The last time Styx released a studio album, 2005's Big Bang Theory, George W. Bush was in the White House. That changes today (Friday) with The Mission, their 16th studio album.
The album's 14 tracks are said to "chronicle the trials, tribulations and ultimate triumphs of the first manned mission to Mars in the year 2033... It was created to reflect the viewpoint of the six-person crew enlisted for the maiden voyage of Khedive, the first entry in a new fleet of nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft underwritten by the Global Space Exploration Program."
Singer-guitarist Tommy Shaw was responsible for the concept, and he feels its lyrical message fits right in with the bulk of the band's catalog.
Styx co-founder James “JY” Young adds, "In the 40th anniversary year of our release of our biggest-selling album of all time, Grand Illusion, it just seemed truly appropriate to save our new studio album until this year. Needless to say, I’m very excited.”
Styx will support the album this summer as they tour with REO Speedwagon and Don Felder starting on Tuesday in Ridgefield, Washington.