Dennis De Young recaptures Styx's prog glory with new single Isle Of Misanthrope

Former Styx singer Dennis DeYoung throws caution to the wind with the video for his new single, the six-minute plus Isle Of Misanthrope. It's taken from his upcoming album 26 East Vol. 2, which will be released through Frontiers Records on June 11. it's the follow-up to the well-received 26 East Vol. 1 which was released last year.

The new album is to be DeYoung's final studio album, and as such, the epic Isle Of Misanthrope certainly plays to DeYoung's strengths, highlighting again the progressive influence that was so evident in early Styx albums. You can watch the video and see artwork and tracklisting below.

"When people ask “What is Isle of Misanthrope about?”, I reply 'About eight minutes',” quips DeYoung. "Not to be too cute, but the lyrics are a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Wait, that was Winston Churchill's statement about the Soviet Union. Sorry. 'Misanthrope', metaphorically speaking (ooooh look, big words) is a commentary on the contemporary state of mankind under the guise of ancient times. The more things change the more they remain the same.

"Also, Isle of Misanthrope is my musical journey back to the days of Styx’s Equinox and Suite Madame Blue, as I attempt to explain the exasperating and confounding nature of mankind through metaphor. It’s got a good beat, but won’t be a hit at the disco,” he explains in his usual witty manner."

26 East was the address where DeYoung grew up on the far south side of Chicago. Across the street lived the Panozzo twins, John and Chuck, who, along with Dennis, would go on to form the nucleus of Styx in DeYoung's basement in 1962.

"My musical goals for this album were the same as they have always been and that was to write the best songs possible and make great sounding records out of them," adds DeYoung. "By now, Styx fans know pretty much what they can expect and I hope they will be pleased. I am,”

Pre-order 26 East Vol. 2.

Dennis DeYoung: 26 East Vol. 2
1. Hello Goodbye
2. Land Of The Living
3. The Last Guitar Hero (feat Tom Morello)
4. Your Saving Grace
5. Proof Of Heaven
6. Made For Each Other
7. There’s No Turning Back Time
8. St. Quarantine
9. Little Did We Know
10. Always Time
11. Isle Of Misanthrope
12. Grand Finale

Artists

Writer and broadcaster Jerry Ewing is the Editor of Prog Magazine which he founded for Future Publishing in 2009. He grew up in Sydney and began his writing career in London for Metal Forces magazine in 1989. He has since written for Metal Hammer, Maxim, Vox, Stuff and Bizarre magazines, among others. He created and edited Classic Rock Magazine for Dennis Publishing in 1998 and is the author of a variety of books on both music and sport, including Wonderous Stories; A Journey Through The Landscape Of Progressive Rock.