“We’re quite open about our influences because that’s the music that we love. There’s RUSH, YES, GENESIS, a lot of bands. We even give a tip of the hat to DREAM THEATER in a few sections. That’s all a part of what we are.”

So says keyboardist Adam Wakeman when discussing his new band, HEADSPACE, and their full length debut, I Am Anonymous. That doesn't mean, however, that the band is dependent on the greatness of others to make themselves of worth to the progressive metal masses. On the contrary, the influences Wakeman mentions only serve to enhance what was an ambitious, talent-driven project from the very beginning.

Headspace began innocently enough; as a way for Wakeman – also a member of the legendary OZZY OSBOURNE’s band - and a close circle of musician friends to reconnect. There were no preconceptions of launching a prog metal band, and certainly no visions of grandeur.

“We didn’t really have any idea of where we were going with it," says Wakeman. “We just did it purely to be together. We’ve been friends for a long time, so our thinking was that if we were going to get involved in a project, why not do it with our mates, the way you do when you’re 15 or 16 years old. I think the idea when we got together was to not try and do something or be something. It was more a case of ‘Let’s get together and see what happens, and we’ll follow the music in the direction it takes us.’ It became clear quite quickly when we started playing with song ideas that it was going to be a prog band. I don’t know who we were kidding (laughs).”

"Indeed, with players like Wakeman – a branch off the Yes family tree courtesy of legendary keysman and father Rick Wakeman – vocalist Damian Wilson (Threshold, Arjen Lucassen) , Lee Pomeroy (Rick Wakeman's ERE, It Bites) Headspace was destined to go in their “unashamedly prog” direction. People may be surprised to find, however, that for a band led by a keyboardist and vocalist – at least on paper – I Am Anonymous is a heavily guitar oriented record."

“That wasn’t the intention,” Wakeman insists. “It’s more the sum of the parts with this band. There are moments where the keyboards are very prominent, and the writing process most of the time was myself and Pete Rinaldi (guitars) working on the arrangements together. He’s a killer guitar player, and the album just evolved the way it did. The next one might be more keyboard-heavy, but I doubt it if Pete has anything to say about it (laughs).”

On the other hand, I Am Anonymous is the slab of concept-oriented mindfood one expects from a band boasting the talent and influences that it does. The album focuses on humanity as seen through the eyes of a man sent to war to fight for all he has ever believed in as right and true, only to discover that the intricately balanced world he fights for isn’t what it appears to be. Dealing with this sense of loss the soldier internalises his experiences moving through feelings of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and ultimately acceptance of an invaded world he feels must change. According to Wakeman the concept, like the music, evolved naturally. Wilson was responsible for tying the band’s thoughts and ideas on the subject together.

“Damian got the bit between his teeth and ran with it,” Wakeman laughs. “He’s not only a great singer, he’s a great lyricist. He ponders over every line, so you know you’re not going to get throwaway pop lyrics.”

It’s also worth noting that in spite of having all the so-called “typical” earmarks of a prog metal band, Headspace doesn’t fall into the trap of having the music overshadow the band. Simply put, I Am Anonymous is song-oriented rather than musician oriented, making Headspace a breath of welcome fresh air.

“One of the other things for us is that we’re not 20 years old anymore,” Wakeman says of the lack of virtuoso posturing. “I don’t have any ideas of grandeur, wanting to make people say ‘Look how fast he can play that solo!’ I’ll play whatever fits. Some bits are quick, others are little melodic sections that aren’t complicated at all. There was nobody telling us the music has to be heavier, that it has to sit in this or that kind of prog metal section. We made this album the way we wanted to.”

Returning to the subject of influences and how they may have affected the making of I Am Anonymous. As in, was there ever a point where the band had to take a second look at what they’d written and throw it away because it sounded too much like their heroes?

“That’s never really been a concern of mine,” insists Wakeman. “Obviously, if you’re writing something and you think ‘Hmm, those are the same chords as ‘Roundabout’…’ you’ve got to rethink it (laughs). But to be open with your influences is a credit to the people that have influenced you.”