As part of the arrangement with his record label composer and multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen is reissuing his STAR ONE project albums, in deluxe 2-CD digipak with a bonus disc including additional material. While best known for his rock opera project Ayreon, the multi-talented Dutchman also regularly embarks on musical side projects which explore different aspects of his musical personality.
With “Victims Of The Modern Age” Lucassen re-launched his musical spacecraft towards the galaxy of bombastic sci-fi rock by revisiting his STAR ONE project. The result is the album “Victims Of The Modern Age”, the follow-up to the Star One debut album, ‘Space Metal (2002)’.
Compared to Space Metal, the overall sound here is heavier, bombastic, more guitar-oriented, and slightly less “spacey”. As usual, we hear a stellar cast of lead vocalists: Russell Allen (Symphony X), Damian Wilson (Headspace, Threshold), Floor Jansen (ReVamp, ex-After Forever), Dan Swanö (Nightingale, Second Sky, ex-Edge Of Sanity), Mike Andersson (Cloudscape), Rodney Blaze, and former Black Sabbath frontman Tony Martin.
When it comes to instruments, the tall Dutchman played the rhythm guitars, Hammond organ, Mellotron, Solina strings and analog synths himself, and invited drummer Ed Warby (Ayreon, Hail of Bullets, Gorefest) and bassist Peter Vink to lay down the powerful rhythm tracks. He also enlisted the intimidating solo skills of former After Forever keyboardist Joost van den Broek and guitarist Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery), each of whom provide their trademark scorching solos.
The guitars are thicker and solos abound, but Broek’s keyboard solos are equally abundant and engaging.
Arjen has also raised the bar significantly when it comes to the album’s sound:
“I think it’s my best sounding album to date; it’s a huge difference compared to the first Star One. For the guitars I spent weeks experimenting with different amps and settings in every combination imaginable — and it was worth it.
The drums sound fantastic, and the vocalists all outdid themselves, putting in even stronger performances than they did the first time around.”
Again, as with the previous work, “Victims Of The Modern Age” is a concept album. Yet, this one is set on earth rather than space.
The songs are based on dystopian and post-apocalyptic sci-fi movies. Typical of Lucassen, he wouldn’t divulge which films inspired, leaving it for our speculation.
The album starts off with a little instrumental leading into “Digital Rain”, a clear example of this album temper: the melody, the rhythm, everything just sort of falls into place creating a really good palette of sound. There is a guitar and keyboard face melting solo battle to die for. And the 4 vocal arrangement at the end is amazing.
“Earth That Was” starts brutally heavy. Again the guitars / keys rip through solos but this time leading into an almost somber moment before exploding into a massive epic ending. The keyboard work of Joost van der Broek is awesome.
“Human See, Human Do” boasts some brand new sounds like nothing Arjen has done to date, bluesy, with a groove that is both jolting and seemingly simple when (if you’re a musician who counts) you know it’s not. Right off the bat you can tell it’s going to be a fun song. You aren’t let down.
“24 Hours” is some sort of epic ballad, but not your typical cheesy one.
“Cassandra Complex” opens with some extraterrestial synths and then go into a cool riff and a very nice chorus, the most commercial song of the album.
“It’s Alive, She’s Alive, We’re Alive” features very good melodies and keyboard arrangements accompanying the vocals, it kind explains the whole story in a nutshell by recapping and if you’re an advocate of concept albums, you’ll find a lot of clarity here.
Finally, “It All Ends Here”, a 3 part song action packed and conclusive to the story at hand. Dark and complex composition.
Fundamentally, “Victims Of The Modern Age” is pure Arjen Lucassen, and one of his finest works to date.
And while Arjen stepped up to the plate and delivered some of the best keyboard and guitar parts of his career the all-star roster of vocalists lived up to their reputations and gave 110% to the album. Each singer has their own moments to shine, specially Russell Allen (what a year!).
In addition guitarist Gary Wehrkamp and keyboard wiz Joost van den Broek (terrific job) provided thrilling solos which are sprinkled throughout the album, and drummer Ed Warby opened up a new dimension in his playing to compliment the new musical ideas that were thrown into the mix.
“Victims Of The Modern Age” is a powerful recording in general but I would go as far as to say it is a staple in what modern progressive genre is becoming.
It’s also a good album for listeners who might not be all that into your typical prog music.
I was surprised how the album easily flows, and not being a big fan of this style, how much enjoyed it. Production quality is one of the best I’ve heard in the last 20 years.
This album delivers grand and bombastic melodic prog hard / metal that intrigues, overwhelms, but most importantly; entertains.
Tracklist:
CD1
01. Lift-off (01:13)
02. Set Your Controls (06:01)
03. High Moon (05:36)
04. Songs of the Ocean (05:23)
05. Master of Darkness (05:14)
06. The Eye of Ra (07:34)
07. Sandrider (05:31)
08. Perfect Survivor (04:46)
09. Intergalactic Space Crusaders (05:22)
10. Starchild (09:04)
CD2
01. Hawkwind Medley (09:46)
02. Spaced Out (Bonus Track) (04:53)
03. Inseparable Enemies (Bonus Track) (04:15)
04. Space Oddity (Bonus Track) (04:59)
05. Spaced Out [Bonus Track] (alternative version) (04:55)
Vocals:
Russell Allen (Symphony X, Allen – Lande)
Damian Wilson (Threshold, Headspace)
Floor Jansen (ReVamp, ex-After Forever)
Dan Swanö (Nightingale, Second Sky, ex-Edge Of Sanity)
Mike Andersson (Cloudscape, Full Force)
Rodney Blaze
Tony Martin (ex Black Sabbath)
Ed Warby (Lana Lane, Ayreon) : Drums
Peter Vink (Ayreon, Finch) : Bass
Joost van der Broek (After Forever) : Keyboards solos (2,3,5,8)
Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery) : Guitar Solos (2,3,5,7)
Arjen Anthony Lucassen : Guitars, Hammond, Mellotron, Analog Synths
Arjen Anthony Lucassen’s Star One – Space Metal (Re-issue 2022) (2 CD Deluxe Edition) (2022)
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