History Music / Ayreon

* KillEmAll: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin "Everybody Dies".]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:[[KillEmAll All the main characters die]]. Abby ends up in Transitus expecting hell but instead meets Daniel who finally takes her with him to the Great Beyond.]]

* AwesomeMcCoolName: Let's face it, ''Starblade'' is an awesome name for any spaceship.

* AbsoluteCleavage: Rampant in the comic book art but the Angel of Death and Marcela!Fury deserves special mention.

* TimeTravel: Continuing from ''The Dream Sequencer'', ''Flight of the Migrator'' takes this all the way UpToEleven when the last human on Mars chooses to be thrown back to [[PrimordialChaos the time when the known universe was about to be born]]. The Dream Sequencer even [[AreYouSureYouWantToDoThat asks]] about this.

* SelfBackingVocalist: Taken UpToEleven by Anneke van Giersbergen in the "We Are Forever" part of "Age of Shadows", chanting "zero, one, zero" "off, on, off" "no, yes, no"). The verses respectively translate to "help help", "forever" and "sos sos".

* Floor Jansen (Music/AfterForever, Music/{{ReVamp}}, Music/{{Nightwish}}, Music/{{Northward}}) - ''01011001'', ''The Source''

* Marco Hietala (Music/{{Nightwish}}, Music/{{Tarot}})- ''The Theory of Everything''

* NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: Folk progressive rock pop neoclassical metal. More accurately, ProgressiveMetal with GenreRoulette.

* OminousLatinChanting: Courtesy of Israeli [[NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly a cappella metal]] choir Hellscore.

* MinisculeRocking: SomethingCompletelyDifferent for Ayreon, as most tracks are 2 minutes or under in length but altogether they form 4 "phases", each [[EpicRocking over 20 minutes long]].

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: Said verbatim by Arjen in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2PidKn4IbA album trailer]]. Just the fact that it has a ''comic book'' is telling.
** While ''The Human Equation'' was psychological fiction and ''The Theory of Everything'' was more of a realist drama, ''Transitus'' is a GhostStory.
** This is also the first Ayreon album where at least some of the characters have an actual name.

* ItsPronouncedTroPAY: Arjen insists on pronouncing "Transitus" with a [[GratuitousLatin Latin]] twang (TRAN-si-toos).

* ArtisticLicenseAstronomy:

* NotSoDifferent: LikeFatherLikeSon.

* ThrowingOffTheDisability: The end of Phase II. Subverted in Phase III, then an invoked subversion in Phase IV where the Prodigy is taking the PhlebotinumPills not to fit in, but to be able to work on the Theory nonstop, with [[RealityEnsues dangerous]] consequences.

* RealityEnsues: This being a 19th-century BlackGalOnWhiteGuyDrama, gossip was bound to grow around Daniel and Abby's [[LoveAtFirstSight instant]] bond. All the more as when it's the white man who dies, the mostly white villagers accuse the black woman of murder.

* AbsoluteCleavage: Rampant in the comic book art but the Angel of Death deserves special mention.

** Abraham too, [[spoiler: appearing as a ghost to Lavinia after he perishes in a conflagration trying to save his daughter.]]
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:[[KillEmAll All the main characters die]]. Abby ends up in Transitus expecting hell but instead meets Daniel who takes her with him to the Great Beyond.]]

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: The story is set in the late 19th century, after all.

* EtherealWhiteDress: Daniel appears in [[SpiritWorld Transitus]] dressed entirely in white.

* TheGrimReaper: The Angel of Death. Also SatanicArchetype.

* ISeeDeadPeople: Lavinia, Abby's stepmother who also works as a maid at the mansion. [[spoiler: The Angel of Death gives Daniel the idea of exploiting this.]]

* LoveAtFirstSight: "Two Worlds Now One".
* MissingMom: "Get Out! Now!" reveals that Daniel has had a strained relationship with his [[KnightTemplarParent father]] ever since their mother "left us".

* OfCorsetsSexy: The two maids who watch Daniel get kicked out of the manor look awfully out of place, unless...

* OneWomanWail: Provided by Dianne van Giersbergen.
* RescuedFromTheUnderworld: Inverted with the dead Daniel who begs for a chance to save the still-''living'' Abby. Then subverted [[spoiler:as both of them end up in Transitus anyway. [[TogetherInDeath At least they still end up together,]] right?]]

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: We never see [[spoiler:Daniel's nor Abby's father]] with the Angel of Death.

** Tommy Karevik even combines this with BigNo

* AbsoluteCleavage: The Angel of Death and one of the Furies in the comic book.
* BadassBaritone: Series/DoctorWho [[Characters/DoctorWhoFourthDoctor icon]] Creator/TomBaker, [[TheKnightsWhoSaySquee much to Arjen's delight]], voices the Storyteller.
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: The comic book shows Daniel [[FacialHorror horribly disfigured]] in the HouseFire, then cuts to an ''unburnt'' Daniel ([[LampshadeHanging who even wonders about his lack of injury]]) in Transitus where he meets [[TheGrimReaper the Angel of Death]] and her Furies.

** Daniel watching himself burn. Tommy even combines this with BigNo
** Abraham, too, when Lavinia breaks down in front of him and tells him about Abby and the fire.

--> '''Henry:''' This girl... this... this servant is only after one thing, Daniel. [[GoldDigger Our money!]]

* DeadPersonConversation: "Hopelessly Slipping Away". Daniel consoles Abby and asks her to [[HerHeartWillGoOn let him go and move on with her life]].
* DeadpanSnarker: The Angel of Death and the Statue.

* DevilInDisguise: The two Furies appear at one point as housemaids in Daniel's estate.
* EtherealWhiteDress: Daniel appears in [[SpiritWorld Transitus]] dressed entirely in white. In contrast, his lover Abby appears in the same dimension wearing black.

* FortuneTeller: Lavinia, Abby's fair-skinned stepmother who also works as a maid at the mansion.

* GothicMetal: It may not be Arjen's first if you count songs like "Abbey of Synn", "Into the Black Hole", and "Day Twelve: Trauma" having gothic streaks, but this is a [[DarkerAndEdgier huge]] GenreShift for Ayreon.
* TheGrimReaper: The Angel of Death. Also FieryRedhead and AngelicBeauty given her InkSuitActor [[Music/{{Epica}} Simone Simons]].

* InTheDoldrums: Transitus is a barren place with rocks floating just about everywhere.

** [[CarefulWithThatAxe UNIVERSAL MIGRATIOOOOON!!]]
* OminousLatinChanting: Courtesy of Israeli [[NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly a cappella metal]] choir Hellscore. Most notable in "Fatum".

* ShipperOnDeck: The statues.
* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: Said verbatim by Arjen in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2PidKn4IbA album trailer]]. While ''The Theory of Everything'' was a modern psychodrama, this one is more of a GothicHorror story. This is also the first Ayreon album where at least some of the characters have an actual name.
* SpiritWorld[=/=]PurgatoryAndLimbo: Transitus is a strange dimension between {{Heaven}} and {{Hell}}.
* UptownGirl: GenderInvertedTrope for Daniel and Abby.

* BlackGalOnWhiteGuyDrama: Abby and Daniel's OfficialCoupleOrdealSyndrome, especially given that Abby is a maid in Daniel's household.

* CategoryTraitor: Daniel's brother Henry accuses Daniel of this and their father [[GetOut kicks Daniel out of the house]] for it.

* DespairEventHorizon: Abby upon reaching Transitus.

* FireAndBrimstoneHell: The album cover seems to invoke this, but the comic book shows Transitus seemingly as its own ''planet''.
* FortuneTeller: Lavinia, Abby's stepmother who also works as a maid at the mansion.

* GothicMetal: It may not be Arjen's first if you count songs like "Abbey of Synn", "Into the Black Hole", and "Day Twelve: Trauma" having gothic streaks, but this is a huge GenreShift for Ayreon.

** "This Human Equation", anyone?

* ShipperOnDeck: The statues in "Dumb Piece of Rock".

* Tommy Karevik (Music/{{Kamelot}}, Music/SeventhWonder) - ''The Theory of Everything'', ''The Source''
* Michael Mills (Music/{{Toehider}}) - ''The Theory of Everything'', ''The Source''
* Tobias Sammet (Music/{{Edguy}}, Music/{{Avantasia}}) - ''The Source''

Note: Due to the very nature of the series, it is difficult to discuss the tropes without revealing major spoilers. To those that are new to the series; Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.

** The quasar 3C 273 is not located in the center of the Virgo cluster of galaxies, but much further away.

** The Furies in ''Transitus'' are voiced by Marcela Bovio (mostly soprano) and Caroline Westendorp (both).

* AnyoneCanDie: ''Indeed. '''Some''' may die...''

* DwindlingParty: By the end of the album, four of the eight humans perish.

* FauxSymbolism: Given that everyone is from a different era and culture, the party have their own personal interpretations of the [[LiteralMetaphor literal]] Tunnel of Light that shines before them.

* CastOfPersonifications: Predating ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut'' by over a decade, this album has seven emotions (Rage, Fear, Agony, Passion, Pride, Love, Reason) guiding the lead character.

* DownerEnding: The Prodigy leaves a note saying he and his Father have finally cracked the theory of everything. However, [[spoiler: the Father had actually killed himself that night; the Teacher, Mother, and Girl find the Prodigy catatonic and the latter two carry him away, agreeing that no one's ready to know what was on the blackboard. The Teacher meanwhile notices there are ''two'' handwriting styles on there...]]

* ThrowingOffTheDisability: The end of Phase II. Subverted in Phase III, then an invoked subversion in Phase IV where the Prodigy is taking the PhlebotinumPills not to fit in, but to be able to work on the Theory nonstop.

* PetTheDog: "Everybody Dies":[=TH1=] encourages the Alphans who manage to escape for Planet Y, and seems to hope they make it.
* PsychicLink: "Journey to Forever" sees the evolving survivors actually enjoying this new gimmick.

* OminousLatinChanting: Courtesy of Israeli [[NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly a cappella metal choir]] Hellscore. Most notable in "Fatum".

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: While ''The Theory of Everything'' was a modern psychodrama, this one is more of a GothicHorror story. This is also the first Ayreon album where at least some of the characters have an actual name.

* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: The comic book shows Daniel [[FacialHorror horribly disfigured]] in the HouseFire, then cuts to an ''unburnt'' Daniel ([[LampshadeHanging who even wonders about his lack of injury]]) in what seems to be a strange planet where he meets [[TheGrimReaper the Angel of Death]] and her Furies.

** Daniel watching himself burn. In the album, Tommy combines this with BigNo
* BlackGalOnWhiteGuyDrama: Abby and Daniel's OfficialCoupleOrdealSyndrome.

* LivingStatue: Well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the Statue.]]

* OminousLatinChanting: The guessing game videos especially make use of a snippet of this at the end before the TitleDrop.
* OneWomanWail: The Soprano, voiced by Dianne van Giersbergen.
* ShipperOnDeck: The Statue in "Dumb Piece of Rock".

Note: Due to the very nature of the series, it is difficult to discuss the tropes without revealing major spoilers. To those that are new to the series; YouHaveBeenWarned.

!!Ayreon includes examples of the following tropes:

* BadassBaritone: Series/DoctorWho [[Characters/DoctorWhoFourthDoctor icon]] Creator/TomBaker, [[TheKnightsWhoSaySquee much to Arjen's delight]], voices the Storyteller of the album.

* BigWhy[=/=]BigNo: Daniel, [[ManOnFire while he burns.]]

* DeadpanSnarker: In the guessing game previews, the Angel of Death and the Statue.
* GoodParents: Abby's father seems to fall under this trope, in stark contrast to Daniel's father (and the other two fathers to ever appear in the Ayreon saga).

* LivingStatue: Well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the Statue.]] Also ShipperOnDeck.

* EpicRocking: Played with. Most songs are upwards of five minutes and often FadeIntoTheNextSong.

%%* BlindSeer: Ayreon.

* OminousMessageFromTheFuture: Merlin eventually finds [[spoiler:that EVERYTHING Ayreon had been seeing was the result of a message sent back in time by humanity on the eve of its destruction. "E=MC^2" later revealed that Ayreon and Mr. L are the only ones who received the message sent by the Final Experiment, the last effort to save humanity.]]

* ShoutOut: Instead of a full-on story like most Ayreon works, ''Actual Fantasy'' is inspired by sci-fi and fantasy films.

* BloodKnight: Barbarian.
* BraveScot: Highlander, although he's been suffering HeroicBSOD for quite some time.

* CyberneticsEatYourSoul: Futureman contemplates this in "Evil Devolution".

* NightmareFuel: The black hole is described as a sort of gateway to Hell, with screams, cries of agony, and apparitions within it as the Migrator approaches to it.

* SingleTear: A sign of life, maybe?

%%* FishPeople: The Forever.

* LastNoteNightmare: Listen closely and amidst the noises of the sea you'll hear distorted whispers in the very [[InvertedTrope beginning]] and the very end of the album. And then it stops altogether—

* [[GratuitousForeignLanguage Gratuitous Arabic]]: In "Deathcry of a Race", [[OneSceneWonder Zaher Zorgati]] sings verses off [[AsTheGoodBookSays Genesis]] in Arabic.

* GoodParents: Abby's father seems to fall under this trope, in stark contrast to Daniel's father (and just about all of the fathers ever depicted in the Ayreon saga).

* InkSuitActor: Downplayed as this album comes with a tie-in comic book instead of an animation, but the characters therein look a lot like the singers who portray them.

** ''The Theory of Everything'' has its "phases" cut up into tracks that either avert or [[MinusculeRocking invert]] the trope.

* BlackGalOnWhiteGuyDrama: Abby and Daniel's OfficialCoupleOrdealSyndrome seems to revolve around this.
* DeadpanSnarker: In the guessing game previews, the Angel of Death and the Statue are pretty much this.
* GoodParents: Abby's father seems to fall under this trope, in stark contrast to Daniel's father (and just about all of the fathers ever depicted in the Ayreon saga)

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: While ''The Theory of Everything'' was a modern psychodrama, this one is more of a GothicHorror story. Notably, this is also the first Ayreon album where at least some of the characters have an actual name.

After a minor HypeBacklash to 01011001, Arjen decided to stop making Ayreon albums, releasing Music/LostInTheNewReal, with him as the only lead vocalist.

Then, in 2013, he released [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D776GI1qYwI this]] [=YouTube=] video, stating that Ayreon [[{{Uncancelled}} would be coming back]], albeit with a different storyline.

In 2017, Arjen revealed that the next album in the Ayreon saga, titled ''The Source'', would be a return to the original storyline, serving as a prequel of sorts. The album features 12 singers in total, including some notable returning cast members.

Note: Due to the very nature of the series, it is difficult to discuss the tropes without revealing major spoilers. To those that are new to the series; you have been warned.

%%* BittersweetEnding: "Epilogue (The Memory Remains)" is this for the whole Forever saga.
* ClarkesThirdLaw: The Forevers have created a substance that allows them to live forever by means of a simple injection, and altering the course of objects in space is ''something children do for fun''.
%%* ConceptAlbum: All of them.
%%* ContinuityNod
%%* EpicRocking: And how!

%%* LargeHam: Ayreon provides the perfect arena for the who's who of ProgressiveMetal to engage in HamToHamCombat with each other.

%%* MindScrew: '''EVERYTHING.'''

%%* RomanticismVersusEnlightenment: Firmly on the Romanticism side. ''01011001'' is especially {{anvilicious}} about this, but the message is present on other Ayreon songs and albums too.

%%* SiameseTwinSongs: Lots.

%%* SufficientlyAdvancedAliens: The Forever.
%%* {{Uncancelled}}: To the delight of many fans.

* ClarkesThirdLaw: The Forevers have created a substance that allows them to live forever by means of a simple injection.

* ProductPlacement: "Connect the Dots" drops a mention each of Mac and then KFC's "finger lickin' good" catchphrase.

* CyberneticsEatYourSoul: The Forever.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: "The Sixth Extinction".

* FishPeople: The Forever.
* FlingALightIntoTheFuture: First they try to fling a light into the ''past'', and when that doesn't work, the Migrator becomes the "light".
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Mr. L.
* ImportedAlienPhlebotinum: The machinery used in the Final Experiment. And the idea for it.

* PhlebotinumKilledTheDinosaurs: Such as [[spoiler: the careless trajectory of a child's lost meteorite?]]
* PoorCommunicationKills: "Web of Lies". Simone likes PX, but when PX actually gets to reciprocate her messages, Simone has fallen for another guy online.
** "E=mc^2" is the apocalyptic version, as the scientists do fling signals to the past but nothing really improves, because [[spoiler:''The Final Experiment'']].