SPACE METAL (SPECIAL EDITION)

One of the best ever releases by the genius songwriter Arjen Anthony Lucassen: a mix of heavy metal guitars, spacey keyboards and sci-fi lyrics. Like always he is surrounded by great musicians (drummer extraordinaire Ed Warby, keboardists Jens Johansson from Stratovarius and Erik Norlander from the Rocket Scientists) plus superb singers: Russel Allen (symphony X), Damian Wilson (ex Threshold and Landmark), Floor Jansen (After Forever). With such stellar team he could hardly go wrong, but there is more: my CD edition has a bonus album that includes a homage to Hawkwind (a much underrated band) through a medley that includes that band´s leader, Dave Brock, as a special guest!

Of course the highlights are Lucassen´s inspired, melodic and strong compositions. The guy is such a great writer! he seems to write fantastic classics almost at will: High Moon, The Eye Of Ra, Songs Of The Ocean and so on. he is a master craftsman who understand like so few others how to blend heavy rock to progressive with balance and good taste. The production is superb, which helps to enhance the overall sound. The second CD has the Howkwind medley (a highlight, excellent!), two new, very good songs, Spaced Out and Inseparable Enemies, an only regular version of Bowie´s Space Oddity and two different versions of Stachild and Spaced Out.

Exciting, powerful, beautiful. A great record that was, deservely, a great success at the time it was released. If you like th mix of SF themes and prog rock, this is a must have. Highly recommended!