UNIVERSAL MIGRATOR, PART 2: FLIGHT OF THE MIGRATOR

The heavier of the two Universal Migrator albums. I like them both, if I listen to one too much, I miss listening the other. The Dream Sequencer has more melodic and relax ambience but there is nothing like listening Flight of the Migrator for the heavy, fast and bombastic arrangement. This album, like other albums by Ayreon, uses the same formula, performed by different singers and instrumentalists. The difference comes up in the duty of the guest singers. In Universal Migrator, each guest singer has a song to sing not a character to perform like in the other Ayreon's albums.

The album start with short narration by Lana Lange then blast into fast instrumentals combining guitar riff, keyboard, incredible drum and bass work, Chaos, each instrument has its moment to shine in this opening track. Dawn of a Million Souls is the next, sung by Symphony X vocalist, Russel Allen. I really like the choir-sound like creates by keyboard during intro or interlude after the first chorus. Also there's a slow moment featuring only keyboard and Russel Allen vocals before we get blistering guitar solo by Michael Romeo.

Journey on the Waves of Time, opened by keyboard sound and has a nice bass work in the middle of the track, sung by Ralf Scheeper of Primal Fear. I like the desperate keyboard sound during the chorus. Next we have a song by Andy Deris of Helloween, to the Quasar. Musically this song divided into two parts, the first is driven by acoustic guitar accompanied by keyboard in the background and Andy sing in medium register note. The second is more rocking and has a flowing keyboard and guitar interlude before entering the vocals part. It's one of my favorite tracks of the album.

Into the Black Hole is the longest track, 10+ minutes, sung by Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden with his powerful voice. This track is divided into 3 parts. The first part, the Eye of the Universe, is slow pace track opened by heavy machine sound, afterward shift to heavy guitar riff and keyboard and then enter to vocal part with keyboard and whispering guitar sound in the background. The second part, Halo of Darkness, is faster part with beautiful guitar solo at the beginning, and this part is driven by heavy guitar riff. The third part, the Final Door, is pretty much same as the first part, except for the keyboard solo near the end of the track. Overall, it's a massive, heavy and long track. It's as dark as the Black Hole.

Through the Wormhole is an energetic track, sung by Fabio Lione of Rhapsody. The part I like most of this track is the guitar solo and keyboard in the middle played by Gary Wehrkamp. Next we have Out of White Hole, the vocal part delivered by Timo Kotipelto of Stratovarius. This track also divided into 3 parts. The interlude between part 1 and 2 is the moment I like most with its cool keyboard solo, flowing guitar solo and dynamic drumming.

To the Solar System is slow pace at the beginning with vocal part sung in low registered note by Robert Soeterboek but it gets heavier and faster afterward. The last track is the New Migrator, opened by nice drumming and keyboard solo by Keiko Kumagai of Ars Nova before it blast into faster part with heavy drumming, guitar, bass and keyboard works.

Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator is very good album and a great addition for your progressive rock collection. Each tack has its own identity and will be more pleased your ears if you listen as a whole from beginning till the end, it has a cohesive flow. Please check Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer for slower and more melodious songs as a comparison and judge it for your self. maXmuri - Yogyakarta, Indonesia