Crash Of The Crown (album)

[ChicagoSTYX]

"Produced by Will Evankovich — the man behind the boards for the band’s previous studio masterpiece, June 2017’s The Mission — Crash of the Crown (or COTC, for short) is a come-one, come-all clarion call that celebrates the creative mindmeld of seven musicians-slash-brothers in arms at the top of their collective game. The proof can be found throughout all 45 minutes of COTC, whether it’s the wistful observational musings of “Reveries” — an instantly catchy song featuring STYX’s patented, always-uplifting four- and sometimes five-part harmonious vocal blend on its choruses — the unmistakable snarl of “A Monster” that’s bolstered by a whirlwind outro solo from co-founding guitarist/vocalist James “JY” Young, the breathe-easier singalong mantra that permeates “Sound the Alarm,” the dark yet redemptively hopeful cautionary tale that frames “Hold Back the Darkness,” or the elegiac communal grace of “To Those.” In essence, Crash of the Crown is a modern-day sonic chronograph of the endless regenerative cycle of the rise and fall — and rise again — of our shared human experience."

"Some COTC songs had already been in the works during the days of The Mission (such as the aforementioned “Reveries”), while some were workshopped in hotel rooms all across the continent while the band was on tour (the way “A Monster” was born and bred during a scenic tour break in British Columbia), and others reached final fruition during the recording process itself (like the angelic vocal bridge that cements the relieved bliss of “Sound the Alarm”). The recording sessions for Crash of the Crown mainly took place in Shaw’s home studio in Nashville — albeit in strategic, quarantine-approved doses. “Because we connected so well as a band when we recorded The Mission, I just had to go there to make my contributions,” recounts bassist Ricky Phillips. “Tommy and Will are very clear about what they wanted for each song, and my job is to play the best parts I can to make every song better.” Adds original STYX bassist Chuck Panozzo — who provided his signature low-end tone for the inspirational “Our Wonderful Lives” and the acute aquatic fever dream “Lost at Sea” — “I traveled over 900 miles by car to record with Will and Tommy in person. They’re both so good at getting the best bass performances out of me in the studio. Making that trip to Nashville was the highlight of my year!”"

"One of Shaw’s pivotal COTC contributions comes courtesy “Our Wonderful Lives,” a song he first previewed acoustically during the Big Love Benefit Concert that streamed online in January 2021 — and a track that serves as a stirring ode to taking stock of the finer points of life amidst trying times. It’s also the first-ever STYX song to feature a banjo, an instrument Shaw has occasionally played onstage as well as on some of his own solo recordings. “I never imagined playing banjo on a STYX record,” reveals Tommy, “but as we were cutting ‘Our Wonderful Lives,’ I thought maybe a touch of Americana might work — so I auditioned it, and it felt like it belonged.” Not only that, but another, er, wonderful “Lives” surprise comes by way of the jubilant piccolo trumpet solo from guest performer Steve Patrick, which exhibits quite the deliberate Beatlesque flair."​

[Monker]

Slightly disappointed that it is only 45mins long. I was hoping it would be longer. But, the rest sounds good.

[ChicagoSTYX]

Slightly disappointed that it is only 45mins long. I was hoping it would be longer. But, the rest sounds good.

Tommy had mentioned that they had enough material for a double album but would choose what they felt fit best. I believe the 2 new songs from The Same Stardust EP were part of this project.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

"Produced by Will Evankovich — the man behind the boards for the band’s previous studio masterpiece, June 2017’s The Mission — Crash of the Crown (or COTC, for short) is a come-one, come-all clarion call that celebrates the creative mindmeld of seven musicians-slash-brothers in arms at the top of their collective game. The proof can be found throughout all 45 minutes of COTC, whether it’s the wistful observational musings of “Reveries” — an instantly catchy song featuring STYX’s patented, always-uplifting four- and sometimes five-part harmonious vocal blend on its choruses — the unmistakable snarl of “A Monster” that’s bolstered by a whirlwind outro solo from co-founding guitarist/vocalist James “JY” Young, the breathe-easier singalong mantra that permeates “Sound the Alarm,” the dark yet redemptively hopeful cautionary tale that frames “Hold Back the Darkness,” or the elegiac communal grace of “To Those.” In essence, Crash of the Crown is a modern-day sonic chronograph of the endless regenerative cycle of the rise and fall — and rise again — of our shared human experience."
​

CS, isn't it crazy that the term clarion call is being used for this album? Dennis has the same term in his lyrics for "Isle of Misanthrope" Was this just a coincidence?

"The Isle Of Misanthrope"

Long ago in ancient times
We learned of life from minstrels rhymes
They told us tales of gods and kings
And to be beware when sirens sing

But when we heard the clarion call
The people laughed and built a wall
We joyfully rehearsed the tune
Like howling wolves at devils moon

[ChicagoSTYX]

"Produced by Will Evankovich — the man behind the boards for the band’s previous studio masterpiece, June 2017’s The Mission — Crash of the Crown (or COTC, for short) is a come-one, come-all clarion call that celebrates the creative mindmeld of seven musicians-slash-brothers in arms at the top of their collective game. The proof can be found throughout all 45 minutes of COTC, whether it’s the wistful observational musings of “Reveries” — an instantly catchy song featuring STYX’s patented, always-uplifting four- and sometimes five-part harmonious vocal blend on its choruses — the unmistakable snarl of “A Monster” that’s bolstered by a whirlwind outro solo from co-founding guitarist/vocalist James “JY” Young, the breathe-easier singalong mantra that permeates “Sound the Alarm,” the dark yet redemptively hopeful cautionary tale that frames “Hold Back the Darkness,” or the elegiac communal grace of “To Those.” In essence, Crash of the Crown is a modern-day sonic chronograph of the endless regenerative cycle of the rise and fall — and rise again — of our shared human experience."
​

CS, isn't it crazy that the term clarion call is being used for this album? Dennis has the same term in his lyrics for "Isle of Misanthrope" Was this just a coincidence?

"The Isle Of Misanthrope"

Long ago in ancient times
We learned of life from minstrels rhymes
They told us tales of gods and kings
And to be beware when sirens sing

But when we heard the clarion call
The people laughed and built a wall
We joyfully rehearsed the tune
Like howling wolves at devils moon

Yes! Very suspicious! How did DDY get that info when the Styx album has been completed and held under wraps for the last year! That sneaky devil!

[Monker]

Slightly disappointed that it is only 45mins long. I was hoping it would be longer. But, the rest sounds good.

Tommy had mentioned that they had enough material for a double album but would choose what they felt fit best. I believe the 2 new songs from The Same Stardust EP were part of this project.

True. But, this one has 15 songs...and only 45mins long. That means we are going to get some very, very short songs and probably short instrumental bits...just like on "The Mission". That is my biggest complaint about "The Mission", it is just too short, and some of the songs are too short as well. They really would have benefited by adding a few more songs and making it an hour long.

[ChicagoSTYX]

Slightly disappointed that it is only 45mins long. I was hoping it would be longer. But, the rest sounds good.

Tommy had mentioned that they had enough material for a double album but would choose what they felt fit best. I believe the 2 new songs from The Same Stardust EP were part of this project.

True. But, this one has 15 songs...and only 45mins long. That means we are going to get some very, very short songs and probably short instrumental bits...just like on "The Mission". That is my biggest complaint about "The Mission", it is just too short, and some of the songs are too short as well. They really would have benefited by adding a few more songs and making it an hour long.

I agree, some of the mission songs should have had at least another minute on them. There looks to be 2 short passage tracks on COTC. Most songs are between 3 and 4 minutes long.

[ChicagoSTYX]

From Styx:

After spending the past year on the touring sidelines because of the pandemic, STYX are beyond eager to play as much of Crash of the Crown live as they can once they return to the road this summer. “I can’t wait to feel that group energy when we get back on the same stage together again,” Shaw admits. “We did something extraordinary in creating COTC. It came to us so naturally, and we can’t wait to bring these songs to life the way they’re meant to be played.”

Until STYX does full justice to COTC out on the planks, we have its 15 majestic studio tracks to continue taking us to new and renewed aural heights. Beyond the shadow of a royal doubt, I hereby decree Crash of the Crown to be a timeless album for the ages. Long live the king!

[ChicagoSTYX]

Looks like the 2 new songs for The Last Stardust EP were recorded for Crash Of The Crown. Looking forward to hearing them!

[Abitaman]

While I have always remained pretty neutral on the DDY VS Styx debate, I will admit, I prefer the DDY side of music. Nothing against Styx, other than kicking him out of the band, but without DDY in the harmony, musical direction, writing and singing, it missing something, what could it be? Oh Dennis!! Anyway, while I like to listen to Tommy sing, his music can at times be a little one directional, unless someone is pushing him. That is why I liked him in Styx, Damn Yankees, and Shaw Blades, he had another strong writer with him.
As far a JY, a good guitarist, yeah, but his voice is shot.
I can not dislike Larry, even though he replaced Dennis. If he had not taken the job, someone would have. I have seen him in interviews and he really seems like a good guy. Most DDY songs he does ok on, I do not like his Lady, sounds like a chipmunk. His songs he writes solo and with Styx are actually good, some very good. They have not let him loose, and I can see why, He is not part of the original Styx, and focusing on him, would not be putting spotlight on Tommy, who is more Styx.
Anyway, I hope the new album does good, I hope the band sounds more like Styx than Kansas or Yes. But without DDY, it is going to be that classic sound. DDY new cd, will probably be the better, sound more like the Styx we know.
Good thing, my Birthday is between the two releases, so I know what I am getting. Both Cds.

[ChicagoSTYX]

I'm hearing that JY only has one lead vocal on the album and that is his part on the title track. He does not sing lead on any other songs on Crash Of The Crown.

[Monker]

Looks like the 2 new songs for The Last Stardust EP were recorded for Crash Of The Crown. Looking forward to hearing them!

That is kinda what I thought....it just makes sense.

[ChicagoSTYX]

There will be a few “making of” articles and or videos about COTC once it’s released.

[ChicagoSTYX]

https://www.houstonpress.com/music/thin ... x-11570405

Interesting new article about the album.

It’s 8:30 a.m. in Houston when Lawrence Gowan calls from his home in Toronto, Canada, which is a decidedly un rock-and-roll time for an interview. And even more so when the singer/keyboardist for Styx says he’s been up since 6:30 a.m. EST, already completed another interview, and run down the set list for the band’s upcoming summer tour at his home keyboard.

“I was definitely not a morning person before, but I have become one over the past 14 months. Something happened in March of last year, I can’t remember what. It’s converted a lot of our old habits!” Gowan says.
He’s talking because on June 18, Styx will release Crash of the Crown (Alpha Dog 2T/UMe), the band’s 17th studio release since its 1972 debut. It comes just four years after the space exploration concept effort The Mission, but you’d have to go back to 2003 for Cyclorama for the band’s previous all-original effort and Gowan’s first with the group.
We’re thrilled with it. It was well on course before the pandemic, but it gave us the opportunity to put in a few extra songs,” he says. The album was done in a sort of Frankenstein recording process. Gowan had already laid down much of his vocals and playing. Other members made the trek to bandmate Tommy Shaw’s Nashville studio, and the drum tracks were all done in another home studio.

“We thought, like everyone, that the pandemic would last a few months. But when it became obvious things would stretch out, we found new tools that we didn’t have before,” Gowan offers.

“I didn’t know what a Zoom call was or what Audio Movers was, which is an app that allows someone to play in a studio and someone in another studio to hear them and play along simultaneously,” he continues. “Other than breathing the exact same air—which is exactly what you’re not supposed to do during a pandemic—we’re having the same experience. So it went from an obstacle to an opportunity. And I finally got to play my mellotron on a Styx record!”

In addition to Gowan, the current lineup includes founding members James “JY” Young (lead guitar/vocals) and Chuck Panozzo (bass, who performs and records as his health permits), classic lineup member Tommy Shaw (vocals/guitar), with Todd Sucherman (drums) and Ricky Philips (bass).

There’s not a unifying story or concept in Crash of the Crown as there was for The Mission. But there are themes of perseverance, positivity, and fighting against bad times in tracks like “Hold Back the Darkness,” “Sound the Alarm,” “Long Live the King,” and “Coming Out the Otherside.”
And while Styx has never been a “political” band, it’s hard not to interpret at least some intention in songs like “A Monster,” “Save Us From Ourselves,” and “Common Ground” in light of the amplified political and social divisiveness and partisanship of the past five years. Gowan says that’s on purpose.

“You want a song to say something. But more than that, you want to personalize it so people can find themselves in the song. That’s always been a [hallmark] of Styx’s music and why it’s stood the test of time,” Gowan says. “I’d say there are veiled comments that run through the songs. Like little philosophies or commentary on the sidelines. Then you put a great melody to it, and suddenly people are drawn to it. But they can make of it what they will.”
Tommy Shaw and Crash of the Crown producer, songwriting partner, multi instrumentalist (and effective seventh member of the group) Will Evankovich have the bulk of writing credits. And Shaw takes the most vocals (though the title track features all three of the band’s singers). Gowan admits it’s a challenge in a group that has three singer/songwriters plus Evankovich to have a final product with balanced contributions from each person, yet still sound like a Styx record.
“Common Ground.” A collaborative effort between Shaw, Evankovich, and Gowan, it tackles the subject of ambitious youthful dreams gone awry in the coldness of reality, and how strident beliefs and confusion of intentions can rip people apart.

“That’s one of my favorites on the record. And let’s face it, it’s a timely song,” Gowan says, adding that Shaw first played him the hook of the melody about four or five years ago on a tour bus. “As the keyboard player and the classically trained guy, I'm always trying to push the Prog Rock side of Styx. So we made it more musically inartistic. In Styx songs like ‘Fooling Yourself’ or ‘Come Sail Away,’ the scene changes very quickly [musically and lyrically] within the same song. That’s Prog at its core!”

Lawrence Gowan has been in Styx since 1999, yet the fanbase continues to be somewhat fractured since the dismissal of former lead singer/keyboardist and chief songwriter Dennis DeYoung. Despite two decades of bad blood and recriminations, DeYoung has long advocated doing a reunion tour for the fans. Shaw and Young have staunchly taken a hard pass, though, even if they have added fan favorite (and DeYoung staple) “Mr. Roboto” to their set list.

Styx begins a short summer tour on June 16 in St. Augustine, Florida, two days before Crash of the Crown’s release (so far, there is no Houston date booked). Just as they did for The Mission tour, several cuts from the new record will go into the set list, though Gowan says the band may not at least at first preface each by saying “and here’s one of our new tunes…”

That’s long been code for the casual, “greatest hits” fan to leave their seat and head to the bathroom or beer stand. And unfortunately, new music from classic rock bands will rarely get played on radio (though SiriusXM DJ Jim Ladd has been playing the title track on his Deep Tracks channel show).

On The Mission tour, Gowan says the band would play that record’s lead single “Radio Silence” with no introduction. And as it sounds very much like “classic” Styx, the band would be bemused by the looks on audience member’s faces.

“You’d see one person look all confused trying to think what [older] record the song came up that they couldn’t remember, or if it was from The Grand Illusion era. And another person who had the new album go ‘YEEAH!’” Gowan laughs. “And by the end of the song, those two were in agreement.”

The last time all members of Styx were in the same room at the same time was February 2020, and they’re anxious to get back out on the road. “For a band that has played 100 shows a year for 20 years to suddenly not do anything for over a year is daunting, quite honestly,” Gowan sums up. “But that first concert is on paper. And we’re going to rehearse our asses off for a week before that show!”

For more on Styx and Crash of the Crown, visit Styxworld.com

[ChicagoSTYX]

New video coming tomorrow!

[ChicagoSTYX]

https://www.sonicperspectives.com/inter ... nce-gowan/

Legendary rockers Styx will be releasing their 17th studio album, “Crash of the Crown,” on June 18th via Alpha Dog 2T/UMe.

“Crash of the Crown” is the follow-up to their successful record “The Mission,” which was released in 2017! Throughout their career, Styx has sold over 80 million albums worldwide, had twelve Top 10 smash hit singles, and performed thousands of concerts since their inception in 1972. The band consists of 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).

With “Crash of the Crown,” the band has created an emotionally powerful album that flourishes with beautiful layered vocal melodies, harmonies, and intricate instrumentation. The songs usher in a new era of hope, survival, and prosperity. Even though the album was written pre-pandemic, the lyrical content has the forbearing sentiment of the global seismic event. “Crash of the Crown” is music that is both concurrently of its time and timeless all at once. It takes a hard look at some inherently dark subjects but, the prevalent light at the end of the tunnel eventually becomes the focal point for each song, with a persistent fervor to keep moving forward to achieve the greater good. Pre-orders for “Crash of the Crown” can be ordered here.

Correspondent Robert Cavuoto spoke with lead vocalist Lawrence Gowan about the writing and recording of “Crash of the Crown”, how Styx stays consistent with their signature sound, and their touring plans are full steam ahead for 2021!check out their conversation transcript below, and remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new content we publish on a daily basis.

Most of the album was written pre-pandemic, and then you had to put on hold off on recording. That had to be frustrating for the band? Do you feel as if the band lost any momentum once the pandemic hit?

With the success of our last album “The Mission,” Universal Music wanted another record from us. We started writing or wood-shedding ideas as far back as 2018. Through 2019 we started recording very serious demos, and then it bloomed in getting many of the finished tracked completed. Keep in mind, we had maybe a little less than two-thirds of the album completed by the time the pandemic hit. Everything was written, but we hadn’t finished recording the drums, bass, some of my keyboards, and JY‘s parts. I had a digital piano on the demos, and had to get on a real piano to do the final recordings. During the first month of the pandemic, everyone was scrambling, trying to figure out what to do. During that time, Tommy wrote a couple of extra songs that ended up on the record, which fit into the overall concept, which also were affected by what the world was going through.

When he came in with them, and they were in tune with the world’s situation. I went to a studio here in Toronto, which was equipped with a Steinway, Mellotron, and Mini Moogs to finish off all my parts. Todd did the same from his home studio, which is very extensive for drums; it’s one of the most sophisticated around! Ricky and JY went to Nashville to record their parts once they had all the guidelines worked out with masking and social distancing, which were new to people at the time. The Zoom calls were enhanced with Audio Movers; it’s an app that can hook two studios together. From one studio to the other, we can listen simultaneously to each other with very little delay, only 100th of a second. After a couple of weeks of that, we got so accustomed to it like we were all in the same room. It was bizarre at first and then became magical. That’s how we navigated our way through the recording process. These tools that we have become adept at working with during the pandemic are here to stay.

That’s a testament to the strength of the band of how good the album sounds where it has the vibe and energy that you were all in the same room recording together.

Thank you. A lot of that has to do with the fact that we had so much of it laid down prior to the pandemic, and we did not veer off of that direction. That is really what we spent most of the time doing, making sure we didn’t veer off.

Having the unexpected delay, was there ever the urge to go back and reassess songs, parts, and noodle with them?

There were some little things that we played around with. There is always that margin that you are describing. A few nuts and bolts were tightened, and fresh ideas were introduced back into the songs. Those won’t have happened if it happened if it hadn’t been for the situation. Many of the songs were written and recorded pre-pandemic; suddenly, the lyrical intent shifted so you could personalize to the pandemic, but in reality, it was all just coincidental. It was almost like we were preparing ourselves for something a seismic shift in the setup of the universe.

I think the pandemic has been at the forefront of people’s minds that their normal instinct is to relate everything they hear back to it. What makes this record so special is you can relate to it now, and it will be relatable to other moments in your life down the road.

Exactly! You can get as poetic as the song requires, but ultimately there are nuggets that resonate beyond any temporary conditions. I watched a series on Netflix, and towards the end, they played “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by the Stones but sung by another artist. I remember hearing that song in 1969-ish and thought what an incredibly relatable song even 40 years after it was originally written.

With most songwriters by the time they get out of their twenties, the good songs have all been written, but you’re actually getting better. What is your secret?

I have been with Styx for 22 years now, and it probably took the first decade to find our footing as a team. I attribute a lot of that to Tommy and his partnering with Will Evankovich as he brought him into the circle as a producer and writer. It was a way of filtering ideas without disrupting the band and not having us evolve into squabbles [laughing]. Will seems to have that “once removed gentleman’s call.” There was a spark there and an urge to pull the band forward while upholding its legacy. If you only think about that, you can have “analysis paralysis.” With Tim, all of a sudden, these good ideas started bubbling up in the dressing room. For example, Tommy would come in with something he and Will were working on that would spark Ricky to play an alternate bass line, and that would spark another song idea for me to go off and work on. Then you have JY blasting brand new riffs in the dressing, and you find yourself absorbing this flurry of ideas and using them to opening the door to expressing Styx in this new millennium.

There are not many bands that you can say have their own identifiable sound. AC/DC, Def Leppard, and Styx immediately come to mind as bands with a unique sound that they carried through their careers. Tell me about the importance of the band sticking with their identifiable sound yet growing it and evolving it to be even better.

From my vantage point, from their very beginnings, they were able to absorb different types of musical influences and run them through the machine of what that band is. To let those influences come out with their own character. It sounds weird, but if you bring strong enough songs its works well. When I listen to “Renegade,” I hear I hear elements of raw southern rock mixed with elements of Alan Parsons. Then you put Tommy‘s voice, JY, and Dennis, and you have created something very unique. Today one of the things we haven’t shied away from is using all the influences from the classic rock era and running them through this machine with JY and Tommy. It’s almost like a blender to see what comes out on the other side. On this album, the title track “Crash of the Crown,” I hear JY‘s strong vocal deliver over a guitar riff, then when it transitions to Tommy singing, I think of Pink Floyd and Elton John then “Styx-ized” [laughing]. I also hear influences from their “Pieces of Eight” album, which that song could have worked in that era of the band. On the third part where I sing, which Tommy wrote, I try to conjure up the spirit of Freddie Mercury. The great rally cry that he puts at the end of so many great Queen songs. Ultimately that riff is what Styx is and sounds like today.

I think that whole aspect of what classic rock is’ we have plundered it and done well without it sounding overly redundant.

Todd told me last April that Crash of the Crown was the greatest Styx record of all time, in which his quote made quite a few headlines. How do you feel about this album?

I like to think that as well and leave it in the public’s hands to a certain degree. I think it can stand with “The Mission” and what Styx has accomplished in the past. I think it can stand alongside those albums and be seen as at least equal quality. I would say that “Abbey Road” is the greatest Beatles album ever in so much as that it can stand alongside “Revolver” [laughing]and be of the same that essence. We sharpened a lot of our tools on “The Mission,” which is evident with “Crash of the Crown.”

Earlier, you mentioned that Tommy wrote two songs during the pandemic; which two were they?

I believe one of them was “To Those,” which he may have had parts already written. I didn’t hear it until the lockdown. The other was “Our Wonderful Lives.” I didn’t hear until after the pandemic started, so that is my assumption he completed during the lockdown.

I thought you were going to say that “Sound the Alarm” was written during the pandemic.

Believe it or not, I think Tommy had that song for several years and just hadn’t brought it up! We worked on that song in the summer of 2019. I got all my keyboard parts done for it using Tommy‘s B3 and everything but the piano. I completed the piano here on a Steinway in September of 2020. That, to me it a beautiful lyrically song summing it up of the last year of what has been happening, yet it was written a year prior.

You wrote “Lost at Sea,” which is a great song; why is it so short?

Thank you, the musical segment of “Lost at Sea” was designed to work into two other songs, “A Monster” and “Common Ground.” When Tommy and Ricky came up with “Coming Out The Other Side,” I loved the song and thought “Lost at Sea” can work in tandem with it. It was such a nice section that stood on its own once I came up with the lyrics that I liked the notion to let it be however long it is to lead you into the next piece of music. I hear it as the intro to “Coming Out The Other Side.”

What songs from the record would you like to see on the setlist?

That’s the most difficult thing to answer. I want to go out and play the whole album, but you can’t do that. Just like “The Mission,” we have to wait to see how the public acceptance of it goes. With “The Mission,” we immediately played “Gone, Gone, Gone” and “Radio Silence” for almost a year. Once the album took hold and enough people knew it, we started to see requests coming through on social media from the seven million people on the Facebook page.

They said they wanted to hear “Locomotive,” so we played that at a few shows. Then they wanted to hear “Greater Good,” and we added that to a few shows. I get a new setlist every few days now [laughing]. I think you still start to hear the most upbeat ones like “Reverie” and “Crash of the Crown” due to people’s reactions so far. “The Fight of our Lives” may be the opening statement of the show. It’s fresh and seems like what people have been through. I want to play “Common Ground,” “Coming Out The Other Side,” and “A Monster.” “Sound The Alarm” has to be in there as well. That is Tommy’s song for this millennium!

What are Styx’s touring plans?

It’s full steam ahead. We start rehearsal on June 13th, with our first show on June 16th. If America continues to vaccinate, I think things will unfold seamlessly. If not, we may have another setback and have to postpone shows. As the non-American in the band, it really impressed me how efficiently the American people have pushed themselves forward to defeating this thing as quickly a possible. Way to go, USA! If it keeps this way, we will go on to play a show.

[ChicagoSTYX]

Another article.

https://www.timesonline.com/story/enter ... 426776002/

[ChicagoSTYX]

LAWRENCE GOWAN TALKS CRASH OF THE CROWN – “IT’S OPENING THE DOOR FOR EXPRESSING STYX IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM”
June 1, 2021
news classic rock styx

LAWRENCE GOWAN Talks Crash Of The Crown – “It’s Opening The Door For Expressing STYX In The New Millennium”
Sonic Perspectives spoke to Styx frontman Lawrence Gowan about the band’s new album, Crash Of The Crown.

Speaking about the band's growth as songwriters, Gowan said, “I have been with Styx for 22 years now, and it probably took the first decade to find our footing as a team. I attribute a lot of that to Tommy [Shaw, guitarist] and his partnering with Will Evankovich as he brought him into the circle as a producer and writer. It was a way of filtering ideas without disrupting the band and not having us evolve into squabbles [laughing].

“Will seems to have that ‘once removed gentleman’s call.’ There was a spark there and an urge to pull the band forward while upholding its legacy. If you only think about that, you can have ‘analysis paralysis.’ With Tim, all of a sudden, these good ideas started bubbling up in the dressing room. For example, Tommy would come in with something he and Will were working on that would spark Ricky to play an alternate bass line, and that would spark another song idea for me to go off and work on. Then you have JY blasting brand new riffs in the dressing, and you find yourself absorbing this flurry of ideas and using them to opening the door to expressing Styx in this new millennium.”

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 on June 18 via the band’s label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe, which will be sold as clear vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and on digital platforms. Fans can pre-order it here and at Styxworld.com.

The title track to Crash Of The Crown was released today, and is now available to stream and download with pre-orders on digital platforms. Fans can listen to the new song below.

The song “Crash Of The Crown” itself breaks some brave new world ground for Styx. Actually, it’s the first cut in the band’s storied canon to feature three lead vocalists, seeing how it has James “JY” Young unleashed at the starting gate, Tommy Shaw heading up the heroic stacked-vocal middle section, and Lawrence Gowan leading the vocal charge for the final verse.

“I’m always looking for the one different thing we can do and still have it be Styx,” the ever-ebullient Gowan notes, “and that’s the song I’m most proud of. The beauty of it is that it’s the culmination of all our talents crammed together into one song, Abbey Road-style. I also got to use some gear I never thought I’d have the chance to play on a Styx record like Tommy’s Hammond B3 organ, my Minimoog, and my Mellotron.”

Efforts to record Crash Of The Crown began in earnest at Shaw’s home studio in Nashville during the fall of 2019, with Gowan — Styx’s criminally minded showman extraordinaire and keyboardist/vocalist since 1999 — in the room together with Shaw and the album’s producer, Will Evankovich, as he conjured up the album’s first song to be recorded, with cosmetic flourishes that reign over the insistent, yearning call for togetherness, “Common Ground.” But the global pandemic that inevitably transformed the way we all wound up living in 2020 changed the course for how many of the band’s home-and-away recording sessions ultimately had to set socially distanced sail. Safety precautions took precedent for all involved Styx bandmembers and production compatriots with much diligent quarantining and testing required before any one of them could travel to Shaw’s tranquility homebase to spread the uniquely ingrained Styx stardust that’s been duly sprinkled across the album’s cosmically chosen 15 tracks.

Of all those who made the trek to Nashville, original Styx bassist Chuck Panozzo — who, along with his late twin brother, drummer John Panozzo, formed the initial nucleus of Styx when they began jamming together in their basement on the south side of Chicago in 1961 — is hands down the most effusive about the experience. “I’m constantly amazed at how Tommy’s songwriting continues to connect with the social consciousness that spans across generations,” marvels Chuck, who plays on “Our Wonderful Lives” and “Lost at Sea,” Lawrence’s all-too-brief aquatic fever dream. “Both he and Will have been able to tap into the core elements of the human condition, which is something that’s not going to change that much in 50 years — or even 500 years. That’s why Styx remains relevant after all this time, because we’re part of the human condition.”

Whether it’s the heady rush of the groundwork-laying opening track “The Fight of Our Lives,” the wistfully observational treatise of “Reveries,” the cautionary extended hand of comfort and redemption that frames “Hold Back the Darkness,” the undeniable uplift of “Our Wonderful Lives” (a beautiful sentiment further embellished by a most welcome, first-ever appearance by a banjo on a Styx album!), or the elegiac clarion call for shared grace in “To Those,” Crash Of The Crown is music that is both concurrently of its time and truly timeless all at once. Although the official release date for this landmark album may be time-stamped as 2021, the omnisciently observational content of Crash Of The Crown readily brings to mind an amalgamation of historical events that occurred in 1066, 1455, 1775, 1861, 1941, and even 2001 without citing any of them by name — Winston Churchill’s prescient wartime observations that permeate the pervasive pleas of “Save Us From Ourselves” notwithstanding. In essence, Crash Of The Crown (or COTC, for short) is a modern-day sonic chronograph of the endless regenerative cycle of the rise and fall — and rise again — of our shared human experience.

“We’ve never been a protest band. We’re more like a gospel caravan trying to send out positive messages wherever we go,” observes Crash Of The Crown co-creator and overall visionary Tommy Shaw, who joined Styx in December 1975 as a guitarist/vocalist and instantly became one of the band’s most important songwriters. “In order to share those positive messages, you have to look at what the problems are first to figure out all the ways you can help make sure everything’s going to be alright. That’s a very important part of how we do what we do.”

Though COTC takes a hard look at some inherently dark subjects, the prevalent light at the end of the tunnel eventually becomes each song’s focal point — a persistent fervor to keep moving forward and achieve the greater good.

Styx’s holy mission for cutting Crash Of The Crown was crystal-clear to its co-creator from the get-go. “Absolutely no obstacles were going to get in the way of how we approached creating this album,” Shaw concludes about the herculean recording efforts of his fellow COTC makers. “And everything came out exactly the way we wanted to hear it.”

Tracklisting:

"The Fight Of Our Lives"
" A Monster"
"Reveries"
"Hold Back The Darkness"
"Save Us From Ourselves"
"Crash Of The Crown"
"Our Wonderful Lives"
"Common Ground"
"Sound The Alarm"
"Long Live The King"
"Lost At Sea"
"Coming Out The Other Side"
"To Those"
"Another Farewell"
"Stream"

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.

[ChicagoSTYX]

A new YouTube interview.

https://youtu.be/WkmHhn62Tj8

[SuiteMadameBlue]

A new YouTube interview.

https://youtu.be/WkmHhn62Tj8

This feels like a reaction to Dennis’s video success. Why CS didn’t they do this when they released the song by reading their press release which you provide they have been sitting on this for a year. I guess because they had not anticipated Dennis overwhelming their first release they he has. I’ll bet this was done after watching his videos. The Last Guitar Hero being the best example. And still some of their most ardent fans say it sounds Queenish why?
They have the brand but without Dennis it does not mean as much as it should.
Bring back the real Styx.

[ChicagoSTYX]

A new YouTube interview.

https://youtu.be/WkmHhn62Tj8

This feels like a reaction to Dennis’s video success. Why CS didn’t they do this when they released the song by reading their press release which you provide they have been sitting on this for a year. I guess because they had not anticipated Dennis overwhelming their first release they he has. I’ll bet this was done after watching his videos. The Last Guitar Hero being the best example. And still some of their most ardent fans say it sounds Queenish why?
They have the brand but without Dennis it does not mean as much as it should.
Bring back the real Styx.

I don’t agree. I really don’t think they care what DDY does.

[Monker]

A new YouTube interview.

https://youtu.be/WkmHhn62Tj8

This feels like a reaction to Dennis’s video success. Why CS didn’t they do this when they released the song by reading their press release which you provide they have been sitting on this for a year. I guess because they had not anticipated Dennis overwhelming their first release they he has. I’ll bet this was done after watching his videos. The Last Guitar Hero being the best example. And still some of their most ardent fans say it sounds Queenish why?
They have the brand but without Dennis it does not mean as much as it should.
Bring back the real Styx.

I don’t agree. I really don’t think they care what DDY does.

She's just trolling.

To me, it's just evidence on how jealous Dennis fans are that Styx is continuing on releasing albums, while Dennis is retiring and says this is his last release. Dennis is done, no more solo releases, and no longer in Styx. Styx continues on.

Besides that, "Guitar Hero" really isn't getting much more attention than "Crash of the Crown", so it's all a mute point. It seems to me that Guitar Hero was a knee jerk reaction to Styx' release, and it actually set things back a bit for Dennis. It's just not that good of a song.

[ChicagoSTYX]

She's just trolling.

To me, it's just evidence on how jealous Dennis fans are that Styx is continuing on releasing albums, while Dennis is retiring and says this is his last release. Dennis is done, no more solo releases, and no longer in Styx. Styx continues on.

Besides that, "Guitar Hero" really isn't getting much more attention than "Crash of the Crown", so it's all a mute point. It seems to me that Guitar Hero was a knee jerk reaction to Styx' release, and it actually set things back a bit for Dennis. It's just not that good of a song.

I agree, Guitar Hero is not a very good song. I only listened once and can’t do it again. As far as Crash goes. The music will speak for it self. I’m hearing very good things about it. Styx has managed to move forward and still sound like Styx but DDY seems to try to make the same album over and over. It just doesn’t work.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

I don’t agree. I really don’t think they care what DDY does.

She's just trolling.

To me, it's just evidence on how jealous Dennis fans are that Styx is continuing on releasing albums, while Dennis is retiring and says this is his last release. Dennis is done, no more solo releases, and no longer in Styx. Styx continues on.

Besides that, "Guitar Hero" really isn't getting much more attention than "Crash of the Crown", so it's all a mute point. It seems to me that Guitar Hero was a knee jerk reaction to Styx' release, and it actually set things back a bit for Dennis. It's just not that good of a song.

Sean (Monker),
Facts not opinion

First release Isle of Misanthrope Misanthrope 260k views
First release COTC 67k views
Second release TLGH 142k views

[SuiteMadameBlue]

She's just trolling.

To me, it's just evidence on how jealous Dennis fans are that Styx is continuing on releasing albums, while Dennis is retiring and says this is his last release. Dennis is done, no more solo releases, and no longer in Styx. Styx continues on.

Besides that, "Guitar Hero" really isn't getting much more attention than "Crash of the Crown", so it's all a mute point. It seems to me that Guitar Hero was a knee jerk reaction to Styx' release, and it actually set things back a bit for Dennis. It's just not that good of a song.

I agree, Guitar Hero is not a very good song. I only listened once and can’t do it again. As far as Crash goes. The music will speak for it self. I’m hearing very good things about it. Styx has managed to move forward and still sound like Styx but DDY seems to try to make the same album over and over. It just doesn’t work.

Styx has moved on to copy Queen and Kansas. Mostly Queen. It’s regression. The music so far does speak for itself Styx and fans on all sites have commented badly on JY’s singing and that it doesn’t sound like Styx and now that the comments are open to the new video there are too many negatives. They are not just Dennis supporters they are Styx fans.

If JY or Tommy had written Hero you would be praising it as the true Styx sound. You listened more than once and we know it. Great meaningful lyrics and topical to the ever changing world of tech replacing workers

[ChicagoSTYX]

I don’t agree. I really don’t think they care what DDY does.

She's just trolling.

To me, it's just evidence on how jealous Dennis fans are that Styx is continuing on releasing albums, while Dennis is retiring and says this is his last release. Dennis is done, no more solo releases, and no longer in Styx. Styx continues on.

Besides that, "Guitar Hero" really isn't getting much more attention than "Crash of the Crown", so it's all a mute point. It seems to me that Guitar Hero was a knee jerk reaction to Styx' release, and it actually set things back a bit for Dennis. It's just not that good of a song.

Sean (Monker),
Facts not opinion

First release Isle of Misanthrope Misanthrope 260k views
First release COTC 67k views
Second release TLGH 142k views

And your facts show Styx fans are buying (preordering) the album and have the song available to listen to in their cars and and on iTunes instead of listening for free. Can’t wait to see the chart positions for the first week for each. That is when I assume you will go into hiding.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

And your facts show Styx fans are buying (preordering) the album and have the song available to listen to in their cars and and on iTunes instead of listening for free. Can’t wait to see the chart positions for the first week for each. That is when I assume you will go into hiding.

I just went to the Styx Facebook page at 5:31 to see the comments on the new video and they are a slew of negatives. One after another. Don’t delude yourself these are not Dennis fans. These are Tommy’s Styx fans.
This is an embarrassment. Read them Chicago Styx and send them some tough love
they need it. This is why they turned off the comments on the initial YouTube post. Queen is mentioned constantly and not positively. They are Styx not Queen
The music speaks for itself, truer words were never spoken.

That's funny you said that I will go into hiding, I will be going to work at my summer job starting next week. However, I'll find time to post.

[ChicagoSTYX]

And your facts show Styx fans are buying (preordering) the album and have the song available to listen to in their cars and and on iTunes instead of listening for free. Can’t wait to see the chart positions for the first week for each. That is when I assume you will go into hiding.

I just went to the Styx Facebook page at 5:31 to see the comments on the new video and they are a slew of negatives. One after another. Don’t delude yourself these are not Dennis fans. These are Tommy’s Styx fans.
This is an embarrassment. Read them Chicago Styx and send them some tough love
they need it. This is why they turned off the comments on the initial YouTube post. Queen is mentioned constantly and not positively. They are Styx not Queen
The music speaks for itself, truer words were never spoken.

That's funny you said that I will go into hiding, I will be going to work at my summer job starting next week. However, I'll find time to post.

I look forward to our discussions on the new music. It may be heated at times but it’s not personal, it music! summer job? Are you managing the merchandising on the Styx summer tour?? I believe that starts next week.

[ChicagoSTYX]

Reveries

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NkR4ZuaSR ... e=youtu.be

[Grotelul]

And your facts show Styx fans are buying (preordering) the album and have the song available to listen to in their cars and and on iTunes instead of listening for free. Can’t wait to see the chart positions for the first week for each. That is when I assume you will go into hiding.

I just went to the Styx Facebook page at 5:31 to see the comments on the new video and they are a slew of negatives. One after another. Don’t delude yourself these are not Dennis fans. These are Tommy’s Styx fans.
This is an embarrassment. Read them Chicago Styx and send them some tough love
they need it. This is why they turned off the comments on the initial YouTube post. Queen is mentioned constantly and not positively. They are Styx not Queen
The music speaks for itself, truer words were never spoken.

That's funny you said that I will go into hiding, I will be going to work at my summer job starting next week. However, I'll find time to post.

Those negative comments are from Dennis fans. This group gets together and bombards anything current Styx puts out.

You can tell yourself otherwise, but you are only kidding yourself. It drives you nuts that current Styx puts out music worthy of the Styx name, when you are left with what Dennis puts out, which sounds like it was done on the cheap and lacking any creativity. Rinse and Repeat for DDY.