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
Crash of the Crown, the album title nevertheless hints at what lies within. Time and time again,
Styx 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,
Crash of the Crown 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.
Styx pulled this trick off on
The Mission, so the fact that they've done it again on
Crash of the Crown is all the more impressive: the band provides retro thrills without a dose of nostalgia. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine