Let’s begin by stating the obvious. It’s a travesty that STYX is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I guess selling more than 50 million records isn’t worthy of the honor?
With that out of the way, let’s talk about this legendary band’s 18th studio album, Circling from Above. While the album won’t be available on streaming or digital outlets until July 18, CDs and vinyl copies are available to purchase now on StyxWorld.com.
The new release has been described as “exploring the intersection of technology and nature through the lens of human experience.” OK, so it’s a little weird. You won’t find anything that resembles “Renegade” or “Blue Collar Man” on this one, but that’s not what STYX set out to do in 2025.
The lead single, “Build And Destroy” is the first taste of new music that fans have been clamoring for and sets the tone for the prog-rock leanings to come.
Close your eyes and you’d think the track, “Forgive” is a Pink Floyd deep cut from the 70s.
Followed immediately by the Queen-like, “Everyone Raise a Glass,” this album is definitely a trippy blast from the past yet still has a modern production feel to it.
Circling from Above features contributions from all seven members of the band, including founding guitarist/vocalist James “JY” Young (affectionately known as “The Godfather of STYX”), guitarist/vocalist extraordinaire Tommy Shaw, original bassist Chuck Panozzo, longtime drummer Todd Sucherman, keyboardist/vocalist Lawrence Gowan, guitarist/vocalist Will Evankovich and bassist Terry Gowan.
One thing that cannot be denied is the off-the-charts musical talent and unmistakable harmonies that have always defined STYX. Look no further than “Blue Eyed Raven” as an example of both – including some crazy fiddling that sounds like a resurrected Charlie Daniels!
“There’s just a lot of positive flow right now,” says Shaw. “There’s a lot of people playing great, and there’s a lot of love, respect and excitement about each other’s talents. Bands can go lifetimes and never have this kind of rapport and chemistry.”
Circling from Above is definitely not the first STYX album I’ll be reaching for, but then again, I’m much more a fan of arena-rock STYX than prog-rock, conceptual STYX. That said, I’m glad they’re not resting on their laurels of nostalgia.
It’s great to hear these septuagenarian legends revitalizing their sound and telling the stories they want to tell – the way they want to tell them. No one will ever accuse STYX of not being emotional, theatrical and groundbreaking.
Now let’s give them the respect they deserve and get them in the Rock Hall!
I’m Music Magazine Writer Steve Pawlowski
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I think I enjoy CIRCLING FROM ABOVE more than you did — while your comments were generally positive, you were certainly not glowing and I think that the songs in this collection deserve a bit of glow. As you said, these songs are not arena rock, but should we expect arena rock from a group of mostly 70-year-old members? By that time I think we should expect something a little more complex, even a little bit less rowdy (though certainly NOT sedate) and I think they achieved that. As I have said to others, for those who prefer the “Renegade” and the “Blue Collar Man” type of song, those are still there for you. I also enjoy when someone likens a Styx song to another group; it’s natural as humans to seek associations, but the more you hear those songs the less they sound “like” something else. Like the two albums before it (THE MISSION and CRASH OF THE CROWN) this album doesn’t wear one you – each successive listen gives a better appreciation. I see Styx as having gone through four phases: 1) The Wooden Nickel years, full of rough edges and great music; 2) The Hit Years, perfect harmonies and high-energy; 3) The Transition Years, fast-changing members and a mix of sounds; and finally 4) The last ten years, where the music is complex and engaging, the themes thought-provoking and the members very obviously enjoying themselves. The last decade of Styx has been a triumph. As for the R&RHoF — it has never made much sense to me.