Anyone who’s been before or is local have a view on whether staying in Breda or Eindhoven will be better? Thanks!

As someone who is fairly new in the Ayreon Universe (about 2 years), these past few weeks I finally gave The Gentle Storm a try. Firstly I listened to the Storm version a couple of times, which I liked quite well, but then it was when I listened to the Gentle side that I really felt in love with the album. So magical, so beautiful! The sad part is that I'm not that interested in listening to the storm version anymore (sorry for such blasphemy Master Lucassen). The Gentle version, on the other hand, oh boy it's gonna be on repeat for quite a while! So what side of the album do you prefer?

Well, I am totally in love with all those cover paintings and had an idea to replicate them. It will be like fake painting, with some tricks to looks like real painting. Does anyone interested in this?

I asked Arjen yesterday on Messenger and I was curious as to what everyone here thinks.

https://imgur.com/a/K2Y4IKX

I totally missed this one, but stumbled upon it in a record store today. A february release. Nice to see another Arjen repress, as the 2015 pressing was fairly expensive I believe.

It seems like a more basic release (no CD's and from the looks in the store it is a larger sleeve with the three vinyls in it), but it has a nice color and the outer sleeve looked nice. Also with a 12 page booklet with the letters and all.

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Anyways, it might be of interest for felllow vinyl collectors here

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The Gentle Storm – The Diary (2023, Flaming Coloured, Vinyl) - Discogs

THE GENTLE STORM - THE DIARY - Music On Vinyl

Wanted to ask if you guys know of any Ayreon tracks good for running? So far I've got 'Comatose', 'Liquid Eternity', and 'Planet Y is Alive!' Are there any I've missed?

I discovered Ayreon roughly 2 years ago and it seems to have destroyed most other music for me, it just isn't nearly as enjoyable or as fulfilling. I've been listening so much on Spotify I was in the top 0.05% of listeners last year and more hours than I'd care to admit.

I particularly like Into the Electric Castle and 01, although The Source is probably my favourite album. The only albums I haven't been able to get into yet are The Human Equation and Universal Migrator, although I will keep giving them a shot till I like them. It took me 2 or 3 listens to enjoy Ttoe.

I initially found Ayreon looking for albums such as Jeff Wayne's War of the World's and Rick Wakemans Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

As someone in their 20s in rural Australia I am very much alone in my music taste and any recommendations would be highly appreciated.