Review: Styx – Circling From Above
Styx – Circling From Above
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Universal
Release: 2025
Text: Martien Koolen
Ok, all right, I will admit it, Styx have always been one of my musical guilty pleasures indeed. This American melodic AOR/rock band, formed in 1972, “built” around Tommy Shaw (great voice) has at least three milestones album (‘The Grand Illusion,’ ‘Crystal Ball’ and ‘Pieces Of Eight’), which should have a place in every “serious” record collection.
However, I lost sight of Styx as they released rather mediocre albums like ‘Big Bang Theory’ and ‘Cyclorama,’ but four years ago Styx, with a rather different line up, released ‘Crash Of The Crown’ and it was a very good album indeed, proving that Tommy Shaw and Co, can still make some awesome music indeed.
‘Circling From Above’ is Styx’s 18th studio album and it is the first album to feature Terry Gowan (piano, synthesizers) and Will Evankovich (guitar, mandolin) as full-time members. ‘Circling From Above’ features thirteen rather short songs, just like on their previous album, and they could all best be described as rather “mellow” rock songs in the veins of Toto and Journey. It’s Clear is the highlight of the album, as this one is really vintage Styx magic, featuring a great soaring melody and impressive vocals by mister Styx, Tommy Shaw.
Built And Destroy, the lead single of ‘Circling From Above,’ has an extraordinarily strong typical Styx melody, again some classic superb vocals and a rocky guitar solo by James Young. King Of Love is an in-your-face rocker with excellent guitar work while Blue Eyed Raven is “dominated” by acoustic guitars. We Lost The Wheel Again is also 100% rock, while Michigan is a mix of AOR, melodic rock and mainstream rock.
Overall, I would say that ‘Circling From Above’ is another solid Styx album, but if you really want to enjoy Styx at its best then I suggest you listen to songs like Come Sail Away, Crystal Ball, Renegade or Queen Of Spades…..
Tracks:
01. Circling From Above
02. Build and Destroy
03. Michigan
04. King of Love
05. It’s Clear
06. Forgive
07. Everyone Raise A Glass
08. Blue Eyed Raven
09. She Knows
10. Ease Your Mind
11. The Things That You Said
12. We Lost the Wheel Again
13. Only You Can Decide
Website: https://styxworld.com/