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SPACE METALStar OneProgressive Metal3.24 | 114 ratings |
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Gatot
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Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator |
I was quite curios to know about what so called as "Space Metal" as my friend told me
about this project by Arjen Anthony Lucassen of Ayreon. Looking at list of players -
it was quite interesting to know better about this album. I saw Sir Russell Allen of
Symphony X, Damian Wilson of Rick Wakeman's Rock Ensemble, plus those additional
musicians like Erik Norlander and Jens Johansson. Wow! A pool of musicians from heavy
part of prog music, I believe. What about the music? Not bad at all, I assure you. The term "space metal" can be heard at the beginning of the album where it starts with an ambient keyboard work in "Lift off "(1:13) which serves something like an overture for the whole album. The real music really starts with second track "Set Your Controls" (6:01) which basically power metal track with a keyboard-drenched style and powerful vocal harmonies. It's a neatly composed song in fast tempo and good melody. It then cools down with "High Moon" (5:36) which delivers a combination of heavy guitar riffs and spacey keyboard work. It's quite an enjoyable track in medium tempo. Next is a track which its title is a kind of paradoxical with space metal: "Songs of the Ocean" (5:23). The music is something like industrial type with some looping and deep bass lines. "Masters of Darkness" (5:14) showcases power metal style through the heavy riffs and thick bass lines. Musically it reminds me to the music of Deep Purple in spacey mood. The short keyboard solo is really good. The music is calming down with a Kitaro-like intro of "The Eye of Ra" (7:34) with really spacey keyboard work and low register vocal notes. The keyboard sounds like a Hammond sound. This is a good song which serves as a cooler from previously heavy tracks. "Sandrider" (5:31) kicks off with inventive keyboard work at the intro followed with power metal music in medium tempo but faster than previous track. It continuous with the same style, characterized by heavy guitar riffs, with "Perfect Survivor" (4:46). The spacey nuance is demonstrated through the sound of keyboard. "Intergalactic Space Crusaders" (5:22) begins with similar heavy riffs as previous tracks. It sounds a bit boring until this track because the rhythm section sounds similar from one track to the other. The album concludes with an epic "Starchild" (9:04). This song is relatively mellow and the space components sound heavier here. Keyboard still plays important role which determines the overall textures. Overall, the music of Star One is nothing different with Ayreon. It can be concluded that this kind of music is what typical Arjen Anthony Lucassen project would sound like. It's not bad at all, overall, but it tends to be boring at the ending part because there are not so much variations from one song to another. Keep on proggin' ..! Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW
Gatot |
3/5 |
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