Into the Electric Castle is a progressive metal two-disc album released in 1998 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen. It is the third album of his Ayreon project.
After the previous Ayreon album, Actual Fantasy, sold below expectations, Arjen sought to deliver a top-quality recording, or else it might mean the end of his Ayreon project.[1] Into the Electric Castle tells a science fiction story with exaggerated, flamboyant characters influenced by B-grade science fiction movies and diverse musical styles. The end result received positive reviews.[2]
[edit] Reception
| Professional ratings |
| Review scores |
| Source |
Rating |
| Allmusic |
  [3] |
Allmusic reviewer Robert Taylor praised the album, saying that "The massive coordination of such a large project is admirable, but to pull it off with such impressive results is stunning."[3]
[edit] Track listing
All songs written and composed by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, with singers Peter Daltrey, Jay van Feggelen, Fish, and Anneke van Giersbergen writing some lyrics for their respective characters.
| 1. |
"Welcome to the New Dimension" |
3:05 |
| 2. |
"Isis and Osiris" (I. "Let the Journey Begin" / II. "The Hall of Isis and Osiris" / III. "Strange Constellations" / IV. "Reprise") |
11:11 |
| 3. |
"Amazing Flight" (I. "Amazing Flight In Space" / II. "Stardance" / III. "Flying Colours") |
10:15 |
| 4. |
"Time Beyond Time" |
6:05 |
| 5. |
"The Decision Tree (We're Alive)" |
6:24 |
| 6. |
"Tunnel of Light" |
4:05 |
| 7. |
"Across the Rainbow Bridge" |
6:20 |
| 1. |
"The Garden of Emotions" (I. "All in the Garden of Emotions" / II. "Voices in the Sky" / III. "The Aggression Factor") |
9:40 |
| 2. |
"Valley of the Queens" |
2:25 |
| 3. |
"The Castle Hall" |
5:49 |
| 4. |
"Tower of Hope" |
4:54 |
| 5. |
"Cosmic Fusion" (I. "I Soar on the Breeze" / II. "Death's Grunt" / III. "The Passing of an Eagle") |
7:27 |
| 6. |
"The Mirror Maze" (I. "Inside the Mirror Maze" / II. "Through the Mirror") |
6:34 |
| 7. |
"Evil Devolution" |
6:31 |
| 8. |
"The Two Gates" |
6:28 |
| 9. |
"Forever of the Stars" |
2:02 |
| 10. |
"Another Time, Another Space" |
5:20 |
[edit] Personnel
- Vocalists
- Technical
- Arjen Anthony Lucassen – producer, mixing
- Oscar Holleman – mixing
- John van den Oetelaar – layout and image handling
- Thomas Ewerhard – additional layout for the special edition
- Jef Bertels – cover art and all other paintings
- Peter van 't Riet – mastering
- John Verheijen – scanning
|
- Instrumentalists
- Roland Bakker – all Hammonds
- Taco Kooistra – celli
- Arjen Anthony Lucassen – all electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, bass guitar, Minimoog, Mellotron and keyboards
- Rene Merkelbach – synth solos on "The Decision Tree (We're Alive)" and "Evil Devolution" and harpsichord on "Valley of the Queens"
- Clive Nolan – synth solos on "Amazing Flight, III. Flying Colours"
- Ernő Oláh – violins
- Jack Pisters – sitar
- Ton Scherpenzeel – synth solos on "Cosmic Fusion, III. The Passing of an Eagle"
- Robby Valentine – all pianos, synth solos on "Isis and Osiris, I. Let The Journey Begin", "Amazing Flight, I. Amazing Flight in Space", and "Tower of Hope", Mellotron "The Mirror Maze, I. Inside the Mirror Maze"
- Thijs van Leer – flute on "Amazing Flight, III. Flying Colours", "Time Beyond Time", "Valley of the Queens", and "The Castle Hall"
- Ed Warby – all drums
|
[edit] References and footnotes
[3]
