Actual Fantasy

Actual Fantasy
Studio album by
Released23 October 1996
Recorded1996
StudioThe Electric Castle Studio
GenreProgressive metal, progressive rock
Length54:18
LabelTransmission
ProducerArjen Lucassen
Ayreon chronology
The Final Experiment
(1995)
Actual Fantasy
(1996)
Into the Electric Castle
(1998)
Arjen Anthony Lucassen chronology
The Final Experiment
(1995)
Actual Fantasy
(1996)
Strange Hobby
(1996)

Actual Fantasy is an album released in 1996 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen and is the second album of his Ayreon project. It is the only Ayreon release that does not feature a single overarching story concept, but instead draws on science fiction and fantasy films for inspiration, as well as stories written by Arjen himself.[1]

In 2004, Arjen moved to a new record label, Inside Out Germany. With this move came re-issues of all previous Ayreon releases, including Actual Fantasy. The re-issue came with a bonus DVD featuring a 5.1 remix of the entire original album, a video clip for "The Stranger from Within," and a video featurette showing the 2004 recordings of drums, bass, and guitar for the remix.[1]