Anyone who knows the name Arjen Anthony Lucassen, will be familiar with his many Ayreon projects as well as their slightly more Metal, Sci-fi obsessed younger brother Star One. Having released two albums previously under the Star One banner utilising the same four vocalists, Arjen has decided to mix things up a little. Each lead singer gets a song to themselves this time, with an alternate version of the same song featuring a different singer on a second disc. That’s more than 20 vocalists on 22 songs…Oh, and there’s a multitude of guest guitarists that do solos on different tracks too. Strap yourselves in people, because I feel duty bound to warn you that this could be a lengthy review, I promise I’ll try to be as concise as possible…but this is Star One after all…and we haven’t been treated to a new Star One album for 12 years!
So how do I attempt this? Do I say who does what on each track and what each track is like? Nah, far too obvious and I’m sure you don’t want to still be reading this by next week, plus that totally spoils any surprises that you might discover for yourselves when you buy the album, so I’ll just have to try and point out a few highlights. So, where to start. OK. let’s start with some high-quality lead guitar-work, from Adrian Vandenberg, Steve Vai, Joel Hoekstra, Michael Romero and more. Yep, that’s the quality we’re talking here, so obviously the vocalists have to match that. And of course, they do – all vocal contributions are of the highest quality, as you would expect. Each song is naturally catered a little to the particular style that each singer is known for, with the alternate version generally being just as good as the first – just with a different vocalist’s approach, and all with the singers in their most Metal of modes. It’s interesting to hear how two different styled singers approach the same song, sometimes giving a track an alternate focus – but then I guess that’s the idea! You’d think Arjen Lucassen had done this kind of thing before…
The alternate Disc 2 generally features what some may describe as slightly lesser known, yet no less talented vocalists plying their trade (Alessandro Del Vecchio, Mike Andersson, Wilmer Waarbroek and Will Shaw for example. Even Arjen himself gets a turn!). The exceptions maybe being Ex-Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin, who lends his skills to the epic closing track ‘Lost Children Of The Universe’ on the second disc (probably because Conception/ex-Kamelot man Roy Kahn does such an enthralling job on the Disc 1 version – it’s just great that we get to hear both weighty versions!) and Marcela Bovio (ex-Stream Of Passion/Mayan) who absolutely shines with power and force on the opening track which Unleash The Archers singer Brittney Slayes equally and definitively Power Metal’s up on Disc 1. Both versions are such a great start to their respective discs! The four vocalists from the last two Star One albums (Floor Jansen, Russell Allen, Dan Swano and Damian Wilson) all rightly get a track on Disc 1 each, giving any listener who needs it a way in from previous releases. But why would you need a way in, when I can throw other names like Joe Lynn Turner and Jeff Scott Soto at you to further whet your appetite? Brandon Yeagley of Crobot is also worthy of note, whose exuberant delivery is captured perfectly here on a groovy Metal track acutely tailored to his style. Another mention should go to current Praying Mantis vocalist John Jaycee Cuijpers who gets a track on Disc 1 and no less than three Disc 2 tracks to vehemently prove his versatility. Particular plaudits also must go to Marcela Bovio and Irene Jansen’s stunning backing vocals throughout the album and not least the often forgotten Ed Warby whose drumming is as exemplary as ever throughout.
This album ties in perfectly to the other Star One releases, as well as maintaining its status as a stand-alone from Ayreon. I like Ayreon a lot, but I especially enjoy Arjen’s Star One albums. On Ayreon he seems to find Progressive Rock solutions to Metal arrangements to keep things fresh, whereas on Star One, the emphasis is firstly on Progressive, Melodic Metal and everything explodes out from there. And suddenly, realisation dawns that the one thing I haven’t said about really is the songwriting. Well, It’s Metal, it’s progressive and it’s enthralling. It will appeal of course to Ayreon and Star One devotees, but also appealing to Symphonic, Power, Melodic, Heavy and Progressive Metal fans, not only because of the plethora of fantastic guest guitarists and vocalists (and keyboardists – let’s not forget contributions from Jens Johansson and Joost van den Broek), but also it will appeal because of the songs. Yes, this album is awash with Arjen’s now trademark keyboard approach, but just as much in evidence is his dynamic guitar-work, from chunky, meaty riffs, to intricate acoustic, the album has places for it all, worked in perfectly as always. Reminding everyone that he is such a great guitarist in his own right, as well as such an accomplished songwriter. It’s always such a treat when a Star One album comes belting forth, all unfettered and unchained, spraying all forms of Melodic Heavy Metal in an abundance of directions, all performed with utter professionalism and commitment. And this might just be the best one to date! It’s another triumph from Arjen Anthony Lucassen.
(9/10 Andy Barker)
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