Guilt Machine

Last updated

Guilt Machine
OriginNetherlands
Genres Progressive metal, progressive rock
Years active2009–present
Labels Mascot Records
Members Arjen Anthony Lucassen
Jasper Steverlinck
Chris Maitland
Lori Linstruth
Website arjenlucassen.com

Guilt Machine is a musical project by Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen, owner of other musical projects such as Star One, Ayreon and Ambeon. The project's debut release, On This Perfect Day , was released in August 2009.

Contents

Biography

Background

In February 2009, Arjen announced on his website that he would be working on his new side project Guilt Machine. [1] This project features a very limited line-up, compared to Arjen's other side projects: Arjen on the instruments and backing vocals, Jasper Steverlinck (Arid) on lead vocals, Chris Maitland (ex-Porcupine Tree) on drums and Lori Linstruth (ex-Stream of Passion) on lead guitar. [1]

On 9 March, Arjen announced that fans would be able to submit their own recorded material for a possible inclusion on the project. [1] The material had to be sent in the form of a brief audio message containing the person's thoughts in his/her mother language, with a translation. The deadline for submission was on 15 March. [1]

Recently, Arjen has signed a deal with Mascot Records. [2]

Together with the announcement of the signing with Mascot Records at his official website, Arjen reported that more than 200 audio messages were sent, but only 19 would be included on the album. [1] According to him, the languages range from Chinese to Tagalog and from French to Russian. [1]

He informed that the album will include an eight-minute instrumental track filled with as many messages as he could have used (although many recordings would still remain unused). [1]

On This Perfect Day

On 23 June 2009, Lucassen announced the release of Guilt Machine's first release, On This Perfect Day . [1] It was released on 28 August in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, on 31 August in the rest of Europe, and on 29 September in the US. [1] Most of the songs are relatively long, the shortest lasting 6:11. [1] Limited and Special editions were released, the limited edition contained a 32-page digibook and a DVD and the special edition came with a Digipack 24-page booklet and a DVD. [1]

Regarding a future album of the project, Arjen stated in 2009 that "we definitely want to make another Guilt Machine album.". [3] In a Q&A in August 2018, he stated "I would love to do another Guilt Machine because I'm extremely proud of [On This Perfect Day] [...] Lori wrote the lyrics and she did an amazing job. I'd love to do another Guilt Machine but it would probably be with different people. Again, you know, not everyone is available anymore. But yeah, it's definitely an option. It's not a plan yet, but it's definitely an option." [4]

Musical style

According to Arjen, the music will range "from dark and heavy to atmospheric and melancholic". [1] Regarding the concept, Arjen stated that instead of fantasy and science fiction themes, Guilt Machine will explore "the destructive psychology of guilt, regret and the darkest form of secret -- the secrets we hide from ourselves." [1] In spite of the differences, the songs are expected to keep the dynamic contrasts, intricated harmonies, complex rhythms and soaring melodies of any Ayreon release. [1]

Although Jasper and his band are from the alternative rock genre, he was convinced by Arjen to work on this progressive metal project. Arjen has stated: [2]

"In the beginning, it was hard to convince Jasper to sing on this album, because he comes from a completely different musical background. He didn't even know what prog was, but we've made a believer out of him! What I admire about Jasper's voice, besides its beautiful clear timbre, is the emotion and credibility he puts into his performance and his enormous range. Because this project features just one singer I needed someone versatile enough to portray all of the different moods, and Jasper didn't disappoint. And he's a really nice and dedicated guy as well!"

Instead of working with Ed Warby, the drummer that performed in most of Ayreon albums, Arjen chose Chris Maitland, which, according to him, "was the ideal choice this time, having both the power for the heavy sections and the subtle touch needed in the more atmospheric parts". [2]

Lori Linstruth, the lead guitarist and manager, pleased Arjen with her lyrics: [2]

"At first I asked my partner and personal manager Lori to quickly write scratch lyrics for one of the songs so I could record some guide vocals. I was so impressed by what she produced that I asked her to write the lyrics for all the songs. I was unable myself to create the type of darkly enigmatic, open-ended lyrics I wanted for these songs, my specialty being sci-fi lyrics about sinister aliens. She definitely gave the songs an extra dimension with her lyrics, exorcising the demons we both had faced in the past few years. It's also no secret that I've always been a big fan of her melodic guitar style, so she also plays all the guitar solos on this album."

Personnel

Discography

Related Research Articles

Star One is a Dutch progressive metal supergroup/side-project of Arjen Anthony Lucassen of Ayreon fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayreon</span> Dutch progressive rock/metal project

Ayreon is a musical project by Dutch songwriter, singer, musician and record producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Ayreon's music is described as progressive rock, progressive metal and power metal sometimes combined with genres such as folk, electronica, experimental and classical music. The majority of Ayreon's albums are dubbed "rock operas" because the albums contain complex storylines featuring a host of characters, usually with each one being represented by a unique vocalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arjen Lucassen</span> Dutch musician

Arjen Anthony Lucassen is a Dutch singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer, best known for his long-running progressive metal/rock opera project Ayreon. Lucassen started his career in 1980 as the guitarist and backing vocalist of Dutch heavy metal band Bodine as Iron Anthony, before joining Vengeance in 1984. After eight years he left the band, wanting to go into a more progressive direction, and released two years later an unsuccessful solo album entitled Pools of Sorrow, Waves of Joy under the nickname Anthony.

<i>Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer</i> 2000 studio album by Ayreon

Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer is a progressive rock album released in 2000 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Arjen Lucassen, and is the fourth album of his Ayreon project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Allen</span> American singer

Russell Allen is an American singer best known as the vocalist of the progressive metal band Symphony X. He has also worked with the supergroups Star One, Allen-Lande, Adrenaline Mob, Level 10, and as one of fourteen vocalists in the progressive symphonic metal band Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stream of Passion</span> Dutch progressive metal band

Stream of Passion is a Dutch progressive metal band with symphonic and gothic influences founded by guitarist and composer Arjen Anthony Lucassen and Mexican singer, violinist, and lyricist Marcela Bovio. They have released four studio albums.

<i>Embrace the Storm</i> 2005 studio album by Stream of Passion

Embrace the Storm is Stream of Passion's debut album released on 24 October 2005 by InsideOut Music. It was preceded by the single "Wherever You Are" and was followed by the single "Out in the Real World", both featured on this album.

<i>Fate of a Dreamer</i> 2001 studio album by Ambeon

Fate of a Dreamer is an album by Dutch singer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen under the name Ambeon, released in 2001 by Dutch music label Transmission Records. All of the ten tracks feature samples from and arrangements of Ayreon's songs, as noted below. The album was out of print for years, due to the closing of Transmission. The album was re-released in December 2011 with bonus tracks, and an accompanying acoustic CD covering various Ambeon and Ayreon tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lori Linstruth</span> American guitarist, lyricist and manager

Lori Von Linstruth is an American lyricist, music manager and retired guitarist. She currently resides in the Netherlands where she lives with her partner and musical collaborator Arjen Anthony Lucassen.

<i>Live in the Real World</i> 2006 live album by Stream of Passion

Live in the Real World is the first live CD and DVD album by Dutch/Mexican progressive metal band Stream of Passion, created by Arjen Anthony Lucassen.

<i>Elected</i> (EP) 2008 EP by Ayreon

Elected is the first EP by progressive metal project Ayreon, owned by Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen. It was released on 25 April 2008 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and on 28 April in the rest of Europe. It features the guest performance of German singer Tobias Sammet, from Avantasia and Edguy.

<i>Timeline</i> (Ayreon album) 2008 compilation album by Ayreon

Timeline is the second compilation album by Dutch progressive metal project Ayreon. It was released in November 2008 in Europe. It was also released in North America in early 2009. The album features three CDs containing selected songs from all Ayreon albums, and a DVD featuring live performances, video clips and behind-the-scenes.

<i>On This Perfect Day</i> 2009 studio album by Guilt Machine

On This Perfect Day is the debut album by Dutch singer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen's side project Guilt Machine, released in August 2009. The cover of the album was made by Christophe Dessaigne, an artist discovered by Lucassen on Flickr.

<i>Lost in the New Real</i> 2012 studio album by Arjen Anthony Lucassen

Lost in the New Real is the second solo studio album by Dutch songwriter, producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released on 23 April 2012. It is Lucassen's first solo album since 1993's Pools of Sorrow, Waves of Joy, released 18 years earlier under the name Anthony, before he reached fame with his progressive metal/rock opera project Ayreon. Lucassen wrote all the songs, sings lead vocals and performs most instruments himself, including all guitars, bass and keyboards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arjen Lucassen discography</span> Discography for Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen

Arjen Lucassen is a Dutch multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is most known as the creator of progressive metal/rock opera Ayreon.

<i>The Theory of Everything</i> (Ayreon album) 2013 studio album by Ayreon

The Theory of Everything is the eighth studio album from Ayreon, a progressive metal/rock opera project by Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released on 28 October 2013.

<i>The Theater Equation</i> 2016 live album by Ayreon

The Theater Equation is a live album and DVD/Blu-ray by Arjen Anthony Lucassen's progressive rock/metal rock opera project Ayreon. The Theater Equation originally consisted of a four live performances, with cast, choir and small orchestra, of the 2004 album The Human Equation, as an actual rock opera, complete with mise-en-scène. It is the first Ayreon live release, although Ayreon songs had previously been featured on live albums by two of Lucassen's other musical projects, and marks the first time an Ayreon album was performed live in its entirety. The Theater Equation consisted of four shows, all played in Rotterdam between September 18 and 20, 2015, with the last performance being the one recorded for the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Gentle Storm</span> Dutch musical project

The Gentle Storm is a Dutch musical project unveiled in 2014 by singer and lyricist Anneke van Giersbergen and composer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen, founder and leader of other musical projects such as Star One, Ayreon, Guilt Machine and Ambeon. The duo has previously collaborated in Ayreon albums Into the Electric Castle and 01011001. The project's debut album, The Diary, was released on March 23, 2015, in Europe, and the following day in the US.

<i>Ayreonauts Only</i> 2000 compilation album by Ayreon

Ayreonauts Only is the first compilation album by Dutch progressive metal project Ayreon by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released in 2000. Although categorized as a compilation album, it consists only of previously unreleased material, with alternate versions of Ayreon songs with different singers, demos, and of the song "Cold Metal" from Lucassen's then-upcoming project Ambeon.

<i>The Source</i> (Ayreon album) 2017 studio album by Ayreon

The Source is the ninth studio album from Ayreon, a progressive metal/rock opera project by Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released on 28 April 2017. It is Lucassen's first album under his new label, Mascot Label Group.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Arjen unveils new project: Guilt Machine". Arjen A. Lucassen official website. 23 February 2009. Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ayreon Mastermind's Guilt Machine Signs With Mascot Records". blabbermouth.net. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  3. ↑ Rouhana, Rami (22 October 2009). "Interview with Arjen Lucassen". LebMetal. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  4. ↑ "Arjen is live now to answer your questions [timemark: 11:40]". Ayreon's Facebook. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.