TSO in 2021

[Mangar]

Really, unless they release some new music this year, I just can't work up much enthusiasm for TSO anymore.  I've seen them in concert four times, and always enjoyed it, but I don't have an urge to continue shelling out money to hear the same music again and again.  And even if they release a new album, it would have to be a significant improvement over NC and Letters for me to really get excited about it. 
I feel like 2020 would have been an ideal time for them to record new music, seeing as how they weren't on tour, and with that extra time, maybe they could have had something ready to release just before this year's tour.  But I haven't heard any reports of them taking advantage of the opportunity, which is a shame.

They - at least Al - had relocated to Tampa in early 2020 and began real, actual work on the Romanov album in TSO's studio.  While he worked on the music, singers were lined up for the various roles and demos/auditions were done remotely.  The plan was to eventually have the singers come to the studio to do the actual recording when they were ready for them, but Al returned home when the virus started getting out of control and all recording stopped.  All indications now are that the album has been shelved.

What I'm used to hearing is that Paul and Al will get together and put most things together and pull in other members as needed. 
It's possible that, when using another guitar player, the part is tracked remotely and then re-amped there in the studio. But I am not sure that the band (or, Al and Paul) operate as such. They seem kinda traditional to me.

Paul spent a lot of money to buy Morrisound studio in Florida and make it an exclusive TSO recording spot.  99% of their recording was/is done in studio.  Everyone comes to that studio to record their parts, whether it is used or not.  I say 99% because there are a couple songs that did have their parts recorded remotely, but it is very much the exception.  Going to that studio, spending time there and recording there is all very much part of the TSO experience.

Thanks for the info!  Not sure why I had the impression that they recorded their parts separately.  Maybe it just stemmed the general impression I had of TSO not really being a "band" in the traditional sense.  

It's too bad that the Romanovs album was shelved (AGAIN!)  I still feel like the past year would have been a good time to make some real progress on it.  But who knows, maybe they made enough progress on the music that they'll be able to showcase some of it later this year, even if they haven't gotten around to recording it.  Fingers crossed.