01011001

01011001 is a masterpiece, and I mean that in every sense of the word. It's clever but simple, complex but easy to grasp, progressive but catchy. The concept is dark and heavy, and involves, among other things, the end of the world. Such a storyline could be very difficult to relate to (as I believe anyone who reads this hasn't been technically destroyed, and neither has the world, yet), but this one isn't. Because it's clever. Because there are interludes, happy moments, dark moments, there are catchy choruses, weird instrumental parts. Above all, there's always hope. The world ends on this very album, and somehow there's still hope! Now, that needs a very clever plan indeed.

The music of Ayreon is always recognizable, yet completely new each time. This album has got some classic Ayreon moments, and some parts where everything is just so new You don't even know what to compare it to. No, I don't think I'm exaggerating, there's a lot of different influences on the album, and they all combine into some really special and unique stuff! The old school keyboards are of course very frequently used, there are awesome guitar- and keyboard soli (and a violin solo as well!) in very different styles, there are fantastic strings and flutes, as well as great rock and metal guitar riffs. Q: Has this album got everything? A: Yes, pretty much everything.

The vocals is possibly the most fantastic part of this album. With impressive 17 vocalists, there's all kinds of cool voices on this album, including a hiphop artist and a growler. There's cool elements of other bands incorporated in the music because of how the singers play their roles, but there's also singers appearing You hardly recognize when they do something completely different from what they usually do.

Finally, the production is of the best possible kind. Everything is crystal clear, and not a single little sound is lost in all the vocal harmonies, analog keyboards and sci-fi sound effects.