SHADOW GALLERY axeman Gary Wehrkamp will appear on two tracks on the upcoming Space Metal CD from STAR ONE, the new project helmed by AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen (ex-BODINE, VENGEANCE). Here are Arjen's thoughts on Gary's contributions: "I might have told you this before, but I really think that the guitar solo of SHADOW GALLERY's Gary Wehrkamp (or Gayreon as I prefer to call him) on 'Through the Wormhole' on the Flight of the Migrator album is one of the best guitar solos I ever heard. So when Gary offered to play another solo on one of my upcoming releases, I didn't hesitate for a moment, despite the fact that I usually don't tolerate other guitar players beside me (especially not when they are so much faster than me O) I personally think his playing is a perfect combination of Eddie Van Halen's spontaneity, Steve Vai's weirdness and Yngwie's speed. Which doesn't mean of course that Gary hasn't developed a style of his own. When he sent me his solos for the STAR ONE album I recognized his distinctive style immediately. His solos are great again, he can play all those things (with ease!) that I could never be able to play in my lifetime. In one song ('Laserfight') he's fighting a guitar/synth battle with Jens Johansson, you will be amazed at all this firework!"
In addition to Wehrkamp and Johansson, Space Metal will include appearances by a cast of different singers, namely Damien Wilson, formerly with THRESHOLD, Floor Jansen of Dutch gothic metal band AFTER FOREVER, SYMPHONY X vocalist Russell Allen, Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, MOONTOWER), and Dave Brock (HAWKWIND).