Coming off the success of the newly established Guilt Machine's debut in 2009, former Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen has moved forward in his career by resurrecting an old project that was originally meant to be a single album affair.
Originally formed as a way for its creator to write heavier music and express his love of science fiction themes, Star One has returned for another go with a mix of its signature elements and a few new tricks along the way.
Down the Rabbit Hole
While the first album with Guilt Machine went to great lengths to show off Lucassen's somber side, the second Star One effort returns to the over the top power-prog metal style that his followers have come to know and love.
Of course, there are a few inevitable changes that have come with the time that has passed. The songs are on here aren't quite as happy-go-lucky as those on the debut and may actually be some of the heaviest and darkest tracks that Lucassen has ever written.
But with the various changes that have taken place, there is still a great sense of familiarity as just about every performer from Space Metal is back for another great round. As expected, the album's four singers stand out the most.
In particular, Symphony X's Russell Allen and Edge of Sanity's Dan Swano do an astounding job of leading the songs while Threshold's Damian Wilson and After Forever's Floor Jansen provide some great support. There are other vocalists such as the underrated Tony Martin that appear on the album's bonus disc, but this version is still something of an unfortunate rarity that managed to elude this particular reviewer.
But as with every other Lucassen masterpiece, the keyboards also manage to stand out on several occasions and greatly aided by the polished production. It might be incredibly cheesy to some, but the presence of some awesome guitar riffs and solos manages to keep everything in balance.
Human See, Human Do
Also expected with Lucassen's work is great songwriting to go along with the technicality at hand. A majority of the songs on here secure themselves in the realms of prog with a power metal twist every now and then. As a result, most of the songs on here are energetic, fast-paced, and based around uplifting choruses.
Having said that, there are some inevitable shades of the Guilt Machine's melancholic sound. Earth That Was features a somewhat somber chorus despite its chug-worthy verses. The bitter tone that appears on the title track and the darkness of 24 Hours are also worth noting.
The lyrics are also noteworthy for continuing the Star One tradition of writing exclusively about science fiction films and TV shows. Throughout the album, a good movie buff will be able to find references to such classics as A Clockwork Orange, Planet of the Apes, and The Matrix, among others.
But while the lyrics make for great Easter Eggs, understanding them isn't essential to appreciating the album itself. If anything, it's quite similar to Blind Guardian's famous book obsession.
It's Alive, She's Alive, We're Alive
All in all, this is another fantastic album from one of the most talented masterminds in progressive metal. While Ayreon is gone for the time being, this and the Guilt Machine debut prove that Lucassen has many tricks up his sleeve and plenty of ways to keep himself relevant in the music world.
I would highly recommend this album to already-established fans of the man's work in addition to admirers of bands such as Symphony and Dream Theater. Hell, I would even recommend it to science fiction connoisseurs on the basis of the lyrics serving as a pretty decent gateway.
Current Highlights:
Digital Rain, Earth That Was, Victims of the Modern Age, Human See, Human Do, and Cassandra Complex
Christopher Latta - I am the lead singer/bassist of Psychic Faith and the writer of many hard rock and heavy metal reviews
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