Dutch songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen has done numerous big projects over the past few decades, under such names as AYREON, Arjen Lucassen’s STAR ONE, GUILT MACHINE, and THE GENTLE STORM. His new band is called ‘Arjen Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution’, and they have debuted with the massive Golden Age Of Music album. I say massive, as it’s 15 tracks over 2 LPs, and it is a great production of ’70s inspired heavy rock, not quite metal and not quite totally prog. Golden Age Of Music essentially pays homage to the prog and heavy bands of the ’70s. There’s tons of Hammond organ throughout this, big intros, fantastic heavy guitar, a good bit of variety, and plenty of references to classic bands and iconic songs & albums.

Immediate highlights include the title track (check out the band & song references in this one), “Rise Of The Starman” (Bowie!?), “Burn It Down” (a twist on Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water”, and dig the Jon Lord-like intro), “They Took Us By Storm”, and “Holy Holy Ground” (a more soulful number that reminded me of something Glenn Hughes might do) . Love this whole album! Side 4, (or the ‘bonus’ tracks) consists of 4 covers, including ZZ Top’s “Heard It On The X” (which is how this project got started), as well as versions of songs by T-Rex, Roger Glover, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Lucassen plays bass on this, as well as writes most of the music & lyrics, and produces / engineers the project, even designing the awesome cover-art (check out the various classic album references on it!).

Supersonic Revolution – Arjen’s new band!