a few live shows, with another scheduled for this fall. Sir Joost van den Broek, seen here on grand piano, is a musician that works with Arjen often. He is a producer himself. He was the keyboardist in After Forever (04-09) with Floor, played with and produced ReVamp, and has produced the last 3 EPICA albums. He does a lot of work on the live Ayreon shows. He now plays with Arjen in the new project Supersonic Revolution. Yes, check out more from them. Try a live performance. From the Ayreon Universe concert- Everybody Dies, Star of Sirrah, Valley of the Queens, Intergallactic Space Crusaders, or the show closer Eye of Ra with all 16 singers on stage. It is pretty much a best of Ayreon and another of Arjen's projects ,Star One.

[@frank1963]

Hi Chris 👋 Btw Joost is also the producer for Blind Guardian.

[@chriso6719]

@@frank1963 Hey Frank. 👋. Sam here should be interested in that fact, sounds like he is a BG fan.🤘🤘

[@kicorse]

First time hearing Aeryon for me too. I will definitely check out more.

[@Drizzt_Do_Entreri]

You will not be disappointed!

[@maskmedusa]

Ayreon/Arjen, is a total wormhole. He plays keys and sings, too, just FYI. Most everything he’s created is excellent, with a few exceptions. Check out his Star One project, in which he creates albums of songs based on Sci-Fi TV series and films. Of course, with loads of guest vocalists and musicians, as well, as usual. The dude is totally cool and humble, too. Met him at a Stream of Passion concert in Paris.

[@maskmedusa]

BTW, he does sing, but not very often on album or stage, though he does do guide tracks/vocals when he sends demos to other singers to prepare for recording. He's not nearly the same caliber on vocals as all of the singers he works with, but it does work on certain songs. If you want to check out more, as others have suggested, about anything from the live shows in Tilburg will do (Electric Castle Live and Other Tales, 2019, or Ayreon Universe - The Best of Ayreon Live, 2017), because the concerts are veritable rock opera productions, like musical theater. I've been lucky enough to see all of them live so far, and am going next month for the fourth one. The entire performance of The Theater Equation, with James LaBrie as a main character is quite amazing, too, and was performed on stage in Rotterdam in 2015.

[@MetalBackingTracks]

Ed warby is indeed a killer, he started in dutch band Gorefest which were awesome!

[@olicorrivo3289]

probably my 100th times listening to this song and everytime the flute kicks in, i get mad shivers.

[@erickvermeulen9734]

For a metal 'who is who' (like for pop in the eighties with We Are The World of Do They Know It's Christmas Time) I can recommend The Eye of Ra, live at Ayreon Universe. And of course the live version of Everybody Dies, the next song on the album The Source. The binary code says: TRUST TH1 (TH1 is the computer performed by Michael Mills).

[@MisterJ56]

And don't forget the INSTRUMENTALISTS: Joost van den Broek (ex-After Forever) - grand piano and electric piano, Maaike Peterse (Kingfisher Sky) - cello, Ed Warby - (Gorefest) drums, Ben Mathot - violin, Jeroen Goossens (ex-Pater Moeskroen) - flute and wind instruments, Arjen Anthony Lucassen - electric and acoustic guitars, all other instruments

[@BrendonChase_2015]

Yup, that's why I always suggest "The Two Towers" with Irene Jansen introducing the band. Everybody can die another day ;)

[@572Btriode]

@@BrendonChase_2015 "The Two Gates" I think, also that Irene's English, for a Dutch national, is impeccable, probably because she has a degree in English from a UK university. 🙂

[@BrendonChase_2015]

@@572Btriode Haha, oh boy.. always make that mistake! Sometimes I'll notice before submitting my 2cts. Not this time tho. Ty for correcting me. No doubt one of these days I'll be recommending "The Twin Gates".. so bear with me ;) And yes, Irene's diction etc. is near-native level. Even more impressive since it's conversational, not singing. I often notice that Dutch vocalists do a great job while they sing. Then they're interviewed and bam! full-blown Dutchie accent activated (case in point, the lovely Anneke van Giersbergen, and Floor also, but to a lesser extent). Cheers!

[@572Btriode]

@@BrendonChase_2015 Yep, no probs. If Irene ever is short of work I'm sure the BBC would take her as a news reader immediately. . . . . . . . .

[@rnowak85]

Great reaction. Arjen is well know and respected within the European heavier music scene and being asked to sing or perform on one of his albums or projects is considered a huge honor. All of the Ayreon albums are rock operas with back stories and characters played by individual singers. Most Ayreon albums exist within the same sci fi backstory that explores the history of humanity and how we came to be on Planet Earth. The Source is the prequel story to the previous albums and you got the back story. In Everbody Dies, the nest song on the album, the 10 people from this song plus Michael Mills character, TH-1 an android, leave on the Starblade for a water planet to keep humanity alive. To survive on the water planet they drink a drug called Liquid Eternity which allows them to breathe underwater and communicate telepathically. It also makes them eternal and they become known as The Forever. As time goes on they lose their human emotions. To try and experience them again they seed a comet with Human DNA and send it to earth, the song Ride the Comet. Other great Ayreon songs to checkout live include Into the Black Hole, Star of Sirrah, Amazing Flight, Druids Turn to Stone, and one of my favorites, Intergalactic Space Crusaders which is actually a Star One song that they did during the Universe Live concert.

[@rnowak85]

Not a lot of music videos for Ayreon. There are a number of videos from teh two live concerts, all of which are fantastic. There are some for Tranistus which originally was supposed to be a movie. My favorites are Daniels Descent into Transitus Medley and This Human Equation, both of which features Simone Simmons as a sassy, sexy Angel of Death. Daniels Descent also features Tommy Karevik and has some strong Ping Floyd vibes to it. There is also an animated graphic novel that goes along with the album. There are some music videos from his recent Star One album, Revel in Time. Star One is another project where all the songs are inspired by sci fi movies/tv shows. Checkout Lost Children of the Universe with guest appearance by Steve Vai (inspired by the movie Interstellar) and Fate of Man featuring Brittney Slayes of Unleash the Archers (inspired by the Terminator movies).

[@bertkoopman8084]

Definitely listen to the live songs of this album: Everybody dies and Star of Syrrah! Great songs, great production!

[@kieskop4684]

Nice one guys.Ayreon is one hell of a journey.Try "Everyboy dies"".

[@frankramakers]

I concur.

[@erickvermeulen9734]

I concur

[@robynturnham2706]

I too concur

[@glenngunnis6642]

Arjen is definitely worth going down the rabbit hole. Way too much talent!🤘🎸

[@TimoArula]

Ayreonauts UNITE !!!!! Arjen, My favorite Space Hippie 🥰!!! AND The binary code means "Trust TH-1" I call it: "The song that exploded my music world"!!!! The singers in order of appearance are: James LaBrie from Dream Theater Tommy Karevik from Kamelot, Seventh Wonder Tommy Rogers from Between the Buried and Me Simone Simons from th most epic Epica Nils K. Rue from Pagan's Mind and Eidolon Tobias Sammet from Edguy and here mentioned Avantasia Hansi Kürsch the „Bard from Walhalla“ from Blind Guardian Mike Mills playing a computer and singing binary from Toehider Russell Allen from Symphony X Michael Eriksen from Circus Maximus and last but not least the incredible Valkyrie Goddess Floor Jansen from Nightwish The next logical step on this journey is Ayreon Universe Live ( It is basically Best of Ayreon ). Here is a link to the whole setlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/noHGdX-NqLeLZpY Plus, Arjen CAN sing....not to often on stage (stage fright), but here is a few: Ayreon - Amazing Flight in Space (Universe) LYRICS IN SUBS kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGfGeIOpepZpbsU Pink Beetles in a Purple Zeppelin kzbin.info/www/bejne/jamWk6xtj8aUkKM NWSU/FloorFan/Epican/Ayreonaut ✌🤓🤘

[@mascha28swinkels]

Any of the songs from the 2017 live show is well worth listening and reacting to , it’s amazingly good music with the artists having so much fun working together it just makes me happy 😊🧡Arjen is a cool dude from what I’ve seen of him ( interviews and his own socials)

[@thecaptainmarko]

Lucky bastard 😂 I'm on the waiting list with ticketswap for months now

[@anonymousedward9690]

Michael Mills is a god tier vocalist and it is criminal that he is not better known. I HIGHLY recommend How Much for that Dragon's Tooth? It's like if Dio and Queen had a baby, for real. He plays all the instruments and sings all the parts. It's a joy!

[@diedzjeeoudshoorn7726]

Everyone from these music Gods love to perform together with Arjen. His composing talent is without doubt unique. But his talent to built bridges between all these super talented hero's is even more impressive. It is a Rabbit Hole filled to the top with positivity. Highly recommended!!!

[@mikaelforsehag1851]

Everybody dies live is a must! And Eye of ra (also live) For the most talant heavy choir you ever heard!

[@wietsepot1504]

Awesome guys, I was waiting for this one. :) I've seen someone already recommended it, but would like to second the request for Ayreon - Everybody dies. Best part about that video, is that is was recorded at one of the rare live performances. The amount of talent present during that whole show (different artists for different songs) was astounding.

[@ReefZA]

LOVE Ayreon, always a happy occasion when a new album is released :D

[@christhiancastillo1607]

Ayreon is amazing, and they always have world-class vocalists. Love pretty much all of them, and there are many more than weren't even on this album.

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

Check out what they look like in concert - ‘Everybody Dies.’

[@VXGaming]

Now to wait for you two to find Everybody Dies and Intergalactic Space Crusaders both being live. The binary code reads TrustTH1.

[@BrendonChase_2015]

Oh yes, really look fwd to hearing more of Ayreon! That's why I feel very lucky that I managed to get my Dutchie hands on a ticket for the upcoming concert in September. Great how Arjen managed to put all of it together in this song, but doing the same LIVE with all of these insanely talented instrumentalists/singers is next level organizing/producing. That's where (Sir!) Joost van den Broek, former After Forever member (Floor's band) comes in. The AYREON UNIVERSE 2017 live concert is on a BD, which includes a documentary about how they pulled it off, starting two yrs in advance. Highly recommended! As a great introduction to that legendary show, I can't think of a better song to set you off on your journey, than "The Two Gates". It has Mike TH-1 Mills doing the narration and Floor's "little" sister Irene Jansen introducing the band tt audience, mid-song. Absolutely great stuff and one of my favourite performances there. Could oc give you the whole setlist, since all of it is not to be missed really. Cheers from Amsterdam! (l!nk in follow-up comment) 🤘

[@frank1963]

Hoi 👋

[@BrendonChase_2015]

@@frank1963 Hey 🤘 (Ayreon's Angels filmpje al gezien?)

[@frank1963]

@@BrendonChase_2015 ik heb het meteen opgezocht. Top 👍

[@northof4912]

Irene’s introduction is absolutely epic! One thing though that always puzzles me - why does Floor’s English sound Dutch accented but Irene’s sounds like she is English?

[@BrendonChase_2015]

@@northof4912 Irene's MA degree in English language & culture at Radboud University Nijmegen might have something to do with it. So there's almost no Dutch accent when she speaks or sings. With Floor, the difference between conversing & singing is way more pronounced and with singers like e.g. the great Anneke van Giersbergen the gap is bigger still. Cheers! EDIT: Which is not to say that Anneke falls short or anything. I think her crowd interaction in English is gorgeous, witty and incredibly charming. Have a look at this one, if you haven't already: "Time After Time - Anneke Van Giersbergen - La Scène Bastille 13/12/2012"

[@reaper_fbb7052]

Glad you enjoyed this. I've been listening to Ayreon since "Into the Electric Castle" (1998 I believe) and have loved all the albums. I would also like to say Arjen seems to be one of the nicest people around. I'm a nobody but I enjoyed the albums so much that I emailed a couple of album reviews. Much to my surprise, he actually replied to me! He thanked me for taking the time to write and shared his thoughts on some of the things I included. I didn't expect anything like that 🙂

[@rientsdijkstra4266]

Hi guys, great and interesting reaction! A few suggestions for next one's to watch: - Everybody dies (Ayreon Universe Live, with among others Floor Jansen) - Theory of Everything (Universe Live, with Michel Mills and Marcella Bovio) - Amazing Flight (Electric Castle Live and Other Stories, with a whole cast of great names) - Cosmic fusion Live, with Simone Simons and Marc Jansen of Epica - Loser (Universe Live) - Isis and Osiris - Star of Sirrah (with Floor Jansen) - etc. - etc. - the list is Long! A few great studio recordings are: - Star One: (the other main project of Arjen Lucassen): Lost Children of the Universe (with a.o. Roy Kahn and a 3 minute guitar solo by Steve Vai) - Star One: Fate of Man, with Brittney Slayes of Unleash the Archers and a solo by Steve Romeo of Symphony X) - Ayreon: Dawn of a million souls (remastered in 2022), with Russell Allen and Steve Romeo of Symphony X - Ayreon: Into the black hole (remastered in 2022), with Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden There is actually so much that I cant even start... But interesting for you may also be video's by Arjen about how he builds his guitarsound in the studio, or how he records the singers in his studio, etc.

[@wannabedane4046]

Hi guys, glad you liked Ayreon. Have fun and jump into the rabbit hole. @sam - I am impressed how quickly you recognized the singers. Arjen has also another project call Star One, with superbe collaborations.

[@NeilOosthuizen]

Seeing this type of colab being done live is mind blowing. There will be plenty of suggestions incoming :)

[@andyramos4130]

Next up, please react to Ayreon - Everybody Dies!! Great reaction guys. Thank you!!

[@henkfranken927]

Damn... good reaction guys!! Thanks!! 🙂🙂😊 Arjen Lucassen is really a great musiscian with all of his projects (Star One, Ayreon, Transitus and Ambeon - allthough the last one is something completely different). If you wanna hear/see more of him I suggest the songs; Everybody Dies The Castle Hall Songs of the Ocean Age of Shadows This Human Equation Star of Sirrah Valley of the Queens ...and many, many, MANY more!! 😊😊🙂 From a lot of them there are live versions from two earlier concerts, namely; Best of Ayreon Live Into the Electric Castle Live You never can go wrong with Arjen Lucassen... and be prepared to enter a long and great rabbit hole!!! 😉😊😊

[@wpgreeley]

If you want to hear Arjen sing I highly recommend The Electric Castle - Amazing Flight In Space from the live concert. Anything live is spectacular... not just the musicians and singers... it's an experience. For the few blessed to see a live show Nobody went home disappointed.

[@richardwest6358]

You are impressed by the 11 singing guests - I have to tell you that such is the regard in which he is held that during these epic albums over 100 famous singers & musicians have collaborated with this genius. The (very rare) live shows are sold out within hours to followers from all over Europe and beyond. The 6 foot 7 inch giant plays guitars, synths and also sings. He was one of the first to recognise Floor's amazing talent in the early 2000s and, along with her sister Irene, they have both featured in his works ever since.

[@FacePlantJan]

The shows comming up in September sold out in 15 minutes I think. Me and my friends had to to almost millitary like planning to try and get tickets 😂. Looking forward for the show. Simply the logistics of getting all these people onto one stage makes Ayreon live shows a must see.

[@sandgroper1970]

I discovered Ayreon via another reaction video, then listened to the whole The Source album via a streaming site, and now I actually have the physical album..

[@ronaldakkermans8166]

I feel a new playlist materializing 😂. Check out anything/everything from the Ayreon Universe concert or the Transitus album/animated comicbook version and you'll be hooked😅

[@ronaldakkermans8166]

TH1 is the computer of the Starblade, the Captain's spaceship. The binary text is Trust TH1. The pianist played in Floor's first band After Forever. Arjen plays the guitars, bass, synthesizers and organ.

[@ronaldakkermans8166]

Don't miss his 11 minute speech from the Universe concert. A lot of reactors skip it, but it's hilarious 😂

[@danettecrossley7912]

Just FYI arjen makes floor look short :)

[@wimvank.7463]

You see folks, no ego but making music. That is what it is all about.

[@renejensen7799]

Arjen do sing in a few songs, but actually he got stage fright, well i think he did pass it some throughout the yrs, and he got no reason for it, cause i think when he do get on stage its awesome!! but then again it also make these moments more special, as he do it very little, and mainly let others shine on stage. So this song sticks out to me as a measterpiece, and something i never heard before this one, and never after, exept from Ayreon, so its truly unique, this particular song do feature most singers and musicians, and showcase Ayreon well. Arjen Lucassen truely is a humble person, and multi talented, and he always make good choices for the people he pick for a song. Besides Ayreon, Arjen Lucassen also got projects called Star one, and Supersonic revolution.

[@Alicatt1]

The album is great too, it's disks 2 and 3 in my car at the moment along with a couple of Nightwish albums. Thanks for the review

[@robynturnham2706]

Arjen does sing, he has solo albums and also sings on some of the Ayreon Albums. If you love theatre, you really need to see the 'Ayreon Universe Live' Concert, it is amazing. Start with 'Everybody Dies'

[@Qwarzz]

I would say start from the beginning as people on stage get introduced as the show goes on.

[@frank1963]

I am new to your channel, great to see your reaction. If you keep on going with Ayreon and EPICA I will definitely subscribe. 🤘

[@marcusfranconium3392]

Arjen is a wonderfull person you can go to his website leave a message and he will awnser , he spends a lot of time replying even showing up at reaction channels. Arjen sings , on several songs . But he has a terrible stage fright . Hes terified to perform life but when he is on stage he enjoys every minute of it . Like pink beatles in a purple zeppelin . YOU can kind of guess the bands that inspired him.

[@northof4912]

Arjen is also the tallest guitarist in the world, at 6’8”. A somewhat tongue in cheek claim he made in an interview with someone, I think Elizabeth from the Charismatic Voice. There is a picture of him with Floor and she looks bloody short!!

[@rianavermeulen4316]

Amazing ❤❤❤ Thank you 🙏. Greetings from South Africa ❤️🇿🇦❤️

[@clivematthews5296]

Arjen Anthony Lucassen is a 6ft 8ins musician, composer and all round nice guy. Ayreon is one of his project names, another is Star One and recently he recorded as Supersonic Revolution in a 70s tribute album. Well worth watching songs from one of his concerts where he uses several other singers including Floor's sister Irene, Lisette van den Berg and Marcela Bovio on backing.

[@shoemaker688]

There are live show videos. You will totally enjoy that! Keep digging guys. You just scratched the surface.

[@richardhall6034]

Hi from the UK 👋 🇬🇧 some live Ayreon you might want to check ✔ Ayreon universe intergalactic space crusaders live ( this song is a homage to the British sifi series blakes 7 from the 1980s Ayreon universe the eye of Ra live ( floor and her sister irean are in this one ) This song is about the film stargate Ayreon universe age of shadows live ( Nice surprises)

[@derkabronen]

Arjen sings in "Ayreon - Amazing Flight (Electric Castle Live And Other Tales)" , always, he, and some other out of this world vocalists

[@NeeceLoneWolf]

And Mirror Maze

[@vogel2280]

And there it is. This was bound to happen. Glad you enjoyed it, but I had no doubt you would.

[@marwa2902]

Diablo : The stranger. Amazing Finnish band.

[@carltumminello3049]

Arjen is a great guy as well as an amazing musician. He also regularly communicates with the fans online. He often would comment on these reaction videos. Dunno if he still does, but it is possible you could see him here. His albums are always something special. Any true musician or music appreciator needs to listen to his entire Ayreon catalog.. I particularly recommend 1998's Into The Electric Castle, both Universal Migrator albums from 2000, and 2004's The Human Equation. Also, if you are a fan of science fiction movies, check out his Star One project. Space Metal is a great album. Arjen is a proper science fiction nerd (in all the best ways). Oh yeah and he does sing on some of his albums, though he is self-depreciating about his singing ability, he acknowledges he loves doing it.

[@JesperH1967]

I have seen a lot of reactions to this song. And your reaction is on the top 2 on my list. Thanks for this, really appreciate how you spotted the details 😊

[@spencerbutterbaugh6104]

You guys a re great. Nice to watch you react. Anything Ayreon Universe Live will be outstanding. Everybody Dies, Day 11 Love and Computer Eyes are three of my favorites. Good show guys! Thanks!

[@joeyc630]

They save the best for last, lol 😆

[@trinadawn4166]

so glad you checked this out

[@agyar68]

The binary part is "Trust TH-1". And Arjen is playing the guitars, bass and most of the keyboard.

[@paulchapman2569]

Michael Mills is Toehider, the binary code reads Trust TH1, TH1 is the AI that's taking over, Starblade is the ship they are going to take to escape , do a few more Ayreon then get in touch with him, he's very approachable and will come on your show. Listen to Universe live it's a best of, also watch The Electric Castle concert. 27:09

[@jws6181]

you should hear and see AYREON LIVE all the songs are great...nice reaction guys... Ayreon goes Live in September 2013 in Tilburg in the Netherlands 4 shows in 1 weekend. greets from the Netherlands👋🤘

[@henkfranken927]

@jws6181 actually there are six shows... a 'try out' on thursday, then one on friday evening and on saterday and sunday both an afternoon and evening show. 🙂

[@jeffhall2411]

i am coming from South Carolina in the US for The Friday Show. Bucket list for me so i am super excited and its my first time to Europe. I cannot wait!

[@jws6181]

@@jeffhall2411 nice man, i was to late, the shows where sold out in a view hours....

[@jeffhall2411]

@@jws6181 yeah, it was quick, i got lucky is all. i was sitting at my computer counting down till it opened and it took a good 20 minutes to even work. they were hit hard with people trying to get tickets.

[@Brendo2386]

He is legit so humble and nice!

[@marcelrenes2435]

What a great reaction video! ❤ I'm Dutch and I am amazed with the knowledge you have on the singers. Arjen Lucassen is a genious but he suffers from stage fright. So what he did was making a 'project'. He made the music and asked the most prominent singers of his music to join. Floor was one of the first to help him and the rest is history. He makes wonderful music and every now and again he does get on stage. Thank you for listening and reacting to this 'opener'.

[@abra2865]

more Ayreon please! Arjen does actually sing, you see him on the live performances but he doesn't rate himself much as a vocalist...I think he's quite good! Nobody seems to react to The Theatre Equation, a live version of the album The Human Equation...one of Arjen's best in my opinion...I also love his Star One project. You have a massive back catalogue to go through, wish I was hearing them again for the first time, amazing!!

[@sugoruyo]

Arjen also does all the keyboards except the piano on this. As for the vocalists, those were not cameos, the whole album features all of them in various combinations, playing the different characters as the story unfolds.

[@majbrat]

Now Everybody Dies live version. It's excellent.

[@palantir135]

You’re about to fall into a big rabbit hole and you’ll never want to climb out of it again. Both epic live concerts, Ayreon Universe live, The electric castle live and other tales, are a great way to continue this journey. And of course the albums. Ayreon is just one (but the major) project of many. All of them are worthwhile to listen to. Star One Stream of passion The gentle storm The binary code says: Trust TH1. TH1 is of course Toehider 1 or Michael Mills. TH1 is an android from the stories by Arjen. Arjen has a great voice. See both live concerts.

[@mekesoetens134]

I am so happy rhat I am going to the live concert of Ayreon this september. Its going to be amazing 😍

[@deborahfoster5520]

Got to hear Everybody Dies..live!

[@black4pienus]

More Dutchies! :) This is such a fun one.

[@stephsteph4574]

I would love to see some Avantasia on your channel! If you didn't check out already he did two songs with Floor on the last album! "Misplaced among the angels" is an epic piece of music!

[@hermanvanwissen2660]

You just started to scratch the surface. Next Everybody Dies, Age of shadows or Amazing flight to begin with

[@joevile240]

A metal space opera. Ayreon is epic.

[@jerrychronister5959]

He released a new song recently with Bruce Dickinson his live show's are awesome Marko live on stage

[@aidanumpherson]

Arjen is actually a great singer imo

[@northof4912]

The obvious follow up from this is Everybody Dies - live!

[@aliekegeerse]

Definitely do one of the lives as they are mind blowing! I would suggest Everybody Dies!

[@Thorgrim247]

Th-1 is the computer. Thus binary is very appropriate. Arjen is the Dutch prog metal genius. He does sing, but likes to use great singers instead. Check out some of their few live songs. Arjen uses some amazingly talented musicians. He rarely performs his own music these days. Here are a couple killers. Have a great show guys! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZWoeYSEdr-mf9E - Ayreon - Star of Sirrah (Universe) LYRICS IN SUBS kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3KkiaeLmbJqrqc - Ayreon - Everybody Dies (Ayreon Universe) Here is a great one from another Arjen project called "Star One". A much more guitar driven record. From his record called "Revel in Time". Every song is inspired by a movie about time travel. Can you guess the inspirational movie? kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJ-agWali7Khr9U - Star One - Fate of Man (Brittney Slayes, Michael Romeo)

[@christinaalgate4899]

Arjan is self taught guitar player. I really like the bard song from Blind Guardian and also Valhalla on the same bideo

[@malmkwaks]

A lot of people are suggesting 'Everybody Dies' as the next song to react to and i totally agree! So i will post the link to this song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3KkiaeLmbJqrqc Greetings from The Netherlands, Martin

[@eTraxx]

Note: Arjen Lucassen is 6'8" tall. Floor was just 19 when Arjen asked her to join him on his Dream Sequencer album in 2000 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnLOmmqPpK52rLs

[@dtruleall]

Well done guys! great reaction. You are right, Arjen is ridiculously talented as a musician and songwriter. And he is still down to earth, humble and generally appreciative of his fans. He interacts if you ask him questions, he comments on videos, and seem like a all round nice guy. I have followed him and his work since the album "Into the electric castle", and i am not reluctant to call him a genious. Check out more of his stuff, and support him. Never have i come across an artist that deserves it more than this guy!

[@evilvolts]

He has sang in the magic castle live performance

[@richardthresh3587]

Ayreon's music is such a wonderful rabbit hole to fall down. I'd suggest a couple of tracks to try: 'Into the Black Hole' live from Ayren Universe ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnrZn6upl51mhNE ) and 'Intergalactic Space Cusaders, again a live track from Ayreon Universe ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4CZhZypeK16nqM ). Both are outstanding and you're sure to enjoy. If you feel you're ready, them there's always 'Everybody Dies' ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3KkiaeLmbJqrqc ) which could blow your socks off! Plan B might be 'Isis and Osiris' ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGe8d5Wdgt-ekLs ). Enjoy!

[@martintucker187]

Dive in. You will enjoy. Try Valley of the Queen's. Floor again.🤘

[@RonniePeterson]

Taller than Floor into the bargain! You definitely need more.

[@alejandrariquelme9574]

You like Blind Guardian? Well, try some songs from the Universe show: River of time, The age of shadows, The star of Sirrah....Arjen's projects are amazing, and his collaborators are out of this world.... I'll be in the next Ayron show 2023 🤘 from Chile to Tilburg.

[@Brendo2386]

He does sing sometimes, but he is not comfortable as a singer and has bad stage fright so that is another reason why live shows have been so rare

[@MikkoRantalainen]

If you want to hear awesome bass playing, check out Dirty Loops. I think that band is closer to pop-jazz-rock fusion but the musicianship is awesome and bassist is insane. I'd recommend starting with the video "Follow The Light".

[@evilvolts]

wow the 2nd time you stopped to talk you did it right as Tommy Karevik was just in the middle of his epic moment in the song I'm sure you missed the full force of his delivery because half was before you stopped and catching the end when you restart sort of kills it

[@arbth703kp]

Gotta be Everybody dies live next !

[@georgemaly4747]

Welcome to the rabbit hole, albums follow a story line on a sci-fi journey.

[@albertkassenaar7735]

Arjen home/studio is in a old schoolbilding so he has room enough the drums in the gym enz.

[@mnewm21]

you have two options. If you just want to do a song then Everybody Dies as others have suggested OR you could look at the live version of the whole concert for the Electric Castle concept album / rock opera. Maybe the latter would be better off the air but it might be fun to react to the whole thing?? I'm not sure if the whole thing is on youtube currently but it was epic to see it done live! It was so successful he just did another one this year for another of his albums!

[@TheDarkhorse1947]

Arjen has a couple of new albums coming out this year.

[@jamesanderson5268]

It's binary coded decimal for "Trust TH-1".

[@robertogay-pg5ks]

Scendo that you like Avantasia and, obviously, Floor, have a look at Misplaced among the angels. Marvellous ballade. Bye