Celebrated rock band STYX is set to release a new studio album, "Crash of the Crown," on Friday, June 18. I have been fortunate to get an early listen of the ambitious album and it fully delivers on the troupe's talents as one of classic rock's most enduring artists. I will have a full-length review of the album closer to its release date next month. Read on to get details about the highly-anticipated release...Robert Kinsler
A new era of hope, survival, and prosperity comes calling with the release of Crash of the Crown, STYX's new studio album, which was written pre-pandemic and recorded during the trying times of the pandemic.
The legendary rockers--James "JY" Young (lead vocals, guitars), Tommy Shaw (lead vocals, guitars), Chuck Panozzo (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion), Lawrence Gowan (lead vocals, keyboards) and Ricky Phillips (bass, guitar, vocals)--will release their 17th album June 18 on the band's label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe, which will be sold as clear vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and on digital platforms. Fans can listen to the title track here, and pre-order the album here and at Styxworld.com. (Read my review of STYX's incredible July 15, 2016 performance at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, CA HERE).
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| Styx performing at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, CA on July 15, 2016. From left: James "J.Y." Young, Tommy Shaw, Chuck Panozzo and Ricky Phillips. Photo: Kelly A. Swift |
Additionally, for Record Store Day on Saturday, June 12, STYX will also release "The Same Stardust" EP on blue 180-gram 12-inch vinyl only, which will feature two brand-new songs on side one ("The Same Stardust" and "Age of Entropia"), as well as five live performances on side two of some of STYX's classic hits previously heard during their "STYX Fix" livestreams that have been keeping fans company during the pandemic on their official YouTube page, including "Mr. Roboto," "Man In The Wilderness," "Miss America," "Radio Silence," and "Renegade."
In touring news, STYX and Collective Soul are rested, healthy, and ready to hit the road for their first-ever multiple city tour together. STYX had previously announced their return to Las Vegas with a three-night sold-out engagement at The Venetian Theatre inside The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas on September 24, 25, and 26, which will include an exclusive set list and brand-new stage production. Tickets for various cities, as well as exclusive VIP packages from each band, are available now at StyxWorld.com and CollectiveSoul.com.
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| Tommy Shaw at Pacific Amphitheatre on July 15, 2016. Photo: Kelly A. Swift |
Crash of the Crown is the follow-up to STYX's 16th studio album, The Mission, (their first in 14 years at the time, which critics called "a masterpiece") which was released June 16, 2017 on the band's label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe. The highly anticipated two-disc reissue of The Mission was released on July 27, 2018 via Alpha Dog 2T/UMe, which includes a CD of the original album, as well as a Blu-ray of the album mixed in 5.1 surround sound accompanied by stunning visualizations for each of the album's 14 songs based on the album artwork. It originally debuted on various Billboard charts, including: #6 Top Rock Albums, #11 Physical Albums, #11 Vinyl Albums, #13 Current Albums, #14 Billboard Top Albums, #16 Retail, #17 Mass Merch/Non-Traditional, #29 Digital Albums, and #45 Billboard 200 (includes catalog and streaming).
