STYX TO RELEASE THEIR FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN 14 YEARS, “THE MISSION,” DUE OUT JUNE 16TH
Welcome one and all to The Mission, Styx’s sonically sweet 16th studio album and its most ambitious, most challenging, and most rewarding release to date. Please take note of the official stardate, as The Mission has duly been set for liftoff June 16th on the band’s label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe. Fans can pre-order the album at any of these online retail outlets and Styxworld.com.
The first single, Gone Gone Gone, was released today at radio and online retail outlets. A video premiered on Billboard.com and can be seen below.
The planets truly aligned for The Mission, and I couldn’t be prouder,” says vocalist/guitarist Tommy Shaw, who co-wrote the album’s storyline with longtime collaborator Will Evankovich (Shaw/Blades, The Guess Who). “It’s our boldest, most emblematic album since Pieces Of Eight.”
As founding guitarist James “JY” Young continues, “In the 40th anniversary year of our release of our biggest selling album of all time, Grand Illusion, it just seemed truly appropriate to save our new studio album until this year. Needless to say, I’m very excited.”
Indeed, The Mission is an aurally adventurous 43-minute thrill ride that chronicles the trials, tribulations, and ultimate triumphs of the first manned mission to Mars in the year 2033. From the hopeful drive of Gone Gone Gone to the stargazing machinations of Locomotive to the rough-riding blaze of glory that permeates the hard-charging Red Storm to the elegiac optimism of the closing track Mission to Mars, the album succeeds in delivering the greater good from a band that continues to fire on all cylinders, 45 years after signing its first recording contract.
“The album feels simultaneously comfortable and new,” observes Gowan. “It’s both entertaining and charming, and a natural progression of our sound.” Concludes Panozzo, “THE MISSION is a sincere and honest representation of how Styx built upon where we were in the 20th century in order to go somewhere new in the 21st century.” And that’s the gist of The Mission, Styx’s bold sonic voyage into an exciting new frontier with the goal of discovering how the universe’s mysteries unfold—and then creating the perfect soundtrack to accompany it.
Track listing for The Mission:
CD/Digital:
1. Overture
2. Gone Gone Gone
3. Hundred Million Miles from Home
4. Trouble at the Big Show
5. Locomotive
6. Radio Silence
7. The Greater Good
8. Time May Bend
9. Ten Thousand Ways to Be Wrong
10. Red Storm
11. All Systems Stable
12. Khedive
13. The Outpost
14. Mission to Mars
Vinyl:
1. Overture (Side A)
2. Gone Gone Gone (Side A)
3. Hundred Million Miles from Home (Side A)
4. Trouble at the Big Show (Side A)
5. Locomotive (Side A)
6. Radio Silence (Side A)
7. The Greater Good (Side B)
8. Time May Bend (Side B)
9. Ten Thousand Ways to Be Wrong (Side B)
10. Red Storm (Side B)
11. All Systems Stable (Side B)
12. Khedive (Side B)
13. The Outpost (Side B)
14. Mission to Mars (Side B)
Styx has always been a true guilty pleasure of mine. I know that most of their music pretty corny stuff, but damn if I don’t enjoy listening to it once in awhile! Most of songs I truly like are off of PIECES OF EIGHT and GRAND ILLUSION. But I also enjoy songs off of MR. ROBOTO and PARADISE THEATER. They are another one of those bands that write catchy, memorable tunes! I will definitely give the new tune a chance!
I agree, and Tommy Shaw, the guy is SOOOO underrated its criminal. Just have to say it, Lawrence Gowan is looking pretty freaky these days. 🙂
I am so sick and tired of people knocking Styx. I’m not talking about songs like “Come Sail Away” or “Babe,” I’m talking about hard hitting, ass-kicking songs like – “Midnight Ride,” “Born For Adventure,” “Rock & Roll Feeling,” “Renegade,” “Blue Collar Man,” “Miss America,” “Rockin’ The Paradise,” that’s what I’m talking about!
Other than Renegade, Too Much Time On My Hands is the only other song I like, but it is a toe tapper.
Styx made so many great songs. Like one of my favorites – “Crystal Ball.” Not a hard hitting, ass-kicker, but still a great song. 🙂
“Too Much Time On My Hands,” PARADISE THEATRE, 1981, definitely was “The Best Of Times!” 😉 Cheers!
If I’m going to nostalgia-trip with the kind of band Rolling Stone Mag once called “corporate rock” it will be Styx. I never let anyone make me feel guilty about digging them, and have seen them many times. The second any band starts singing about “let’s start the show” my eyes glaze over, just heard too many versions of it. Somehow, Styx gets away with it. “Queen of Spades” one of my faves.
Suite Madame Bleu is a highly forgotten and highly under rated song.
Agreed! Great tune!
Totally agree. “Equinox” and “Crystal Ball” albums are awesome.