Crash Of The Crown Styx

• 1The Fight Of Our Lives01:54
• 2A Monster03:27
• 3Reveries03:03
• 4Hold Back The Darkness03:58
• 5Save Us From Ourselves03:02
• 6Crash Of The Crown03:46
• 7Our Wonderful Lives03:06
• 8Common Ground04:00
• 9Sound The Alarm03:25
• 10Long Live The King02:33
• 11Lost At Sea00:38
• 12Coming Out The Other Side03:48
• 13To Those03:01
• 14Another Farewell00:26
• 15Stream02:56
• Total Runtime43:03

Info for Crash Of The Crown

"Crash Of The Crown" ist das siebzehnte Studioalbum der Band — und der Nachfolger ihres Comeback-Longplayers The Mission aus dem Jahr 2018. Das Album besteht aus 15 Tracks und ist gleichzeitig modern und zeitlos. Zwar wird “Crash Of The Crown“ im Jahr 2021 veröffentlicht, behandelt jedoch dunkle Themen aus diversen Jahrzehnten wie 1066, 1455, 1775, 1861, 1941 und 2001. Nichtsdestotrotz steht der positive Aspekt im Fokus des neuen Projekts von Styx. Sie versuchen sich immer auf das Licht am ende des Tunnels zu konzentrieren und spiegeln dieses Verhalten auf ihre Fans.

Die Arbeiten zum neuen Album begannen bereits im Herbst 2019 im Studio von Lawrence Gowan. Eigentlich wollte man die Songs wie gewohnt zusammen aufnehmen — allerdings kam dann die immer noch grassierende Covid-19-Pandemie dazwischen, das Projekt musste erstmal pausieren. Später begann man damit, so sozial distanziert wie möglich aufnahmen — und wenn es doch mal mehr als eine Person im Aufnahmeraum war, wurde unter sorgfältigsten Sicherheitsvorkehrungen und mit regelmäßigen Corona-Tests aufgenommen.

Textlich befasst sich der Longplayer mit der Geschichte der Menschheit — dem Fall und Wiederaufstieg, menschlich wie historisch. Auch wenn die Band politische Themen anfasst, als Protestband definiert sie sich nicht: „Wir sind nie eine Protestband gewesen. Wir sind eher wie eine Gospel-Karawane, die versucht, positive Botschaften zu verbreiten, wo immer wir hingehen“, erklärt Tommy Shaw, und fährt fort: „Um diese positiven Botschaften zu verbreiten, muss man sich zuerst die Probleme ansehen, um herauszufinden, wie man dazu beitragen kann, dass alles in Ordnung kommt. Das ist ein sehr wichtiger Teil von dem, was wir tun.“

James "JY" Young, Gesang, Gitarre
Tommy Shaw, Gesang, Gitarre
Chuck Panozzo, Bass, Gesang
Todd Sucherman, Schlagzeug, Percussion
Lawrence Gowan, Gesang, Keyboards
Ricky Phillips, Bass, Gitarre, Gesang

Styx
This Chicago, Illinois, USA-based quintet is widely believed to be responsible for the development of the term pomp-rock (pompous, overblown arrangements, with perfect-pitch harmonies and a very full production).

Styx evolved from the bands Tradewinds and TW4, but renamed themselves after the fabled river from Greek mythology, when they signed to Wooden Nickel, a subsidiary of RCA Records, in 1972. The initial line-up comprised Dennis DeYoung (18 February 1947, Chicago, Illinois, USA; vocals/keyboards), James Young (b. 14 November 1949, Chicago, Illinois, USA; guitar/vocals), Chuck Panozzo (b. Charles Salvatore Panozzo, 20 September 1948, Chicago, Illinois, USA; bass), John Panozzo (b. 20 September 1948, Chicago, Illinois, USA, d. 16 July 1996, Chicago, Illinois, USA; drums) and John Curulewski (b. 3 October 1950, USA, d. February 1988; guitar). Combining symphonic and progressive influences they released a series of varied and highly melodic albums during the early 70s. Success was slow to catch up with them; Styx II, originally released in 1973, spawned the Top 10 Billboard hit "Lady" in 1975. The album then made similar progress, eventually peaking at number 20.

After signing to A&M Records in 1975, John Curulewski departed with the release of Equinox, to be replaced by Tommy Shaw (b. 11 September 1953, Montgomery, Alabama, USA). This was a real turning point in the band's career as Shaw took over lead vocals and contributed significantly on the writing side. From here on Styx albums had an added degree of accessibility and moved towards a more commercial approach. The Grand Illusion, released in 1977, was Shaw's first major success, peaking at number 6 during its nine-month stay on the Billboard album chart. It also featured the number 8-peaking single, "Come Sail Away". Pieces Of Eight (1978) and Cornerstone (1979) consolidated their success, with the latter containing "Babe", the band's first number 1 single in the USA. Paradise Theatre (1981) was Styx's tour de force, a complex, laser-etched concept album, complete with elaborate and expensive packaging. It generated two further US Top 10 hits in "The Best Of Times" and "Too Much Time On My Hands". The album became their most successful ever, and also stayed at number 1 for three weeks on the US album chart. With DeYoung pushing for a more theatrical approach, Kilroy Was Here (1983) followed, yet another concept album that brought them close to repetition. A watered-down pop rock album with a big-budget production, its success came on the back of their previous album rather than on its own merits. Caught In The Act (1984) was an uninspired live offering and they disbanded shortly after its release. DeYoung and Shaw both recorded solo albums, with the former enjoying a US Top 10 hit in 1984 with "Desert Moon".

Styx re-formed in 1990 with the classic line-up, except for pop rock funkster Glenn Burtnick aka Glen Burtnik (b. USA), who replaced Tommy Shaw (who had joined Damn Yankees). Edge Of The Century indicated that the band still had something to offer, with a diverse and classy selection of contemporary AOR, including the Top 3 hit "Show Me The Way". As one of the tracks on the album stated, the band was self-evidently "Not Dead Yet". Following a US tour to promote the album, the band members once again went their separate ways. They reunited in 1995 to promote a compilation album, with Shaw back on board but without the ill John Panozzo (he passed away in 1996 due to alchohol related problems). Todd Sucherman (b. 2 May 1969, USA) became a full-time member on the Return To Paradise tour. Chuck Panozzo and Dennis DeYoung both left following the recording of Brave New World (1999), with the former announcing he was HIV positive and inter-band tension making the latter's presence no longer sustainable. DeYoung has continued to play Styx music as a solo artist. Lawrence Gowan (b. 22 November 1956, Glasgow, Scotland; keyboards/vocals) was brought in to replace DeYoung, and Burtnick returned to cover for Panozzo.

Styx has continued on the nostalgia circuit into the new millennium and continues to sell large numbers of albums, as demonstrated by the high-charting covers set Big Bang Theory in 2005. The album featured new bass player Ricky Phillips. (Source: bettyloumusic.com)

This album contains no booklet.