Star One - Victims Of The Modern Age

01. Down The Rabbit Hole
02. Digital Rain
03. Earth That Was
04. Victim Of The Modern Age
05. Human See, Human Do
06. 24 Hours
07. Cassandra Complex
08. It's Alive, She's Alive, We're Alive
09. It All Ends Here

Label : InsideOut

Relase Date: 25 October 2010

Look at this album cover.See where it says on the top-right?Arjen Anthony Lucassen.The master of Progressive metal.It's safe to say that nearly everything he touches turns to gold.Every.Thing.If you already know this mans work, you know this albums going to be good.If you still need convincing, know this ; Star One's previous album is called "Space Metal".That is just pure awesome.

Lucassen has been renowned throughout his career for having a robust back-catalog of guest musicians to aid his cause.Famous musicians, such as Devin Townsend, Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth, Dan Swano and fucking Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden.This time around he uses Russel Allen, of Symphony X as his main-man.To say the least Allen's vocals are probably one of the main highlights of the album as well as the chunky guitar riffs, thundering drums and cheesy keyboard work, making probably Lucassesn' most "metal" album to date.Even the die-hard anti-Prog metal fans can appreciate this dark, haunting little album.And I mean little.It may be 53 minutes long, but the entire album just feels short.Another couple of songs would have made the album feel a little more complete.The songs (all 9 of them) already given are great but why limit it like this?

Aside from that, I have no problems with the album.The album does it's job superbly.It's highlighting songs include the rousing "Digital Rain" and  fist-pumpingly heavy "Victims Of The Modern Age", each presenting a dark atmosphere that Lucassen rarely shows off in his music. A high recommendation for fans of Avantasia, Opeth and Dream Theater.

9/10 

Ophelia - Do Sympathy With Your Fantasy

[Introduction]

01. January - Dream Within A Dream

02. February - Mirror Lake

03. March - Spring

04. April - Object Petit A

[Body]

05. May - Water Deep

06. June - Chant Of The Night

07. July - Floating And Drowning

08. August - Misty Forest

09. September - Ophelia

[Conclusion]

10. October - Calm

11. November - Same Moment, Different Dream

12. December - A Walk To Remember

13. Undecimber - Communis

My experiences with Asian metal bands have proved to be very rewarding over the last few years.I mean this wholeheartedly as Asia isn't exactly a region where your average metal-head can simply drop names of bands.The only bands that might immediately spring to mind are perhaps Sigh , X-Japan  and Dir En Grey.

So what else is there?

I can only hope that in the next year or so, Korean Ethereal Doom Metal band Ophelia, who have only released their debut album will get the attention they deserve so much."Do Sympathy With Your Fantasy" is simply a stunningly original and creative masterpiece.Perfectly blending shoegaze, Korean traditional music and doom metal together to make a piece of work that practically breathes ambiance into it's listener.

The concept of the album runs through three factors : Introduction(January, February, March and April), Body(May, June, July, August, September) and Conclusion(October, November, December, Undecimber) each of which will transport you into a different emotion and mindset, which together make an 80 minute listen.The albums achievement is that it manages to keep the listeners full attention.Each track is as rewarding as the next, subjecting the listener to feelings of anguish, melancholy, bitterness, serenity, hope and so on.Very very few bands manage to incorporate these elements into their music with such ease, especially with their first album.

In conclusion : Get this album.Find some time for yourself to listen to it in full and in peace.Probably the most rewarding metal album of the year so far, and also a good example of the music Asia has to offer.