(Review from progarchives.com)

Star One is a straightforward and hard-edge metal side-project which Arjen Lucassen created as a reaction to the soft and atmospheric Ambeon release a year earlier. Although Star One was initially intended to be a single-singer project, it quickly transformed into a multi-singer project featuring stellar singers.

The album title tells you all you need to know. The music is loud and powerful, whilst also being extremely melodic. At times, such as on “Songs of the ocean” and “Intergalactic space crusaders”, it verges on becoming pop. The Sweet in their heyday could well have taken the latter to the top of the charts! The songs are generally less complex than those of Ayreon, but there’s still much to enjoy, with tracks like “The eye of Ra” and “Starchild” being developed into longer, slightly more progressive pieces.

The production and performance are excellent, as you would expect, with the usual array of guest vocalists and musicians. The album was inspired by “films that take place entirely in space”, with the vocalists performing dialogue “roles” on each track. Some may feel the space theme is wearing a bit thin these days, but it appears to be where Arjen finds the inspiration to create some of his best works.

Nearly all the songs are based on science fiction movies situated in space. The name Star One come comes from a 70s cult British television series named Blakes 7 in which an artificial planet called Star One is featured. The song Intergalactic Space Crusaders is also based on this series.

This edition of the album includes a bonus disc. This features additional tracks, re-workings and cover versions. The version of “Space Oddity” is interesting, somewhat heavier and darker than the original, whilst retaining strong echoes of Bowie’s vocals. Dave Brock of Hawkwind makes a personal appearance on vocals on the “Hawkwind medley”, a 9 minute run through of some of that bands better know tracks. The music of Hawkwind does not really lend itself to the medley format, thus while the track is enjoyable, it might have been better to simply cover a couple of their tracks in full.

For those who enjoy a harder edge to their music, while still wishing to hear strong melodies, and solid performances this album fits the bill very nicely.

Line-up:
- Arjen Anthony Lucassen / guitars, bass, keyboards
- Ed Warby / drums
- Russell Allen / vocals
- Damian Wilson / vocals
- Dan Swano / vocals
- Floor Jansen / vocals
with
- Jens Johansson / keyboards
- Erik Norlander / keyboards
- Gary Wehrkamp / guitar
- Robert Soeterboek / back vocals
- Dave Brock / vocals (11)

Track List:
CD1
01. Lift-off – 1:13
02. Set Your Controls – 6:01
03. High Moon – 5:36
04. Songs of the Ocean – 5:23
05. Master of Darkness – 5:14
06. The Eye of Ra – 7:34
07. Sandrider – 5:31
08. Perfect Survivor – 4:46
09. Intergalactic Space Crusaders – 5:22
10. Starchild – 9:04
CD2
01. Hawkwind Medley – 9:46
02. Spaced Out – 4:53
03. Inseparable Enemies – 4:15
04. Space Oddity [Bowie] – 4:59
05. Starchild [Mixed in Dolby Pro-Logic] – 9:31
06. Spaced Out [Alternate Version] – 4:55
07. Intergalactic Laxative – 2:32

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