ALBUM REVIEW: Star One – Revel In Time


It’s been twelve years since composer Arjen Lucassen released 2010’s Victims Of The Modern Age under the Star One banner, which in itself was eight years removed from 2002’s Space Metal. Fortunately, the project’s vision remains intact despite its sporadic output with all the tropes that fans have come to expect out in full force on Revel In Time (InsideOut Music). There’s plenty of cheesy Prog goodness to go around informed by Power Metal tempos, crunchy guitars, bombastic keyboards, and a slew of vocalists delivering pop culture Sci-Fi lyrics in over-the-top fashion.

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Threshold – Legends Of The Shires


The last couple of years have proven to be a mixed bag for UK prog-metal stalwarts Threshold. The release of 2014’s For The Journey (Nuclear Blast) saw an increased vibrancy with their strongest album for quite some time and with it, an increased spotlight breaching past their cult following. Ever victims of the revolving door of members, however, saw significant changes in band personnel, with guitarist Pete Morden leaving and the shocking departure of talismanic vocalist Damien Wilson (replaced by one-time vocalist Glyn Morgan) potentially providing stumbling blocks. That they have responded with a double album, near conceptual piece in Legends Of The Shires (Nuclear Blast) shows at the very least they hadn’t run out of ideas, and that they certainly haven’t lost any of their mojo as a result.Continue reading


Headspace- All That You Fear Is Gone


Headspace All That You Fear Is Gone ghostcultmag

Its hard to believe that its been four years since prog metaller’s Headspace released their debut album I Am Anonymous (InsideOut), as its strength and freshness in a, at times, stagnant progressive metal scene is still so fresh, and yet it feels like an eternity since it came to life. Unfortunately, due to the ever busy schedules of their personnel, which include singer Damian Wilson fronting UK prog metal stalwarts Threshold and keyboardist Adam Wakeman’s live commitments with Black Sabbath, Headspace can’t afford to be full time project, and fans have had to wait a long time. But as they say, absence indeed makes the heart grow fonder, and expectations for a follow up have thankfully been more than matched.

More a heavy progressive rock band than tech-metal or similar, Headspace have branched out further on follow up All That You Fear Is Gone (InsideOut), proving deeper, more detailed and more emotionally resonant than its predecessor. Focused on the subject of outside influences trying to control and individual, lyrically this goes in to the likes of greed and life’s ill distractions, subjects steeped in a dark reality, but does so without sounding cliché or contrived and instead powerful and emotive. Of course when they are sung by one of the most adaptive and excellent vocalists in contemporary prog in Wilson, this really helps their case.

 

headspace band photo 2016 ghostcultmag

Musically this proves as diverse and unpredictable as ever, veering from monstrous hooks to clean acoustics and unexpected dynamic swings, and even bluegrass on the delicate ‘Polluted Alcohol’. The strong collective at play makes for a lot of virtuoso performances and show stealing moments from all, but rather than being a competition for space and attention, once again this is a towering collection from a collective set towards a single, collective goal. There may not be the endless time in the world for all of these guys to give Headspace the full time work it really deserves, but be thankful that any time that is given showcases them as one of the greatest units in modern day prog.

9.0/10

CHRIS TIPPELL

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