Styx have announced their 18th studio album, Circling from Above, and have released the lead single, “Build and Destroy.”
The album arrives everywhere July 18th, but fans can score a vinyl/CD copy early at Styx’s merch table starting Wednesday (May 28th) at the band’s tour kickoff show in Greenville, South Carolina, or via their online shop. The co-headlining trek with REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin runs through late August, and you can get tickets here.
Circling from Above marks the first Styx album since 2021 and boasts 13 tracks spanning 41 minutes. It features contributions from all seven members of the band, including founding guitarist/vocalist James “JY” Young, guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw, original bassist Chuck Panozzo, longtime drummer Todd Sucherman, keyboardist/vocalist Lawrence Gowan, guitarist/vocalist Will Evankovich, and bassist Terry Gowan.
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The LP’s first teaser, “Build and Destroy,” sees the band settling into a groovy prog boogie that showcases an abundance of instrumentation and Styx’s signature vocal harmonizing. Gowan, who sings leads on the track, elaborated on the recording in a press release, explaining that it came together in just a day and a half, late in the album sessions.
“That little melody, I kept singing ‘Build and Destroy,’” Gowan said. “Even though we don’t sing over that part, I kept thinking that would be a good title. It’s thematic. The melody feels like a little ‘Star Trek’ or ‘Twilight Zone’ thing — just a small tag that reinforces the title.”
He added, “We knew it was strong. Even though it was the second-to-last song we finished, it felt like a quick way into the album’s overall theme.”
Limited vinyl/CD copies are available for purchase via Styx’s online store, ahead of the July 18th digital release. Stream “Build and Destroy” and see the artwork and tracklist below.
Circling from Above Artwork:
Circling from Above Tracklist:
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
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