The Mission

It's a bit flippant to say this is a return to form for Styx, because without any new material for 16 years, there isn't any 'form' :)Having successfully lived (mostly) off their 70's hits for their live shows since then, there seems to have been little incentive to produce new work. Instead, they've spent much of their time touring & playing the songs the fans want to hear from a period when FM radio seemed to play nothing but the likes of Styx, Journey & Boston.Others have superbly dissected The Mission track by track, so I will will just say that it needs to be listened to as it was obviously intended - as a complete piece of work. There are 14 'tracks' here, but each more or less morph into one another from the mission 'Overture' to the final 'Mission to Mars'. A concept that works better than you might expect. This has it's progressive elements as well as the classic Styx harmonies you'd expect. There's a couple of upbeat rockers with the expected guitar dueling between JY & Tommy Shaw, and with Lawrence Gowan's superbly understated keyboards on board, this is a mission sure to please diehard Styx fans.If I have a complaint, at 42 minutes it leaves you wanting more. That said, I hope they bring this mission to the UK.Styx global space exploration program needs to be heard live worldwide and not just in the USA.

I remember Malta 1980 meeting my first sweetheart and the both of us falling for each other when "Babe" by Styx was being played on the jukebox. Cherished times, I was 15 yrs old. Roll forward 37 yrs, and I'm listening to The Mission by Styx on cd in the car.I'm now 52. Who would of thought it? I'm not going to do a song by song commentary, as some reviewers have already done that.But this new album,their first in 14 years, has been on repeat ever since I received it on the 15th June, and It's so good that at just over 40 minutes, you just wish it was a little longer.But thats my one and only gripe.Make no mistake,the musicianship here is of the highest order. Truly outstanding.These songs have so much depth, character and emotion,when you start listening, your brain instantly transports you into the concept of the album, the first manned mission to Mars.Genius! The Band playing the 6 individual crew members, and the songs reflecting their thoughts and feelings on their quest.I will say every track is killer.My first half personal favs are Gone,Gone,Gone (perfect opening rocker, Lawrence on vocals) Locomotive,(Heartfelt and beautifully sung by Tommy),The Greater Good,(faultless harmonies by all the band). After the track "Ten Thousand Ways" everything moves up a gear vocally and sonically.Incidentally a nod goes out to "Ten Thousand Ways" at only1.22 secs acts only as a prologue to the track" The Red Storm", but has such resonance and beauty you wish it to never end.From there on the second half is mostly filled with great rockers.Mentions go to " Red Storm" ( A mini musical masterpiece), Khedive, (Lawrences piano magnificent) and probably my favourite track on the album " The Outpost", a real driving rocker with the obvious Styx trademarks, that give me goosebumps every time it comes round. It may sound biased as I have been a fan since 1979. But Styx are not my favourite band, That accolade goes to Journey. But saying that, this album truly is a triumph and I certainly rate it among their best work. I have every Styx LP. Just missing the first 2 on the Wooden Nickel labels.Have also ordered the vinyl version. The band purposely recorded this album in analogue for the vinyl enthusiast.The only thing now to do is go listen for yourself and wonder in the marvel that is Styx.

Well Well Well.....a New Album from Styx...after all these years...and a "concept" one at that........A rich, fulfilling album full of great lyrics and stories....all well crafted and sung....I think this is all rather magical, truth be told, a Magic album from a Magic band.....Who needs Dennis De Young on vocals any more.....WELCOME HOME STYX!

I only bought The Mission last week and I'm so glad that I did.It's incredible. Styx at their very best. Every song has great melody along with fantastic musicianship and awesome vocals. The first 4 tracks are brilliant and then Styx go into overdrive with a bunch of sublime songs that make you want to listen to them over and over again. Locomotive, Radio Silence, The Greater Good and Time May Bend... and the quality of great songs just keeps going including Red Storm, Khedive and The Outpost.Although the album sounds like classic Styx it also reminds me of the best bits of great progressive bands like Genesis, Floyd, Marillion, Deep Purple, Jellyfish, Rush, Kansas and Yes. It really is that good.I have got a few Styx albums and I've seen them twice as a support band and I have been impressed. The Mission has reignited my interest in this great band and I have a ticket to see them headlining in London in June next year.

Styx have always had always been uplifting - put some Styx on when stuck in a traffic jam and everything's ok with the world. This latest album of theirs is much better than some of their "newer" stuff. It sounds like they had real fun making this and that comes across in the music. Not as good as Tommy Shaw's 'Seven Deadly Zens' (surprisingly good, that one) but definitely one of the better offerings from this bunch since Paradise Theatre.

The lyrics are in the enclosed booklet and with notes on the story line with each track.This is about the first mission to MARS but that is only part of the story.Mars is only a stop off on the way to PLUTO and beyond (so does the story continue on the next album ?) O.k.they've got hypergolic rocket fuel !?! but apart from saying the plan to do this was July 2017 and finally launched in 2033,we then get no idea of the time scale of events.Like PASSENGERS one of the crew wakes early and faces a dilemma and then like THE MARTIAN events on the surface do not go to plan.(but not like ALIEN COVENANT). o.k.that's geek mode out of the way,how about the music? Sounds like classic STYX with familiar keyboards and vocals,so no problem there but as others have said at 42 mins they could have gone into hypersleep then brought us the rest of the story in under 28 mins.