Crash Of The Crown (COTC) is a concept album that proves Styx is a band not afraid to take creative chances. While there might be a misstep here and there, the album succeeds in being a musical tour de force of creativity without losing their signature sound. From the album’s first track to the last, listeners will experience the essence of STYX while hearing refreshing new material.

The overall theme of COTC is the endless regenerative cycle of the rise and fall – and rise again – of our shared human experience. It’s clearly weaved throughout the entire album yet there’s enough room to insert your own take. Unlike other albums that force you to adhere to their theme and message, COTC draws you in by being flexible.

The album opens with “The Fight Of Our Lives,” a classic rock anthem that any sports team could play before a match. It also sets the rhythm and tempo for the rest of the album. What’s impressive, and the album’s recurring feat, is the next track takes us in a completely different direction without a jarring effect.

“Reveries,” the album’s third track, is a nice easy going song that seems to encompass its own title. Rhythmic, melodic, and a touch of A.D.D., “Reveries” pulls us back without losing any energy.

Our easy ride in “Reveries” takes a turn as “Hold Back The Darkness” opens with a rain falling on roof sound clip. I’m not usually a fan of sound effects in songs but, this actually works well as a transition. It leads in with the low vocals of Lawrence that then trades off to Tommy and his distinctive voice. This song gives me a feeling of someone going through a difficult time but they still have plenty of fight left in them.

“Save Us From Ourselves” builds on that feeling by starting out with a classic Winston Churchill quote. This song is interesting because it mixes a “Blue Collar Man” style riff with the theme of The Grand Illusion. 

The titular track, “Crash Of The Crown” has JY, Tommy, and Lawrence each taking turns at lead vocals. It’s fun and it works. That being said, I think I would prefer each style to be its own full song. But, it says a lot that my main fault with this album is that it’s too short. I want more!

The next song, “Our Wonderful Lives,” is an upbeat song where Tommy brings in his banjo that gives it a touch of Americano. While it has a sense that all is well, one can’t help but feel that the song acknowledges that we’re not in a perfect world. We’re then taken to a powerful intro with a mix of synth on “Common Ground” that ends and immediately picks up with Tommy on the acoustic. We’re then treated to one of STYX’s greatest strengths, their hamonic choruses. “Common Ground” carries us on in experiencing the album’s overall theme of rise, fall, and rise again.

We then hear a sound effect that faintly sounds like a grandfather clock and its internal gears. This sound helps set the tone of “Sound The Alarm” which melancholic sound touches on the bittersweet passage of time. 

This is where the album abruptly changes gears with “Long Live the King.” It sounds great and seems disconnected at first until you really take in the lyrics. I’m hesitant to share too much of my own interpretation of each song as it works best when you can come to your own meaning. But, “Long Live the King” is a strong follow up to “Sound the Alarm” when you look at it through the lens of the futility of continuing on long after the war is lost.

I like the sound of the 11th track, “Lost at Sea,” but I’m not sure what this 38 second adds to the album. It may help as a transition to “Coming Out the Otherside” but I’m not sure I’m really getting that. Regardless, “Coming Out the Otherside” is a great laid back song that takes us back to “the rise.”

“To Those” continues on with a “The Who-esque” anthem that cheers on the survivors of whatever life throws at them. We then hear a 26 second suite that seems a little out of place. I’m not sure how it sets us up for the final track. Stream Is a nice rhythmic song that has a strong feeling of classic surfer music at the beginning. Halfway through, it picks up and we finish the album with a slow fade out that takes 30 seconds to bring everything to an end.

While I may not appreciate the 30 second transitional tracks, Crash of the Crown is a strong thematic album from one of the best bands in prog rock. The theme of rise, fall, and rise again is clear throughout the entire album. The songs build on each other and they shine brightest when you listen to Crash of the Crown straight through. STYX continues to be creative and innovating without departing from the style everyone knows them for.

I’m Music Magazine Photographer/Contributing Writer Keegan Divant