Space Metal

✪ Star One — Space Metal ✪

Space Metal is an album by Star One released on the recording label Inside Out in 2002. It was issued in two versions. The standard version containing just one CD and a limited edition version with more elaborate packaging and both CDs. The album mixes space rock and progressive metal, and many of the songs are linked conceptually by having cult science fiction movies or TV series as their subjects (see ‘Trivia’).
The album features a guest vocal performance by Dave Brock of Hawkwind on the track ‘Hawkwind Medley’. Also released a DVD featuring various Star One and Ayreon songs being performed live.

(Edited by paranoideo)

Star One is the project from Arjen Anthony Lucassen (the man who almost single-handedly is Aryeon). Lucassen seems to like to assemble groups of musicians to record his works under various band names. Such is the case with this project. The group here has cut loose with their first project, entitled Space Metal. With a title like that, one might expect to hear a more hard-edged version of the space rock sounds of bands like Hawkwind. That is not, however, the case. Instead, Lucassen and his cohorts (Ed Warby, Sir Russel Allen, Damian Wilson, Dan Swano, Floor Jansen, and various guests) make music that is more like a cross between Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Deep Purple. Of course, the neo-symphonic modes for which Lucassen seems to have such a fondness also appear. The result is an intriguing combo that seems a bit contrived and sterile at times, but certainly should please fans of the prog metal genre.


Credits

Russell Allen - Vocals
Andrea Beckers - Photography