Bruce Dickinson – vocals Arjen Lucassen – electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, analog synthesizers, Mellotron, Hammond electric organ, additional keyboards; guitar solos Erik Norlander – analog synthesizers, vocoder, Taurus pedal, Hammond, additional keyboards; synth solos Clive Nolan – second synth solo Ed Warby – drums Peter Siedlach – strings Lana Lane – back vocals ___________________________________________________________
“We have reached our first destination: the black hole in the Virgo cluster of galaxies. But what will we find inside? Its power is immeasurable. Our hopes and fears intermingle as we stand at the event horizon. Will its doorway transport us to our faraway planet Earth, or will its fury mercilessly tear us apart?”
[A. The Eye of the Universe]
A dark sphere surrounds us Surreal... oblivious... In the centre of the galaxy A hidden force has found us Powerful... mysterious... At the boundary of eternity
Nothing escapes, not even light Beyond the mystical horizon We surrender to its might Gazing into the eye of the universe
A deep roar is sounding Deafening... thunderous... As if the universe were crying My heart is pounding Frantic... delirious... My every nerve is dying
Nothing escapes, not even light Beyond the mystical horizon We surrender to its might Gazing into the eye of the universe
[B. Halo of Darkness]
I hear screams of fallen souls, sad cries of agony Within the void of this evil hole, deep inside the black
Could it be my imagination, the mirror of my fantasy? A fear-induced hallucination Or is there no way back from the halo of darkness?
Spirits - apparitions - misery - suffering Horrid dreams and dire visions rising up from the black
Look away in disbelief, this cannot be happening The end has come, I bow in grief There is no way back from the halo of darkness
[C. The Final Door]
Now silence devours us Massive... suffocating... The calm before the storm Gravity overpowers us Invincible... dominating... And leads us through the final door
Nothing escapes, not even light Beyond the mystical horizon We surrender to its might Gazing into the eye of the universe
Feed me light, I'm the halo of darkness Feel my might, I'm the eye of the universe