Star One: Revel in Time

Twelve years after Victims of the Modern Age, Arjen Anthony Lucassen finally delivers the anticipated third studio album from his sci-fi metal project Star One, this one titled Revel in Time for InsideOut Music. Once again with usual participants Russell Allen, Dan Swano, Floor Jansen, and Damian Wilson in tow, Arjen has opened up the roster for this one, with additional singers Ross Jennings (Haken), Jeff Scott Soto (Sons of Apollo), Joe Lynne Turner (Rainbow), Roy Khan (ex-Kamelot, Conception), John Jaycee Cuijpers (Praying Mantis), Tony Martin (ex-Black Sabbath), Brandon Yeagley, Brittney Slayes, Michael Mills, and a few others participating. The album also features guest instrumentalists Steve Vai, Adrian Vandenberg, Timo Somers, Jens Johansson, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Marcel Singor, Lisa Bella Donna, Joost van den Broek, Michael Romeo, and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, all of whom drop in guitar or keyboard solos alongside the regular 'band', which consists of Lucassen (guitars, keys, bass), Ed Warby (drums), and Erik van Ittersum (Solina Strings). Marcela Bovio & Irene Jansen are on board with backing vocals.

As you can expect, Star One provide the same type of all-star collaborations on a grand scale as Lucassen's other project Ayreon, except here the emphasis is more on the heavy metal side of things than the progressive rock. Plenty of tremendous to be found on Revel in Time, including the super heavy "28 Days (Till the End of Time)" featuring a snarling Russell Allen, a potent Jeff Scott Soto on the crushing "Back From the Past", a fiery Brittney Slayes on the red hot "Fate of Man", and the combination of Roy Khan & Steve Vai on the lengthy "Lost Children of the Universe". In all honesty, there's no weak moment to be found here on Revel in Time; everyone brings their A-games, and the songs are heavy & instantly memorable.

What's also a really neat idea is having a 2nd CD with the same songs but different vocalists on each track. Cuijpers especially takes advantage of this, appearing on a handful of extra tracks on the bonus disc and knocking it out of the park...that's right, his work with Praying Mantis is NO FLUKE folks. Also, though I love Roy Khan's performance on the closing epic "Lost Children of the Universe", I might even prefer Tony Martin's take on that same song. It's quite fun to hear these same songs given alternate spins with different singers. Bottom line is Revel in Time is a kick ass heavy metal/hard rock album, and once again, Mr. Lucassen does not disappoint.

Track Listing
CD 1
1. "Fate of Man" (inspired by The Terminator[1][3]) Brittney Slayes 5:29
2. "28 Days (Till the End of Time)" (inspired by Donnie Darko;[1]) Russell Allen 7:20
3. "Prescient" (inspired by Primer[1]) Micheal Mills, Ross Jennings 6:34
4. "Back from the Past" (inspired by Back to the Future[1]) Jeff Scott Soto 4:50
5. "Revel in Time" (inspired by Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure[6][1]) Brandon Yeagley 4:37
6. "The Year of '41" (inspired by The Final Countdown[1]) Joe Lynn Turner 6:20
7. "Bridge of Life" (inspired by Frequency[1]) Damian Wilson 5:13
8. "Today Is Yesterday" (inspired by Groundhog Day[1]) Dan Swanö 5:46
9. "A Hand on the Clock" (inspired by Source Code[1]) Floor Jansen 5:51
10. "Beyond the Edge of it All" (inspired by Sapphire & Steel[1]) John Jaycee Cuijpers 4:52
11. "Lost Children of the Universe" (inspired by Interstellar[2][1]) Roy Khan 9:46
Total length: 66:42

CD2-alternate versions with different vocalists
1. "Fate of Man" (inspired by The Terminator[1][3]) Marcela Bovio 5:29
2. "28 Days (Till the End of Time)" (inspired by Donnie Darko;[1]) John Jaycee Cuijpers 7:20
3. "Prescient" (inspired by Primer[1]) Will Shaw 6:34
4. "Back from the Past" (inspired by Back to the Future[1]) Cuijpers 4:50
5. "Revel in Time" (inspired by Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure[6][1]) Cuijpers 4:37
6. "The Year of '41" (inspired by The Final Countdown[1]) Alessandro Del Vecchio 6:20
7. "Bridge of Life" (inspired by Frequency[1]) Wilmer Waarbroek 5:13
8. "Today Is Yesterday" (inspired by Groundhog Day[1]) Arjen Anthony Lucassen 5:46
9. "A Hand on the Clock" (inspired by Source Code[1]) Bovio, Irene Jansen (verses) 5:51
10. "Beyond the Edge of it All" (inspired by Sapphire & Steel[1]) Mike Andersson 4:52
11. "Lost Children of the Universe" (inspired by Interstellar[2][1]) Tony Martin 9:46
Total length: 66:42

Added: July 19th 2022
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 1352
Language: english

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