Independent review

From the new concept album by Styx, I wanted to hear something in the style of Paradise Theatre, but I did not believe it. In vain. From the first notes of the overture, the disc sounds as if it was recorded in the late 70s-early 80s - during the times when Styx and ELO were kings. And the theme of the album about a mission to Mars is already long outdated, at the very least unpopular. This is the first album by Tommy Shaw's band in 12 years, and if you discard the disc of covers (which must be said is quite good), then in all 14 years. And no, Dennis DeYoung did not return to the band, no matter how much you might want it, but this fact did not affect the final product at all. Gone Gone Gone is a wonderful rock and roll; Hundred Million Miles from Home is a potential hit that is perfectly memorable, sounds commercial, while having the highest level of quality; Locomotive is a beautiful, thoughtful melody that transitions into a brilliant solo; Radio Silence - I already did not believe that anyone could produce such melodic-hits now; The Greater Good is proper Styx; Time May Bend - here the listener understands how cool Shaw's intonations and space synthesizers can be; Red Storm - where would we be without a good progressive symphony; The Outpost - a finishing little rock song that is called for and you really wait for it. The album is concise and fits into 40 plus minutes, which is also an unconditional plus in an attempt to return 30 years back. An absolutely successful attempt. Styx never wrote fully masterful albums, and today they have reached their best level.

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