#1 - Top of 2017

Ayreon - The Source (Mascot Label Group)

And finally for the best album of 2017, the new epic adventure of Ayreon in "The Source"! Having somewhat left their main space-sci-fi story-line in the "Theory of Everything" album, instead presenting a more down to earth concept there, here the space epic element returns in full force. The story-line starts at the distant past in planet Alpha and acts, in essence, a prequel to the main Ayreon story so far. The cast comprises of ten influential individuals of the planet: the Historian  (James LaBrie from Dream Theater), the President (Russen Allen from Symphony X & Adrenaline Mob), the Opposition Leader (Tommy Karevik from Kamelot & Seventh Wonder), the Chemist (Tommy Giles Rogers from Between the Buried and Me), the Counsellor (Simone Simons from Epica),   the Prophet (Nils K Rue from Pagan's Mind), the Captain (Tobias Sammet from Edguy & Avantasia), the Astronomer (Hansi Kursch from Blind Guardian), the Diplomat (Michael Eriksen from Circus Maximus) , the Biologist (Floor Jansen from Nightwish)   and their faithful android TH-1 (Mike Mills from Toehider), along with a cameo vocal appearance from Zaher Zorgati (Myrath) and guest solos from Paul Gilbert  (Mr Big) and Guthrie Govan (ex-Asia).

The (double) album starts with "The Day that the World Breaks Down" a bombastic epic song introducing the main cast. "Everybody Dies" and "Run Apocalypse Run" are another two bombastic and heavy songs fro the first album, while "The Star of Sirrah" is a truly space opera epic and "All that was" is a renaissance folk hymn. In the second album, the protagonists leave to find a new planet after the old one is destroyed and find themselves in Planet Y where they adapt to living beneath the waves of the oceanic planet. Highlights from this album include the dynamic opener "Aquatic Race", the heavy/operatic "Deathcry of a race", the quietly solemn "The Source Will Flow" as well as the final trilogy of songs ("Journey to Forever", "The Human Compulsion", "March of  the Machines") which pave the way back to the original story. A true masterpiece, in a continuous streak of excellent albums from Arjen Lucassen and without a doubt the best and highest recommended release of 2017.

100/100

Below are the lyric videos for "The Day that the World breaks down", "Everybody Dies", "Run Apocalypse Run" and the music video for "The Source Will Flow".

 

#2 - Top of 2017

Toehider - Good (Bird's Robe Records)

One step before the best album of 2017,  "Good" by Toehider s good evidence that you can have good prog music in 2017 (i) without sounding retro, (ii) while having fun making it and (iii) by further evolving from previous material. The album kicks off with the short interlude musings of the acoustic title track ("Good")  and then the second track "(funnythings)" a speedy chaotic track which sets the pace for the album. The next track draws from more commercial sources and it ("The Conversation is over") successfully combines catchy pop with grandiose elements and an infectious tune to boot. "Millions of Musketeers" again is more proggy with a more complex structure with riffing almost reminiscent of progressive metal! The prog metal feeling continues to be featured heavily in the epic "How do Ghosts work?" which combines personal experiences, nonsensical ponderings and excellent riffing with almost a hint of the Devin Townsend Project in terms of musical flow.  "DAN vs EGG" is a "joke" song which acts as an acoustic interluding after the beating from the two previous tracks and acts as a segway to the proggy semi-acoustic  "I've Been So Happy Living Down Here in the Water". The album closes out unconventionally (as if Toehider would have it any other way) with "It's so Fikkis!" blending prog rock and AOR and even latin hints and closes out another fucking great release by the band. Hats off!


98/100

Below are the music videos for "This Conversation is over", "How do Ghosts work?" and the "unofficial video" for "DAN vs EGG".