ON THIS PERFECT DAY

Guilt Machine is a new project by Dutch prog legend Arjen Lucassen. This is something different from his usual projects like Ayreon, in that the band only exists out of 4 members. This album is also different in that it's not a rock opera. It's not about sci-fi, not about fantasy, but instead the main theme of this album (as the band's name certainly suggests) is guilt. The style of the music on this album reflects that. This album sounds a lot darker and more melancholic than most of his others. All songs start out with some atmospheric sounds accompanied by people talking about guilt and everything involved with guilt in many different languages, giving an eery feel.

What's not different compared to his other albums, are the complex rhythms, harmonics and great variety in the songs. Most of the songs on this album start out softly, with subtle guitar play complimented by Jasper's magnificent voice, only to later burst out in a whirlwind of soaring guitar riffs combined with some very aggressive and powerful drumming. The album differs a lot from Lucassen's usual stuff, but you can still clearly hear his sound in hear. The guitar rhythms are unmistakeably Arjen's style. The album only counts 6 songs, but since most of the songs are very long (The shortest is 6:11 and 4 songs are just over 10 minutes) the album still clocks in at nearly an hour.

Twisted coil starts out slowly and softly, Jasper's voice complimented by some backing vocals from Arjen himself. At around six minutes the song takes a turn for the aggressive, and the heavy guitars kick in. Before the end it slows down for a bit, and then gets aggressive again, ending in a fantastic earthshaking finale.

Leland Street starts of particularly dark, with a rhodes like synth playing complimented by some great drumming by Chris Maitland, who really excels throughout the album as a showcase for his versatility. He has no trouble whatsoever playing the dark subtle parts and later playing some of the most aggressive drumming I've heard with the same ease. Again this song features some backing vocals by Arjen.

Green and Cream is probably my least favourite song on the album, though since I really love this album, that doesn't mean I think it's a bad song. In fact, it's still quite good.

Season of Denial is one of my favourites on the album. I'm still undecided as to whether I like this one better or 'Perfection?'. This is probably the darkest song on the album, and also one of the most powerful. It starts slow again with some really nice guitar play. Jasper's just has a fantastic voice, and he sings this song sublime. Seemingly having no problem to start out a song with a dark low tone, only to give a soaring finale which blows me away. After the intro a synth bass kicks in accompanied by a melotron choir, remembering me of the old Genesis song 'Entangled'. Occasionally this part is amplified by a well placed kick drum and crash, and then a beautiful violin solo. After this the chorus kicks in, the guitars getting progressively more powerful. From a single power chord, to some heavy palm muted playing, and then finally going all out and once again accompanied by the magnificent violin solo from before. After that it slows back down and showcases some really nice acoustic guitar play. The chorus in the finale is even more powerful than the chorus from before, with Jasper just going all out with that fantastic voice of his.

Over, at 6:11, is the shortest song on the album. But no lesser in quality. The song has a more traditional structure, with a regular chorus and regular verses. I've always found the guitar riff of Over rather strange, but still very pleasing. It's strange how it's somewhere in between uplifting and dark.

Perfection? is the brilliant finale to this brilliant album. As stated before, my favourite along with Season of Denial. I really love the first part here. The first verse and chorus are sung very low, and the second is the same but sung with a high voice instead giving a nice contrast. The song then bursts out into a massive wall of guitar riffs, organs and powerful drumming only to fall back into the soft intro chorus, and then taking a very different turn. The last part has some great lyrics. (What's one more year, a trip around the sun?) And after that it ends in a soaring finale, bringing this fantastic ablum to an end.

On This Perfect Day is one of the most enjoyable albums I've had the pleasure of listening to in the past few years. Especially Perfection? and Season of Denial are true masterpieces in my book. I'd give it a 4,5 normally, but since that's not a possibility I'm gonna round it down to a nice 5 star rating. I'm not quick to hand these out, but I truly consider this album a masterpiece. Bravo Arjen.