4. Star One – Space Metal
This is the only album on this list that couldn’t also be described as a “rock opera,” as the songs don’t all connect into some overarching story. Every song on this album is specifically about some piece of science fiction that the writer, Arjen Anthony Lucassen (who you will be hearing about again on this list), has fond memories of. These include movies like Alien, Outland, The Empire Strikes Back, and Stargate as well as TV series such as Blake’s 7. The music fits the lyrical content, fitting into a genre which can only be described like the album’s title. Keyboards, guitar solos, multiple singers, metal drumming, it’s all here but the lyrics are what make this album exceptional. The first time I heard these songs I didn’t realize how closely they followed the source material, sometimes even from a different perspective than the original. The first time I heard “The Eye of Ra” and really listened to the lyrics and how well they matched the events in the film, I was blown away. For any fan of science fiction and progressive rock or metal, this album deserves a permanent position in your library.
Rest of the List:
