Customer Reviews

On This Perfect Day (Deluxe Edition)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm very surprised to find so few reviews of this latest release by Arjen Lucassen. The publicity machine for the album here in the United States has been less than aggressive - I'd call it nearly non-existent. But I supposed that fans of his would be stepping up in record numbers to grab this latest project. Especially after his latest two Ayreon projects: "The Human Equation" and "01011001"; two albums which I feel moved his work from merely entertaining to essential for fans of progressive rock. I'm guessing that giving the band a new name threw a lot of people off the track. It might take a while for Arjen's fans to discover this project, but I think they will be absolutely delighted when they finally do!

Once again, Arjen has brought together a group of talented artists to create a cohesive work and the results are stunning. Arjen wrote all of the music and his signature style shines through each song. A combination of melodic passages accented with heavy metal licks, lush orchestration (in places) and driving rhythms. This music sits nicely beside his earlier works and is not radically different from the great songs he has been producing for years.

In a departure from form, the lyrics for this CD were not written by Lucassen, but by the lead guitarist - Lori Linstruth. The story line is more dark and introspective than most Ayreon offerings, but none the less compelling and moving. I like the sampled conversations in many different languages scattered throughout the album, all speaking about the underlying themes of the album: guilt, sorrow, regret, etc, life and death, etc... It's obvious that Lori and Arjen are totally invested in this project and the collaboration is nothing less than brilliant.

Ex-Porcupine Tree drummer Chris Maitland was an ideal choice for percussion - he brings it when he needs to, yet can be understated or even silent when the music calls for it. Not every gap needs to be filled with a drum beat, a bell or a cymbal tap. That is a lesson a lot of percussionists could stand to learn.

Jasper Steverlinck is the lead singer for the band and I am blown away with his range and singing style. I have been shamefully unaware of his work up to this point, but look forward to hearing much more from him. Another reviewer mentioned his similarity to Freddie Mercury - a valid comparison. He has a similar sound and belts out the high notes in that same effortless way Mercury did. I've criticized other "prog" singers for reciting lyrics as though they were reading from a technical manual - not so here. Jasper is dynamic, expressive and genuine.

To my ears, this is a nearly flawless album. It is not, perhaps, the great departure from Ayreon some fans may have expected, but Lucassen has a formula for making great music that is at once familiar yet fresh and inspiring with each new outing. I can't wait for Guilt Machine's next album!

I'm a fan of anything Arjen Lucassen and this project hits it out of the park. What a great blend of mellow melodic music with some heavy riffs blended in just at the right time. The vocals by Jasper Steverlinck are on the money, he has just the right voice for this project. Arjen specifically picked Chris Matiland for his powerful, yet delicate when needed drumming abilities. Lori Linstruth shines on guitar and puts forth, in my opinion, her best performance to date. What can you say about the talents of Arjen Lucassen as a musical visionary. This truly is a wonderful listen.

What should an Arjen Lucassen fan expect from his latest project? Answer: The usual Arjen signature sound, 5 star musicianship and recording, and an interesting concept/idea - lyrically speaking. If you are expecting some experimental departure from his norm, you will be disappointed. If you are good with a sound that fits all his previous outings, you'll be more than satisfied. Although I had hoped for some of the former, I have accepted and enjoyed this project for what it is. The biggest asset to this disc is the pristine voice of Jasper. At times (on his higher notes) he reminds me of Freddie Mercury. Nonetheless, I've grown accustomed to his impressive vocal delivery and feel that his voice sets this album apart from the others. Mr. Lucassen made a wise choice in using Chris Maitland on drums as he fits the musical passages well.

Comparing this project to previous Arjen releases, it is at the same level of quality, but, only a slight departure in sound/style. In my opinion, nothing matches the masterpiece of The Human Equation. That being said, this CD is well worth adding to your disc collection, and has become for me (at least) - a guilty pleasure.

First and foremost, this is my favorite album of 2009.

What's weird is that I sat down at my computer, went to the amazon home page, turned on my MP3 player and saw Guilt Machine on the main page, just in time to hear the coincidence come out of my speakers, as "In This Perfect Day" was the last thing I had listened to last night.

MUSICALLY: The guitar work is fine, rhythm is still just as predictable as all of Arjen's work, but Lori at lead shines again with her perpetually unique approach to soloing. The atmosphere is well defined, and is always in line with the lyrics. I wasn't too much of a fan of Arjen's last side project, Stream of Passion, but I awaited this album with much fervor upon hearing two preview songs on their myspace page.

Lori's lyrics are fantastic, a totally different feel from what Arjen traditionally writes. I love both, but this was a fantastic surprise.
I could go on forever, but I'll keep this short... This is one of those albums for me, one of those rare ones that upon hearing years from now, will always bring me back to that moment in time where I first heard this music. For me, that's all that's necessary to gauge the greatness of any music.

I'm not a big prog guy, the next release which I CANNOT wait for is Tryptikon (Continuation of Celtic Frost), but the vast majority of Arjen's work is very special to me. I will listen to this album until the day I die. It's just one of those albums... there is something about it that will be long-enduring.

I really hope that there will be another album to follow this with the same lineup.

OH yeah, I believe this one comes with the DVD with some extras. The interview was pretty interesting, I believe it went on for roughly 40 minutes. A good bonus, but I always buy the most expensive edition of anything out of Arjen's brain to support his habit as best I can (Habit: Making music)

GUILT MACHINE "ON THIS PERFECT DAY"

A new challenge for ARJEN became true. GUILT MACHINE arrived...are here! A very good team that consists of four members particularly from the main suspect and the creator of this whole story, ARJEN LUCASSEN-(other instruments and vocals), his right hand LORI LINSTRUTH (lead guitars), the exquisite prog drummer CHRIS MAITLAND, and the incredible voice of JASPER STEVERLINCK. Without referring to everyone's musical course in detail, I would like to tell a few things about Jasper, who is the only one who didn't have any involve with the prog scene. Classical alternative rock performer, he makes the big step and he do it well! In this album gives the audience his true blessed voice, and Arjen shows this in a remarkable way to these composes. They are not many, are only 6 but some of them will beat 10 minutes full of passion and emotion. The known electronic sounds ,the PINK FLOYD atmospheres, give the new start of "ON THIS PERFECT DAY" , industrial sounds, engine, the engine of soul and mind which is ready to bring you to the surface...that means to bring you to redemption. "TWISTED COIL"... a dive to rinse your guilds, with the help of violin notes which give you the chance to fight with and for your demons. Confessions for `must' and `want' . " LELAND STREET "... face to face with your conscience , you have to handle the pressure and getting out to breath, to find answers and with Lori's leads you can't find peace! "GREEN AND CREAM"... a wonderful song expressed with a revolutionary way that awakes soul. "SEASON OF DENIAL"... an unbelievable harmony of soul and conscience, real dialogs of intellectual uplift although it conflicts with denial.." a vision of black and blue fading into white".. "OVER"...the moment of acceptance of the things that unfortunately can become true and the hope that this will be change to overthrow. "PERFECTION"...and what can it be perfection? All these things you are or all these things you've lost? Is this the perfect world they promised us?

In other words?

An amazing creation of the talented Mr Arjen ,a close team, a very beautiful music that it shown through Jasper's amazing voice and spirituals skills of Lori as far as the lyrics are concerned.

The great spots?

Very beautiful the limited digibook edition with an awesome artwork and a bonus dvd where ,in there happened these: except from the variations of some tracks ,here is a different acoustic version of the "the stranger song" of L.COHEN and the magnificent -with our compliments- "michaelangelo" of JIMMY CAMPBELL (a great rock song of 1967).In whole this concept with especially intelligent way placed messages from all over the world .Voices of hope, pain, despair, repentance, and forgiveness, a word that you didn't have the time to confess...(on third track to "Fan messages" close to the 1 minute you can recognize the Greek voice!)

Ace in the sleeve?

The fact that it is an album that makes your soul upside down, it makes you seek purification and has the ability to uplift at the same time and gives you the big breath of release. It is a beautifully made with the most wonderful voice Arjen could ever find such as Jasper's that is full of emotion from the beginning to the end. A brilliant artistic voice such as classical FR. MERCURY, I dare to say, and this is not something you copy or imitate...just simple you `got' it..! Finally yes.. this is a `perfect day'...

"..shut down the guilt machine and wash your conscience clean of yesterday.."

(25 February 2010)

I am not doing a really lengthy piece here, but, as I have been listing to this album twice over today (on a drive to go hiking in the woods) when it really dawned on me how wonderful of an album this really is. When I gave it a spin shortly after coming out I did not really care for it, was not really what I was looking for though I did remember really enjoying certain parts, just to lengthy overall. I am not sure why I thought that after jamming out to it today after picking it up again a few weeks ago. I really love what Arjen is putting out over the last few albums; there is truly no one else with the same epicness that is present but with a bit more of a chill vibe, not as many super prog moments but what a great over all flow. I am not a huge vocal person (for the most part), more into the instrumental work but WOW Jasper Steverlinck's voice is truly in place here which I think is the best aspect of the whole album. Thanks to the whole Arjen crew and hopes to a never ending flow of amazing prog/space/fantasy/opera/metal/etc etc etc , come tour America and save the planet with your awe-inspiring epicness. :)

Edit - After reading more reviews I just need to insert my opinion that I would not qualify this as prog metal at all! It is pretty heavy at tiems, but , I would not describe it as metal. Prog Metal seems like Opeth to me, something truly heavy and metal. This album sort of defines its own type of prog :)

I really wasn't sure what to expect from this album, after Arjen's decision to stop Ayreon for the time being.
In the end I should not be surprised, what we have are very well crafted pieces of music, with excellent production, much layering and an interesting concept.
Rather than the usual assortment of guest vocalists, this album relies primarily on the talents of Jasper Steverlink.
As an addition Arjen had allowed some of his fans to record some messages where they got to share some feeling where they felt guilt, or regret. This was an interesting addition to say the least.
Also, this, unlike Ayreon, was not an Arjen Lucassen solo project that had guest's to help, but rather more collaborative, with Lori Linstruth writing lyrics.
If you are not familiar with Ayreon then the best ways to describe this album are: technically proficient music, with many layers and all combining to a greater whole. There are many synthesizers as well as both clean, and a lot of distorted guitars. Jasper and Chris' drum's have a very wide and expressive amount of dynamic. Each song is both a story, and a complex soundscape.

To those familiar with Ayreon, you will get this, musically, straight away. This is a much more personal concept than the obvious scifi of Ayreon though, so while that may put some off, it does add another, interesting, layer to this release.

I've heard a lot of the stuff he's done and I have to say this is one of my favorite side projects. Hit play and get taken away by the music and its story. This album is a must.

I try to follow everything that Arjen Anthony Lucassen puts together. I've heard most of Ayreon, Star One, Stream of Passion....He seems to alway find right formula and right musicians to participate in his projects. And Guilt machine is not exception. Song writing is awesome, musicianship and execution are top notch. Overall music is on a sadder side, kind of laid back but with plenty of emotions. Highly Recommended for fans of Arjen Anthony Lacassen and others who like quality, thoughtful hard rock/metal with some progressive elements.

Arjen Lucassen has shown once more he's one of the greatest composers of this era. After a few listenings to this cd I was moved to tears by its sheer beauty. And that heavenly voice! Everyone should have this masterpiece of modern metal.