Main |
Galactic News
Tuesday May
21, 2002
STAR ONE: Space Metal
Released
Today Rock
Composer Arjen Lucassen released his latest album entitled STAR ONE: Space
Metal. There are many innovative songs on this album, but one song,
"Master Of Darkness", is about the original Star Wars
trilogy. Prepare your senses for an incredible musical journey beyond
the stars, as one of hard music's most prolific composers Arjen Anthony
Lucassen primes his latest endeavor STAR ONE for May 21st release via
InsideOut Music America. Entitled Space Metal, the album emulates
some of Arjen's favorite science fiction films, including Star Wars, Star
Trek IV, Dune, Alien, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Outland, Stargate, Enemy
Mine, Blake's 7, and Dark Star. Tracklisting includes:
Best known for his dramatic, conceptual rock operas with his main project
AYREON, Arjen felt it was time to strip the facets down and create
something a little more adventurous. "When I make an AYREON album,
it's got to have a multitude of styles in it, which then becomes its own
limitation, because sometimes I feel like doing an album utilizing just
one style; therefore, I cannot call this 'AYREON'," explains Lucassen.
"I wanted to make this album sound more like a band, like a live
product - more honest, no samples, no computers, just listening to a band
play. After doing the tranquil AMBEON project (which I made with the new
ProTools program - sitting in front of a
computer for 6 ˝ months), I really felt like letting off some steam and
creating something simpler and really heavy."
Although AYREON releases consist of complex storylines enveloped in cosmic
odyssey, STAR ONE's songs are designed to act as a vehicle that takes the
listener on a journey through Arjen's mind and memory - a place where they
relive those great science fiction films that made such an impact on him. Lucassen
elaborates: "I'm a sci-fi freak. I've been into it since I
first saw Star Trek in the 60s. Seeing a weird guy with pointy ears,
standing on a blue planet with a red sky changed everything for me.
I'm also very interested in the 'science' aspect of science fiction,
especially Stephen
Hawking's theories. I'm not really interested in the real world.
I don't really like putting messages into the music. There's enough
misery in the world. If you listen to music, it SHOULD be an escape
tool. When I read the newspaper or watch the news, it makes me
really unhappy. I can't change it, so I don't feel a part of
it…maybe I'm an alien?"
here!
"High Moon": Outland
"Songs of the Ocean": Star
Trek IV, The Voyage Home
"Master of Darkness": 1st
Star Wars Trilogy
"Eye of Ra": Stargate
"Sandrider": Dune
"Intergalactic Space Crusaders": Blakes 7
"Perfect Survivor":
Alien
"Starchild":
2001, A Space Odyssey
"Spaced Out": Dark Star
"Inseperable Enemies": Enemy Mine
Known for surrounding himself with some of the most resourceful names in
hard rock (having worked on AYREON albums with the likes of IRON MAIDEN's Bruce
Dickinson, former MARILLION vocalist FISH, THE GATHERING's Anneke van
Giersbergen, HELLOWEEN's Andi Deris, STRATOVARIUS' Timo Kotipelto, etc.), Space Metal features the vocal talents of Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X), Dan
Swanö (ex-EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, etc.), Damian Wilson
(ex-THRESHOLD), Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER), and the stellar musicianship accompaniment
of Jens Johannson (STRATOVARIUS, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex-DIO), Erik
Norlander, Ed Warby, and Gary Wehrkamp (SHADOW GALLERY). A special
limited-edition 2-CD version of Space Metal also features HAWKWIND vocalist Dave Brock on a
Hawkwind Medley, additional bonus tracks & alternate versions, as well
as a cover version of "Space Oddity".
Space Metal has already been named 'CD Of The Month' in 2 of Europe's most
prestigious metal-friendly publications - Rock Hard & Aardschock
Magazines. The outstanding early interest has caused the album to ship Gold in
Germany! Like AYREON, it is sure to become a beacon in the vast universe of rock
titles. With its stellar musicianship, visionary production and
simple yet far-reaching concept, STAR ONE's Space Metal shines bright as a giant sun
in the galaxy of rock.
For more information, visit www.ayreon.com
and or www.insideoutmusic.com.
Special thanks to Mark Morton for sending us this information!