Progressive purists may balk at this collection of Steve Walsh-sung tunes penned by the likes of such songwriters as Russ Ballard (Rainbow), Jim Peterik (Survivor), Neal Schon (Journey), David Foster (Chicago), John Bettis (Heart), Mark Spiro (Giant) and Kip Winger and Reb Beach (both of Winger). While the songs on the self-titled Khymera project — the name is derived from the Italian word "chimera," meaning an imaginary monster — certainly don't approach the depth of material on Walsh's 2000 solo album Glossolalia, these melodic hard rockers do bridge the gap between Kansas and Walsh's early-Eighties band Streets. Former Streets and current Kansas bassist Billy Greer contributes backing vocals, with Streets guitarist Mike Slamer co-producing and mixing the album alongside Daniele Liverani (Empty Tremor), who also plays all instruments on Khymera except drums.
Despite working with lightweight material like Foster's "Who's Gonna Love You Tonight" and Peterik's "Living With A Memory" – which both could have been huge radio hits 15 or 20 years ago – Walsh still pours his soul into every note. His voice continues its resurgence, coming off much stronger than it did in the mid-Nineties and only slightly worse for wear than when it was in its prime. And Winger's songs ("Written in the Wind" and "Without Warning," which would have both worked well for his underrated band) prove Walsh can still rock.
Regardless of whose song he's singing, Walsh remains a class act, a progressive-rock vocalist who never stops progressing, even on an album that sounds as retro as Khymera.
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