Crash of the Crown
feels like an explicit sequel to
The Mission
, the 2017 concept album that found
Styx
reviving the heavy pomp of their 1970s glory days. Once again,
Tommy Shaw
works with multi-instrumentalist
Will Evankovich
as his main collaborator and while there isn't a narrative throughline on
, the album title nevertheless hints at what lies within. Time and time again,
returns to the idea of an America in turmoil, a theme that isn't unfamiliar in the tumultuous early 2020s, but the band's socially charged lyrics are direct in their targets in a way they weren't in the past. Setting that aside,
feels very much like a throwback, filled with careening keyboard runs, crushing riffs, and melodramatic melodies all tied together with extended instrumental showcases. The vibe may be familiar, but the execution is spirited and imaginative; the past is present but not re-created.
pulled this trick off on
, so the fact that they've done it again on
is all the more impressive: the band provides retro thrills without a dose of nostalgia. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine