Arjen Anthony Lucassen is known as the creator of Ayreon and also from other bands (Vengeance) and projects. Now this Dutch guitar/composer virtuoso invites us to a journey through the music based on various science fiction movies and TV series. He wanted to make music that was looser than his prog metal operas for Ayreon, which usually have one storyline running through them (and from album to other). Fasten your seatbelts, because it is time to lift-off and leave the Earth's often dull atmosphere behind!

On this debut album, Star One was Mr. Lucassen on guitars, bass, synthesizers/keyboards etc. His trusted man Ed Warby who is best known from his work with death metal band Gorefest, plays drums. There are many actors, meaning vocalists, including Sir Russell Allen (Symphony X), Damian Wilson (Threshold), Floor Jansen (After Forever) and Dan Swanö (Nightingale). Many guests on this album feature well known people from prog rock and metal music scenes. It was no surprise, that lineup was this highly professional. Only the best and most suitable artists are what Mr. Lucassen wants. Maybe some expected to hear more singers, as this only has the sum countable with one hand's fingers. But as mentioned, this is not an album with a single, continuing storyline, and having a smaller group of vocalists simply made Star One feel like a band, not an opera.

Musically Star One is a mixture of heavy metal, power metal, progressive metal and rock, and hard rock. As the title of the record says, it is space metal! One thing is sure: Deep Purple, Hawkwind and other 70s/80s rock groups have strongly influenced Mr. Lucassen. But simple music, huh?! No, it is not simple at all, if not as varying and tangled as Ayreon's musical journeys. It contains much less of progressive rock influence and there is no folk music bits. It was a reaction to Ambeon project, which was rather soft, even compared to Ayreon. The music still does not reveal everything during first listenings, not even close. The music is tight, but it can offer new things for a long, long time.

*** Next, there will be spoilers for those who want to go and guess which movies or TV series inspired which song, so. Spoilers end with three star symbols. ***

I am a sci-fi freak and therefore this made a huge impact on me. I can recognize seven out of nine movies ('Lift-off' is an intro): 'Outland' starring Sean Connery, 'Sphere', 'Star Wars: Return of the Jedi' where Yoda teaches Luke some Jedi powers, 'Stargate', 'Dune', 'Alien' and the most magnificent of them all, '2001: A Space Odyssey' directed by Stanley Kubrick (R.I.P.). Mr. Lucassen has reached different feelings in different stories, the songs. For example 'The Eye of Ra's atmosphere is Egyptian and 'Starchild' is the most monumental song here. 'Songs of the Ocean' includes one of the best chorus I've heard, ever.

*** The spoilers are over. ***

Amazing synthesizer intro leads to power/heavy metal song 'Set Your Controls'. Hammond sound accompanying heavy guitar and driven tempo is a true spirit lifter with varying vocals (more about them later). Slower pace is introduced by 'High Noon'. It's clear soon, that the album really isn't another progressive Ayreon trip, but more in heavy metal style. The songs pack suitable atmospherics (like aforementioned Egyptian vibes on 'Eyes of Ra', arcane tone of 'Starchild', arguing personnel on 'Intergalactic Space Crusaders' and 'Master of Darkness' includes an appropriate duel between guitar and synth... ). I think Mr. Lucassen could have gone further with the atmospheres and feelings, but maybe not without creating a totally different experience, which probably wouldn't have been a file under metal anymore! The music does not include original music from their sources (not covering either) nor samples, because Mr. Lucassen wanted to write music how he was inspired by movies and TV series.

The use of the many vocalists brings more variety and I think it makes this album even more unlike anything else (yes, even Ayreon's albums). Russell Allen has some of the biggest lungs in prog metal scene, let me tell you, so there is no power missing in his voice. Also, his range is absolutely huge and wide, so practically he is able to do anything that a clean singing metal music vocalist can do. However, his voice is characteristic, and this only proves the fact, that he is one of the best metal music vocalists, ever. Damian Wilson of Threshold also has a very, very characteristic voice. It is very, very soft yet very powerful when needed, but not at all typical in metal music circles. He has done some acting in theatrical works, so he fits in nicely. Whereas Mr. Allen has more old school hard rock approach, Mr. Wilson is, in a way, like a more extensive Bruce Dickinson. He can be folky or he can be heavy metal. Dan Swanö (Nightingale, ex- Edge Of Sanity etc.) uses totally different register as aforementioned gentlemen. Mr. Swanö is more "gothic" and darker; nice Andrew Eldritch-esque vocals on the 'Songs of the Ocean', and Starchild's deep-voiced aliens! Floor Jansen (After Forever) brings even more variety with her beautiful yet commanding voice. The singers play roles in the songs and they are marked on the booklet.

There's more people, such as Jens Johansson (Stratovarius etc.) and Erik Norlander (Rocket Scientists) playing some synths. And all the wizardry this people bring in can be heard, of course, but it is not showing off. Some of the synthesizers remind me of great Commodore 64 music, which was very much inspired by prog and everything else around back then. Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery) provided some guitars to two songs. Talking about guitars, mainman Arjen's sound is very meaty and heavy.

The Vincent DiFate cover painting is absolutely breathtaking, and cannot be enjoyed to full extent on CD cover. Booklet's computer art is of Mattias Norén quality, and every song has a suitable piece accompanying them. They do not steal from their sources, but are inspired by them, just like the music. It's a job well done on graphic front, too, adding up to experience.

After some hundreds of listenings, the music here amazes me with new things every single time. The whole artwork of the booklet pleases my eyes, being suitably different for every song. This is one for sci-fi freaks, heavy metal maniacs and those who want a record with some excellent music, that is able to make a listener travel into different dimensions, and provide absolute entertainment. I simply love this. This kind of gems are hard to be found. One of the contenders to the throne called "album of the year 2002", easily.

*** Spoilers up next.
Note (08-05-2002): Mr. Lucassen himself cleared out, that 'Sphere' is a wrong quess! The right film is 'Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home'! Well, thanks!
Note (21-05-2002): 'Intergalactic Space Crusaders' is inspired by late 1970s TV series 'Blake's 7'. 'Set Your Controls' is inspired by Arjen's own head-space!
*** Spoilers over...
Note (08-24-2019): The original review I based this one on was written in April 2002. The digibook text was written in May 2003.

2CD digibook editions:

Of course I noticed about a week later when I had purchased the regular edition of the album, that there was this nice limited special edition available. Just my luck! Well, I luckily found it as a second hand soon.

The bonus disc is good. There's two Star One songs. Rocking 'Spaced out' (inspired by the movie 'Dark Star') features as two version: Vocals are different, different singers. The song itself is good, but not of same high standard as the album itself. 'Inseparable Enemies' (inspired by the movie 'Enemy Mine') is better than least best song on the album, then. Heavy stuff and excellent synths and all!!! A classic. I wonder what is coming from Star One, if this is just a left-over track..! 'Starchild' can be enjoyed by those who own Dolby Pro-Logic amplifier. I don't...

'Hawkwind Medley' (so, the main review's suggestion for Hawkwind being one influence of Mr. Lucassen proved correct) includes pieces of nine Hawkwind songs. Dave Brock himself guests on lead vocals. Nicely covered. Beautiful tribute, I think. Same goes for more tranquil 'Space Oddity', originally by David Bowie. I've never got into Bowie's music very much, but he has his classics for sure. After the last song, there's a "hidden" acoustic song: Donovan's 'Intergalactic Laxative' (don't ask!).

This digibook looks absolutely great. Some of the graphics are different when compared to normal edition's booklet. And of course there's a lot of new stuff too. A must for the fans!

Rating: 9½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
08/23/2019 19:46