Dennis De Young, long-time member of Styx in their heyday of course, puts out what is said to be his final album with 26 East Vol 2.
After so long in the business at in his mid-70s, Dennis remains at the top of his craft and his voice is as powerful, rangy and clear as ever.
All the elements which made Styx so great in the 1970s/early 1980s are here too – power, pomp, prog, ballads, sweeping theatrics, hooks and melodies galore and clever lyrics with everything performed to perfection.
Hello Goodbye starts things off. An excellent melodic affair playing homage to a band you may remember comprising of four blokes from Liverpool.
So well done and one gets the feeling this is Dennis going back to where here got the bug to get in to the music biz himself.
Land of the Living an expansive melodic rocker full of those hooks and melodies in typical De Young style with a nice chunky feel to it.
Next up is the glorious Last Guitar Hero. A monstrous heavy song with yet more of those trademark harmonies (it would have sat very well on the Grand Illusion or Crystal Ball) as the lyrics lament the passing of our guitar heroes as technology surpasses natural ability. Check out the lyrics in the video – and the superb solo too.
Proof of Heaven is another expertly written and arranged sweeping affair with an epic feel. Then we move on to There’s No Turning Back Time. Poignant lyrics, slow burning and brooding before it breaks out in to proper pomp territory and a glorious short synth solo. Not unlike say Suite Madame Blue.
St. Quarantine is what I’ll call “topical” given what’s been going in in the world this past eighteen months or so (the clue being in the title) with more on-point lyrics and more De Young pompness giving way to a somewhat funky second half of the song. Works so well.
There are a couple of (in my opinion) far too sugary-sweet ballads along the way. Not my bag hence I’ll skip over them however you can’t deny that Dennis is adept at such songs.
Anyhoo – the big, big finish. Isle of Misanthrope. A proper pomp-prog epic all the way up to eleven. It’s all going on. The sort of gentle opening passages (a bit like Crystal Ball) then it kicks off in some style with the big guitars, big chunky riffs, keys, towering vocals – the whole nine yards.
The little lead-out is the Grand Finale. If you’re familiar with Styx classic Grand Illusion you’ll get what Dennis has done here. A nice closing touch.
If this is indeed to be a farewell album from Dennis, it’s a glorious swansong from a consummate performer.
Get your ears around Dennis’s album and hear how classic pomp/rock should be done. Available in all the usual various formats
>> DENNIS DE YOUNG 26 EAST VOL 2 ON AMAZON HERE <<
The new Styx album should be here in a few days. Be interesting to compare and contrast. Review to follow after it arrives.