STYX

And wow, those vocals are abysmal. What happened? I think I like them more as a radio friendly arena rock band...

Sure, ti is heavy, and sure it is fiery. But it is simple, so painfully simple that I can barely stand to listen to it all the way through. The songs are too long, even the short ones. Get it over with, I say! The first song sounds exactly the same all the way through. I normally tell people that the longer songs aren't like a 4 minute long song stretched to twelve. Sadly, this IS a 4 minute long song stretched to twelve. longer, even.

Styx are the guys who rip off the guys who rip off Kansas. To be fair, Right Away has some nice melodies. Even if they overstay their welcome, and it turns into a pop ballad, with those atrocious vocals. That guitar line is about as strong as a wet noodle. This isn't progressive, and it isn't that good.

Right off the bat, on their debut, they jump head first into substandard Arena Rock, they are just pretending to be progressive to impress them smart boys down the yard. Everything on this album that is decent is forgettable, except what you remember. Too bad the memorable moments are what make you wish to acquire a blunt object to bludgeon yourself into a coma. If only they'd work on their melodies, because there is a lot they could have salvaged here, and turned into something moderately good. The acoustic guitar sections are nice, but the drumming is terrible. Each song has a "groomed for success" chorus, and a "we are smart, I swear!" blind attempt at being progressive. It is all so raw and unpolished. At least they can rock out here and again.

Quick is the Beat of My Heart, and slower it becomes as I subject myself to this boring music. The riff is abysmal, and the lyrics are trite. I think even Deep Purple could do better. Well, that might be stretching it, but at least Deep Purple knew how to rock well enough.

After You Leave Me ends this boring affair, and it ends it the way it came in, as a half-ass attempt to appeal to everyone. Wow, these lyrics sure do suck a lot. At least the melody is ok, and it rocks a bit. The singing hurts me, though. Why do you want to hurt me, Styx? Well, break me you won't!

Pass this album up. It is so cheesy and full of garbage. They rock out, but not in a great way, they prog out, but I suffer to even call such a perversion music. So, yeah...

Best Song - Best Thing (Because it is the shortest song, here)

Worst Song - All of them, but Movement for the Common Man, because it is the longest.

* Strong Star.

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