By Michael Piwowarski
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the delay of many album releases, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some new music to look forward to this summer. In the classic rock scene, there are several artists that have been hinting at putting out new music for some time now, some of which have materialized to confirmed album releases.
Here are five noteworthy albums that are slated to come out over the spring and summer months.
Deep Purple – “Whoosh!”
Back in 2016, long-lived English hard rock band Deep Purple first announced their “Long Goodbye” tour, which ran into 2019. Along with the tour, they released the studio album “InFinite” in 2017. Although it was previously announced that this might be their last big tour, they still hinted at making a 21st studio album. Earlier this year, the album was confirmed and given a name. “Whoosh!” was set for a June release, but later pushed back to Aug. 7 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The first single from the album, “Throw My Bones,” was released on March 20. “Whoosh!” is available for pre-order at Deep Purple’s website.
Rick Wakeman – “Red Planet”
Rick Wakeman, former Yes keyboardist and a prominent figure in the progressive rock scene, has remained active in recent years, putting out new music and playing live shows. In February 2020, Wakeman announced a new progressive rock album with his backing band, the English Rock Ensemble. The album, titled “Red Planet,” promises similarity to classic Wakeman albums like “Six Wives of Henry VIII” and “Criminal Record.” Teasers for the album featuring excerpts have been released to Wakeman’s YouTube channel.
The album can be pre-ordered online. It was scheduled for release on April 3, but due to COVID-19, has been pushed back “closer to June,” as announced by Wakeman himself.
Dennis DeYoung – “26 East: Volume 1”
Ever since being ousted from Styx in 1999, Dennis DeYoung has continued to perform as a solo artist, and has toured with his own tribute band playing Styx songs. In 2019, DeYoung announced the album “26 East,” which he stated would be his final album, hinting that the “Come Sail Away” singer might be sailing away to retirement. However, a decision was made in January to split the album into two parts. “26 East: Volume 1” will be released May 22 and is available for pre-order via Frontiers Music. Volume 2 has no release date as of yet.
Two singles from the album have been released: “East of Midnight” and “To the Good Old Days,” the latter featuring John Lennon’s son Julian.
Kansas – “The Absence of Presence”
Kansas, the rock band of “Carry On, Wayward Son” fame, has continued to tour regularly and has maintained a steady fan base, thanks to its catalog of progressive rock music in the vein of Yes and Genesis. “The Prelude Implicit,” their first new album in 17 years, was released in 2016, sparking a creative resurgence for the band. A follow-up album, “The Absence of Presence,” will be released June 26 this year.
Pre-orders started at the official Kansas store on Friday, April 17; on the same day, the album’s first single, “Throwing Mountains,” was released. Preview snippets of other tracks have been compiled and featured in the album’s trailer video as well.
Todd Sucherman – “Last Flight Home”
Long-time Styx drummer Todd Sucherman has emerged as a highly regarded name in the drumming arena, being recognized as one of the best rock drummers of all time. In 2020, Sucherman announced his debut solo album “Last Flight Home.” One notable thing about this album is it will feature Sucherman on vocals; something he has not tried before. As he told Blabbermouth.net: “I think most people would expect some sort of drum-centric record or some fusion record, but it’s not. It’s a vocal record — songs, melodies, stories; it’s what I love the most about music.”
The album is due May 2 and can be pre-ordered at Todd Sucherman’s website.
