Transitus is the tenth studio album by the Dutch progressive rock/metal band Ayreon. It was released on 25 September 2020.[4] The album is accompanied by a 25 page comic book, not included with CD or vinyl,[4] and illustrated by Felix Vega.[5]

Transitus
Studio album by
Released25 September 2020
Genre
Length80:47
Label
ProducerArjen Anthony Lucassen
Ayreon chronology
The Source
(2017)
Transitus
(2020)
Singles from Transitus
  1. "Get Out! Now!"
    Released: 16 July 2020
  2. "Hopelessly Slipping Away"
    Released: 16 July 2020
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Angry Metal Guy[2]
Metal Hammer[1]
Prog Radio[3]

The album's plot is one of the few not connected to the main Ayreon storyline; instead, it presents a sci-fi/gothic horror story partially set in the 19th century.[5]

A total of five music videos were released for the album. The two first came out on 16 July 2020 for the singles[6] "Get Out! Now!" and "Hopelessly Slipping Away". The former covers the part in the story in which protagonist Daniel (Tommy Karevik) is banished from his house by his father (Dee Snider) for having an affair with their servant Abby (Cammie Gilbert). The song features a guitar solo by Joe Satriani.[7] The other song follows Daniel's ghost as he tries to contact Abby, who can't hear nor see him but does feel his presence.[7]

On 3 September, a video for "This Human Equation" featuring Simone Simons was released. According to Ayreon's mastermind Arjen Anthony Lucassen, it contains several references to the project's universe, besides the title, which alludes to their sixth album.[6] On 17 September, a lyric video for "Talk of the Town" was released, featuring images of Paul Manzi performing as Henry and studio footage of the instrumentalists recording their parts.[8] The final video, titled "Daniel’s Descent into Transitus Medley", was released on 1 October featuring Simons, Karevik, Marcela Bovio and Caroline Westendorp (the latter two as the Furies).[9][10]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Arjen Anthony Lucassen and Tom Baker (narrations)[11]

CD 1
No.TitleLength
1."Fatum Horrificum"
  • I. "Graveyard"
  • II. "1884"
  • III. "Daniel And Abby"
  • IV. "Fatum"
  • V. "Why?!"
  • VI. "Guilty"
10:23
  • 1:20
  • 2:17
  • 1:33
  • 1:30
  • 1:08
  • 2:35
  • 2."Daniel's Descent Into Transitus"2:40
    3."Listen to My Story"4:03
    4."Two Worlds Now One"4:06
    5."Talk of the Town"5:21
    6."Old Friend"1:41
    7."Dumb Piece of Rock"4:13
    8."Get Out! Now!"5:03
    9."Seven Days, Seven Nights"1:27
    Total length:38:55
    CD 2
    No.TitleLength
    1."Condemned Without a Trial"3:50
    2."Daniel's Funeral"4:58
    3."Hopelessly Slipping Away"4:28
    4."This Human Equation"4:19
    5."Henry's Plot"2:19
    6."Message from Beyond"5:21
    7."Daniel's Vision"1:45
    8."She is Innocent"2:09
    9."Lavinia's Confession"1:53
    10."Inferno"2:17
    11."Your Story Is Over!"2:42
    12."Abby in Transitus"3:02
    13."The Great Beyond"2:49
    Total length:41:46

    Personnel edit

    Credits adapted from the album's media notes.[12]

    Charts edit

    References edit

    1. ^ a b Wright, Holly (September 25, 2020). "Ayreon's Transitus album: where gothic horror, prog metal and Doctor Who come together". Loudersound. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
    2. ^ Sentynel (September 24, 2020). "Ayreon – Transitus Review". Angry Metal Guy. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
    3. ^ Yak, Prog (25 September 2020). "Prog Radio Album Review: Ayreon – Transitus". Retrieved 25 September 2020.
    4. ^ a b Thorley, Andy (June 25, 2020). "TRANSISTUS RADIO". Maximum Volume Music. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
    5. ^ a b Munro, Scott (25 June 2020). "Ayreon detail sprawling new double album Transitus". Prog. Team Rock. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
    6. ^ a b "AYREON Releases Official Lyric Video For "This Human Equation" Feat. "Angel Of Death", EPICA Vocalist SIMONE SIMONS". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
    7. ^ a b Munro, Scott (16 July 2020). "Ayreon release two brand new tracks from double album Transitus". Prog. Team Rock. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
    8. ^ "AYREON Releases Official Lyric Video For "Talk Of The Town"". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
    9. ^ Bauer, Simon (1 October 2020). "AYREON – 'Daniel's Descent into Transitus Medley' im Video". Rock Hard (in German). Rock Hard Verlags- und Handels- GmbH. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
    10. ^ Munro, Scott (1 October 2020). "Aryeon release new video for Daniel's Descent Into Transitus Medley". Prog. Team Rock. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
    11. ^ a b "AYREON – Tracklist Of Forthcoming Transitus Album Revealed – BraveWords". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles (Podcast). 23 June 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
    12. ^ Transitus (Media notes). Ayreon. Berkel: Music Theories Recordings. 2020.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
    13. ^ "Ultratop.be – Ayreon – Transitus" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
    14. ^ "Ultratop.be – Ayreon – Transitus" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
    15. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ayreon – Transitus" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
    16. ^ "Ayreon: Transitus" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
    17. ^ "Top Albums (Week 40, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
    18. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ayreon – Transitus" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
    19. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Ayreon – Transitus". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
    20. ^ "Vinyl 2020 uke 40" (in Norwegian). topplista.no. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
    21. ^ "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 40: del 25.9.2020 al 1.10.2020" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
    22. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Ayreon – Transitus". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
    23. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2020" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 6 January 2021.

    External links edit