Search - Star One :: Space Metal

Out of This World

Alain Fournier | Hamilton, Pembroke Bermuda | 05/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First the short version of this review. The best CD Arjen Anthony Lucas has put out since Aryeon's "Into the Electric Castle". Most of you that read this are probably aware that Arjen is the mastermind behind the very successful prog-metal outfit called Ayreon. Why Arjen did not choose to issue this under the Ayreon name is a mystery to me since the music is very much in the style of Aryeon. No matter it does not affect the quality of the output.As anyone who bought an Ayreon album can testify Arjen Lucas is a big Science Fiction fan. As a tribute to some of his favourite SF movies and one TV series Arjen set out to retell their story in musical form. Arjen calls it "Sonic Space Story" and it's an appropriate name.As is Aryeon's case, Arjen has for this project collaborated with some heavy weights in the prog / metal field. Heading the list is Symphony X's vocalist Russell Allen who gives an awe-inspiring performance throughout the CD. Not to be out done Damian Wilson, a veteran Ayreon vocalist also gives a scintillating performance. The vocals throughout this CD are first rate and all the vocalist give top rate performances. Floor Jansen of After Forever is the only female on this album but that is more than made up in the quality of Floor Jansen's voice which is truly remarkable. She sings with emotion, grace, dignity and laser like precision. The only downside is that she is employed sparingly compare to the male vocalist but whenever she appears it is very memorable. Once again Arjen surrounds himself with top-notch musicians. Prominent among them is the veteran of several Ayreon projects Eric Norlander who plays synths. Ed Warby on drums gives a magnificently steady performance on drums. Arjen himself is an accomplished musician playing guitar, bass, synths and the Hammond Organ among others. The music is played with precision and verve. Veritably an audio delight. The songs break down as follows. The CD launches with the mellow, keyboard heavy intro appropriately called "Lift-Off" and then segues into the up tempo "Set Your Controls". The synths and the guitar set the tempo and lays down a deep tapestry, which gives the album an irresistible momentum to start off on. Russell Allen's performance combined with Floor Jansen's on "High Noon", the CD's second song, is staggering. The music itself is a steady mid tempo affair marked by churning guitars. These first 2 songs are among the best on the album and set the standards for what follows. The third song " Songs of The Ocean" opens with a classy guitar riff and features an heavy omnipresent drum work and a Hammond organ used throughout. The song is moody changing intensity several times. Floor Jansen is used to good effect. The basis of "Master of the Dark" is a heavy dark riff. Midway through the song the tempo increases dramatically coinciding perfectly with the story being told. The next song the "Eye of Ra" starts in a very atmospheric, deliberate pace and slowly gains unstoppable momentum. The vocal performances by all the vocalists are amazing. The music is grandiose but not overbearing. The song is full of sharp, slicing guitar riffs and richly textured synths. The combination of the vocals and music makes it easily one of the best songs on the album. "Sandrider" starts off with short choppy riffs and maintains a steady tempo for the duration of the song. The song contains a catchy vocal melody and contains a strong performance vocally by Dan Swano and once again by Floor Jansen. The Hammond organ and the guitar riffs at the start of "Perfect Survivor" gives it a doomy atmosphere. The music is slightly subdued with the drums being up front in the mix while the synths lurk insidiously in the background. "Intergalactic Space Crusaders" contains the catchiest chorus on the CD. Russel Allen and Damian Wilson trade off magnificent vocal performances. The song also features a wicked keyboard solo by Erik Norlander. The epic "Starchild" closes the CD and starts off in a very melancholic manner. The song is very moody and affecting. About two thirds through the song shrugs off the melancholic mood and becomes more dynamic affair. The song slows down again near the end and mirrors the start of the song finishing in moody but hopeful mood. A terrific way to end an amazing CD.The packaging of this CD is amazing. It features the gorgeous lush artwork Mattias Noren on the inserts and a great cover by Vincent DiFate. I know it has nothing to do with the quality of the music but I thinks it is well worth pointing out due to the overall quality brought to this project. Matthas Noren's artwork is slick and evokes an otherworldly atmosphere. The limited edition of this CD includes a bonus CD that features a heartfelt and kick [bootie] Hawkwind medley featuring Hawkwind vocalist Dave Brock. There are also two original Star One songs well worth having. They are the straightforward rocker "Spaced Out" and "Inseparable Enemies" which features churning guitar and harmonious synths. Actually "Spaced Out" is represented by two different versions with different vocal arrangements. There is also a delightful appropriate cover of Bowie's "Space Oddity". "Starchild" also makes an appearance mixed in Dolby Pro-Logic and a slightly longer running time. There is a bonus tract not listed on the sleeve cover which a bit of tongue in cheek affair. The limited edition is well worth seeking out.Along with Green Carnation's "Light of Day, Day Of Darkness" this CD, and I have no qualms saying this even though at the time I write this it is May 2002, will be one of the top 5 CD's of the year. Any progressive metal fans owe themselves the pleasure of owning this CD. I cannot more highly recommend this CD."

Vintage Arjen. This simply CRANKS!

D. Crain | NJ United States | 07/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"He gets better with each album. This album simply rocks, and never lets up. Stuck in traffic? Turn on space metal and you'll be lost in space. Amazing, crisp vocals, hammering beats, fantastic time changes, super keyboards and guitars, amazing arrangements.....His best work since the migrator. This guy just does it again and again... Consistency in this genre is the best one could ever hope for. I hope our boy Arjen makes music forever."

2 years after its release, Star One is still amazing

Murat Batmaz | Istanbul, Turkey | 05/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After Arjen Lucassen split up his extreme sides on the previous Ayreon albums, The Flight of the Migrator and The Dream Sequencer, he went on to create the highly atmospheric Ambeon record with an unknown, yet very talented, young female singer. Once he got it out of his system as well, he knew it was time to put out something really heavy but, as in the case with Ambeon, he needed to express himself in a different project than Ayreon... so he called it Star One.The name of the project is Star One, and the title of the album is Space Metal. On this record, Arjen wanted to pay homage to all the science fiction movies that take place entirely in space. It is no secret that Arjen was deeply influeced by sci-fi films and apparently he felt he wanted to thank for their impact on him. There is no single storyline here, unlike most Ayreon releases. This is a theme album focusing on similar subject matters but each song stands on its own.Another difference with Ayreon is the number of singers featured here. Arjen chose to work with only four singers this time, and I would consider each and every one of them among the best and most prolific singers in prog metal. Russel Allen from Symphony X is one of the best singers around and his style on Space Metal is no exception. Damian Wilson is Arjen's long-time friend and we've all grown to love his unique and emotional delivery over the years. Then we have a newcomer, Dan Swano, who is currently my favourite vocalist in prog rock and metal. I remember how psyched I was when I heard Arjen was going to work with him because Dan possesses one of the darkest, deepest and most expressive singing styles I have ever heard. I hope he and Arjen will get together again for other projects in the future. The last singer is female vocalist Floor Jansen of After Forever fame. Jansen sounds nothing like she does in After Forever, she sings more operatic and more progressive. Her high singing provides a nice contrast with Dan and Damien's deeper expressions. Usually this is complemented by Russel Allen's sometimes fiery and sometimes painful delivery. Overall each singer seems to be very excited to be part of this project and embraces it as if it were their own. Arjen always knows who he has to work with and how to bring out the best in these talented individuals.The music is a lot heavier than the previous Ayreon releases, but by "heavy" I mean by Arjen Lucassen's standards. Don't go expecting an ultra-aggressive riff and furious drum-bass hybrid. After all this is Arjen Lucassen and his artsy side is always there. It's this aspect that makes him different from 98% of other prog metal acts. Still there is plenty of gigantic riffs played by Arjen and some really beautiful lead solos that shine with ferocity. Jens Johansson (Stratovarius, Malmsteen) and Erik Norlander (Lana Lane) perform meticulous keyboard sections in quite a few songs. Shadow Gallery guitarist Gary Wehrkamp also offers two leads, one of which sees him duelling with Jens Johansson in the song "Master of Darkness". The usual Ayreon instruments such as the hammond, mellotrons and analog synths are all handled by Arjen himself and long-time drummer Ed Warby is once again sitting behind the drum kit. It is hard to pick any favourites here but I really like the fierce opening of "Set Your Controls" inviting all four singers in the mix, the emotional track "Songs of the Ocean" and the heavy "Master of Darkness" both displaying the dynamics we're familiar with from Ayreon discs. "The Eye of Ra" and the 10-minute epic "Starchild" are most fans' favourite tunes as they bring heaviness, depth and poignancy into the focus of these tracks and combine them with a strange kind of catchiness that simply draws the listener's attention.Star One is one of the top 5 discs Arjen has released. While the earlier Ayreon albums, The Final Experiment and Into the Electric Castle, are still more appealing to me, I also have to add the new Ayreon album The Human Equation to this list. But personally I prefer this album over the Migrator records or the Ambeon project. This was one of my favourite 2002 prog releases along with the CDs of Pain of Salvation, Vanden Plas and Threshold. And today, after two years, it's still as good as ever. It just needs time to grow on you, so be a tad patient."