«
»
New Shit

STAR ONE, BROWNCOATS

 Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 at 1:30pm by

Will Vince murder me if I compare Star One, the new project from multi-instrumentalist and Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen, to Dream Theater? ‘Cause I can’t really think of a more apt comparison. Classically infectious main riff? Check. Vocals sure to elicit homophobic epithets? Check. Super proggy guitar solo interspersed with an equally proggy synth solo played in a keyboard tone that is awesome even as it somehow conveys years of chronic masturbation in the face of a complete inability to lose one’s virginity? Check. Dorkiness out the wazoo? My fellow Firefly nerds (I still have just enough dignity left not to refer to myself as a “browncoat”) will recognize the title of Star One’s new song, “Earth That Was,” as a reference to Joss Whedon’s cult show. So, yeah, big 10-4 on that last one.

But as is the case with Dream Theater, I kid because I love. I mean, this shit really is as geeky as geeky gets, but that doesn’t negate the fact that it’s also really fun. In other words: Maybe a more apt comparison than Dream Theater would just be Ayreon.

“Earth That Was” is streaming at Noisecreep. It features vocals by Russell Allen (Symphony X), Damian Wilson (Headspace, Threshold), Floor Jansen (ReVamp, ex-After Forever), and Dan Swano (duh), in case my witticisms didn’t already have you foaming at the mouth. And it comes off of Star One’s new album, Victims of the Modern Age, which is out October 26th via InsideOut Music.

-AR

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
  • M.

    Dude, you really have to get this straight if you’re going to convince me that you’re really a prog-metal nerd: it’s Ayreon, not “Ayeron”. You even have it wrong in the tag.

    • deeds

      honest spelling mistake. doesn’t make him any less of a fan.

      • M.

        Three times?

        I think I see where the mistake arose, too. The Noisecreep site has it down as “Ayeron” too.

        Props at least for not dismissing it as a bunch of proggy crap. And whether or not he’s a fan, great, at least he brought this to my attention.

  • Shinaain

    “My fellow Firefly nerds (I still have just enough dignity left not to refer to myself as a ‘browncoat’)…”

    +1, but only *just.*

    Will check this out, in nerd solidarity.

    • LoGs the shit

      I had a slight nerdgasm, not gonna lie

  • DemonicLemming

    Ayreon > DT. True story.

    Also, wtf Axl being an Firefly nerd? First I read “defenestrate” on this site, then (in an article not shitbagging prog metal, surprisingly) Axl reveals he is a Firefly fan.

    What’s next, Sarge Dub declaring he actually hates wigger slam?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brandon-Mickman/502613553 Brandon Mickman

    Yo, you HAVE to check out the Star One live videos on youtube!
    It’s just too much, dudes!

    • chrismarchiel

      dude I used to get so stoned to Star One – Live on Earth in college and that was pretty much the most worthwhile thing I’ve ever done, forever. I still watch it from time to time and geek out to EYE OF RA, which is based on Stargate and can transport you to geek paradise.

      For those who don’t know it’s one of the best live performances ever and the best live vocals I’ve ever heard (wow) but is filmed with the budget and cameras of an early 90′s PBS special. Sound quality is great though and that’s what matters.

      New song was ok though, need to hear the whole cd many times to really judge since I was so into Star One and Ayreon my objectivity is fucked.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Glenn-Pillsbury/641369365 Glenn Pillsbury

    Arjen’s projects are such a guilty pleasure for me. I really admire the single-handed nature of them, the way he’s been able to make not being in a band work so well. I don’t fall in love with the music necessarily, though it’s quite competent, but I’m always pleased to see him succeed and attract so many well-known metal musicians to his projects.

  • http://www.theblacklaser.net Joe The Wizard

    FUCK YES! NEW STAR ONE RECORD! I absolutely LOVE the first Star One record, Space Metal. It was one of my most guiltily listened-to records of 2002. How can you not love a proggy power metal concept record entirely about science fiction movies? The song about Dune, “Sandrider,” is awesome as is the song about Stargate, “Eye of Ra.” Really, the whole thing is amazing.

    Shit, I’m going to listen to it right now.

    • chrismarchiel

      All this shame is a shame! Take this off the guilty pleasures list guys and fly the flag of sci fi dork metal loud and proud.

      Yeah I’m relistening to it now too. Now I’m very pumped to hear the whole thing so glad he revisited this project and I FINALLY have another to see this live!

      ..I hope?

      • http://www.theblacklaser.net Joe The Wizard

        I have no shame. I rock the shit out of this at work often.

        “Dear clients, how about some Star One? No? How about some fucking Pig Destroyer? Oh yeah? You’re welcome.”

  • battleid

    fuckin yes!

    Arjen is the best at putting out consistent Uber-Prog…..must buy….

  • sYgnal

    I really don’t hear any DT in that song at all. Actually, I give credit to Arjen for staying true to who he has always been, which is, meshing great vocalists with great music. Can’t say the same for DT – Since “I&W” they’ve only gotten more boring with their ideas. I always thought they would continue to push the envelope but it never happened. I understand that they chose to make a living with their music and I am happy that they stuck around for as long as they did,BUT, I just never heard anything from them again that fused two styles of music as well as “I&W” did. Except for, maybe, “Metropolis pt.2″.

    Oh well, just an opinion from a Prog Nerd…. Going to listen to the new The Bad Plus album.

  • http://bloodandthumbsticks.blogspot.com/ The Overmatt

    Shiny

  • http://thenumberoftheblog.com/ groverXIII

    You’d best make peace with your dear and fluffy lord.

  • Shaman

    I was sure Star One is the original name for Ayreon..?