Artist: Star One
Label: Inside Out Records
Release: 2002
Running time: 55:49
Rating: 4.5/5
(please scroll down the bar for an English version)
Arjen Anthony Lucassen, a.k.a. the daddy of “Ayreon” and inventor of space metal, has given nine sci-fi movie hits (Star Treck, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars, Dune, Blade Runner and Alien) his own very particular treatment. Once again Arjen has gathered an interesting crew around him, and he paid special attention to picking the vocalists. Pairing the crystal-clear voice of Damian Wilson (ex-Threshold) with the deep-diving Russell Allen (Symphony X) gives him a one-of-a-kind contrast, which shines brightest in “Intergalactic Space Crusaders”. Both singers have a great feel for music, and they made the most of the room to improvise. The remaining roles go to Floor Jansen (After Forever) and Dan Swano (Nightingale). Arjen mostly uses Dan’s and Floor’s voices in the parts where he wants to lift the mood, while the heavier sequences, backed by weighty riffing, are left to Russell and Damian. Floor’s vocals are layered with multi-part harmonies, especially in the choruses (e.g. “Perfect Survivor” or the Native American-sounding verse of “High Moon”), while Dan usually sings the opening verses or the verses in the calmer passages, and keeps the mood high with his low, rumbling register.
The music is full of dynamics and breadth. Breadth as in a big, full sound. Analog keyboards and bass guitar give the drums, played by Ed Varby, the depth they need, and Arjen has once again shown what a genius feel for songwriting he has, because the songs are nicely balanced again. Nothing syrupy anywhere. The melancholic parts are hugely atmospheric, mostly thanks to the added Hammond organs, and when Arjen tries his hand at soloing on the electric guitar, his solos pull practically everything together. There’s plenty of string-bending, speed never overpowers melody, so the punch is guaranteed. The “tremolo” arm is, this time too, an old buddy of Arjen’s. The sound is typically Strat (after the Fender Stratocaster electric guitar model). Sometimes I get the feeling David Gilmour’s ghost has moved in. The solos aren’t too long, aren’t overwrought, and aren’t some school demonstration in the style of: “Look at me, I play the fastest scales in the world!”
Who’s really soloing with invisible fingers, you can hear in “Master Of Darkness”, where Gary Werhkamp (“Shadow Gallery”) on guitar and Jens Johansson (“Stratovarius”) on keyboards jump into the song. The two stage the lightsaber duel between Darth Vader and his son, Skywalker junior. Let me describe how the vocal roles are split on this one. Dan Swano plays Skywalker with atmospheric droning, Damian Wilson is Yoda, warning him not to be too hasty in chasing his goals, and where the guitars and keyboards go berserk, Russell as Darth doesn’t exactly react kindly to his son’s provocation. Polish and perfection are all over every song, so it’s hard to pick a favorite. “The Eye Of Ra” (the theme from the Star Treck movie) has the most progressive elements, and its riffs are suitably jagged.
The music sounds close to “Ayreon”, but stylistically it’s a definite step aside. There are fewer progressive elements in particular, so we’re edging closer to classic heavy metal and hard rock. Of course every song is built extremely diversely in its own right, and they don’t let the listener get bored for even a second. The unpredictability, atmosphere and punch of this release are qualities many musicians could envy. The production is excellent, everything is in balance. Fantastic fantasy from the fourth dimension!
English version:
Arjen Anthony Lucassen or father “Ayreon”, the inventor of Space Metal did on a very special non-cliché way nine themes from a science-fiction movies (Star Treck, Alien, Star Wars, Blade Runner, Dune,…) and converted them into great fusion of Progressive and Classic Heavy Metal, that meets some great Hard Rock touches. So music style differs from what he’s doing with “Ayreon”, but on the other hand the complete sound is very close to Ayreon again. Songs are structured with great diversity. In every song we have different melodies, rhythm changes and dynamic lead breaks. Some lead breaks are played by Jens Johansson (Stratovarius) on keyboards and Gary Werhkamp (Shadow Gallery) with his invisible fingers on electric guitar. We can find a great duel of those two guys in “Master Of Darkness” acting a sword’s fight between father Darth Vader and his son Skywalker junior.
A piece with most progressive influences is undoubtedly “The Eye Of Ra”, a theme from Star Track movie with a great finish.
Arjen is showing what a great songwriter he is, again. He (of course) composed all music and lyrics. Analog synthesizers were used again and that gives to drums a wide soundfull beat. Arjen played also whole the bass line. A great atmosphere is also achieved in melancholic parts of songs due to Hammond organ that was used throughout all record. And whenever Arjen decides to play a solo on the guitar, there’s no lack of using tremolo or flenger. In a very Dave Gilmour’s way. You won’t find a school demonstration: “Who owns the fastest finger grip on solos?” All Arjen’s solos are well balanced, speed never dominates the melody, Arjen also chooses right moments when to pull off a string. All his solos are very dramatic, easy to get into ear, expressed in melancholic emotional way. I can’t ask for more. All instruments are completely balanced, and sound of the whole record is full.
Arjen paid very special attention in choosing a vocalists. He recruited Damian Wilson (“ex-Threshold”), Russell Allen (“Symphony X”), Floor Jansen (“After Forever”) and Dan Swano (“Nightingale”). This is perhaps the main reason why this work is such a beauty. Crystal clear Damian’s singing combined with more Dio, G. Hughes or T. Martin oriented Russell’s style gives a great contrast of two vocals. This contrast of both vocals emerges especially magnificent in a song called “Intergalactic Space Crusaders”. Both guys showed again how talented musicians they are and used all space that has been left for improvisation very well. Floor’s vocal abilities were used mainly in covering chorus space (for example “Perfect Survivor” or “High Moon”). Dan raises the atmosphere in intros with his low singing and gives some dramatic touches in slower non-riffing parts of songs. A perfect combination of singers.
So what we have here is a complete perfection of great balanced production and fluidness of songs diversity achieving a high atmosphere through entire record. Music is totally unpredictable and will never let you to become bored. Another masterpiece from Lucassen’s factory is here and a fourth dimension closer to us once again. I warmly recommend you this beauty.
Line-up
Russell Allen – vocals
Damian Wilson – vocals
Floor Jansen – vocals
Dan Swanö – vocals
Dave Brock – vocals
Robert Soeterboek – vocals
Arjen Lucassen – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizers
Jens Johanssen – keyboards
Eik Norlander – keyboards
Gary Wehrkamp – guitar
Ed Warby – drums
Production
Arjen Anthony Lucassen
Tracklist
1. Lift off
2. Set Your Controls
3. High Moon
4. Songs of the Ocean
5. Master of Darkness
6. The Eye of Ra
7. Sandrider
8. Perfect Survivor
9. Intergalactic Space Crusaders
10. Starchild
