Star One
Heavy, riff-driven metal meets 70s space rock. A cinematic collision of soaring vocals and Hammond organs, perfect for sci-fi fans and high-energy focus.
Heavy, riff-driven metal meets 70s space rock. A cinematic collision of soaring vocals and Hammond organs, perfect for sci-fi fans and high-energy focus.
Star One is a colossal, high-octane project that feels like a summer blockbuster for the ears. It is unapologetically grand, blending the crunch of modern progressive metal with the swirling, psychedelic textures of 1970s space rock. The music is defined by its massive scale, featuring a rotating cast of some of the most powerful voices in the genre, all trading lines over a foundation of driving guitar riffs and vintage synthesizer stabs.
What truly sets this project apart is its focus on riff-based songwriting compared to its sister project, Ayreon. While Ayreon is a sprawling rock opera, Star One is a lean, aggressive machine. The use of the Hammond organ provides a gritty, classic rock warmth that contrasts beautifully with the precise, heavy production. It is music that celebrates the intersection of cinema and sound, with every track serving as a love letter to classic science fiction.
For those new to the project, 'Space Metal' is the essential starting point. It captures the initial magic of the supergroup and features the core four-vocalist dynamic that defines their sound. If you prefer something darker and more modern, 'Victims of the Modern Age' offers a heavier, more dystopian take on their signature style.
Star One (also referred to as Arjen Anthony Lucassen's Star One) is a Dutch progressive metal supergroup/side-project of Arjen Anthony Lucassen of Ayreon fame. The band has released three albums to date: their first in 2002, their second in 2010, and most recently a third in 2022, plus a live album in 2003, and features four different singers: Russell Allen (Symphony X), Damian Wilson (Threshold, Headspace, Arena), Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity, Nightingale), and Floor Jansen (After Forever, ReVamp, Nightwish). Unlike Ayreon, the Star One albums do not follow one storyline; instead, each song is a different story with a sci-fi concept, most of the tracks based on existing movies and series. The band takes its name from the second season finale of Blake's 7. The band includes four singers alternating in all the songs, not including Lucassen, who sings occasionally, plays all guitars and keyboards and writes and composes all the songs. The third studio album deviates from this, having a different guest singer on each track.
Shares power metal, progressive metal, cathedral, hard rock (subgenre)
Shares multi voice, power metal, operatic, progressive metal (signature)
Shares power metal, operatic, progressive metal, cathedral (subgenre)
Shares power metal, operatic, progressive metal, cathedral (subgenre)
Shares power metal, progressive metal, cathedral, hard rock (subgenre)
Shares power metal, operatic, progressive metal, hard rock (subgenre)
Shares power metal, operatic, progressive metal, cathedral (subgenre)
Shares power metal, operatic, progressive metal, cathedral (subgenre)
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