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whoo hoo, my favourites ones. To be honest, "Age of Shadows" instantly hooked me on. Songs where I enjoyed every little bit (except rather longer "bit" which serves as intro). I really feel like you simply like him, or you don't. I grew old on sci-fi stories with little bit flavour of fantasy. Isn't this what Arjen is offerring us ? So to song: Indeed, every bit (except...), even zero-one-zero-one part which (is it so strange?). It may look monotone, but that's in fact every guitar riff (repeating over and over). When woman voice starts singing ""Forever..."" line to it, ecstasy, I'm awaiting you.

"Comatose" is also melodic one, with depth of infernal abyss (can we have heavenly abyss, please?), not so much changes, but with perfectly directed vocals. He's master on doing this. To handle so many singers and vocalists, you have to be talented. And these, who sings, also (by the way).

Sad things that [i]Simone Simons (Epica) as Simone & Phideaux Xavier as PX, internet-dating service users. [/i] are not so used.

"Liquid Eternity" uses this weird synth sound in back which reminds me water. Really liquid feeling. Slowly coming (like slow creek, or should I say eternal creek?) to refrain. 4:12-4:36 and I though I will not be offered this characteristically sounding keyboard solo. And then, also familiar string like tune. Why it's so well known, I must have heard this in past Ayreon's work. But just as I'm reading wikipedia (same as this story, just facts and facts, no emotions, this is why I'm writing reviews).

But my shameless favourite is "Connect the Dots", because it reminds me myself. So mundane story, so non-mundane music (try to find all instruments playing here without looking on wiki to help), with strong emphasis on melody, which is probably because of getting feeling of something from this Earth amongst alien ones. ""have you seen little Steve today?"". So pleasant tune, so hanting lyrics.

""Silver dances on the waves"". I can't help myself, this dystopia presented by AY is always so creepy, so pessimistic, but I know in deepness of my soul that also realistic. If not WW3 will destroy us, then nature disasters will do the job. And if not them, then human himself will ruin everything.

and so on. Five stars because of complexity, both lyrical and musical, but at the same time melody, wide variety of voices, IDEA and many other reasons which can be written, but aren't necessary.

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