New records bring new tours for rock superstars Styx and Kansas. The bands are set to rock Hilton Coliseum Saturday evening as they come to a close on a 50 city tour that kicked off last may in Cedar Rapids.

Kansas are touring in support of Freaks of Nature, their first studio recording in almost 10 years. The record spawned when members of the band collaborated for a best-of concert album in 1992. They recorded Live At The Whisky at the famed Sunset Strip nightclub in Los Angeles.

Freaks of Nature was created by three of Kansas’ original members: vocalist Steve Walsh, drummer Phil Ehart and guitarist Richard Williams. Bassist Billy Greer and keyboard player Greg Robert complete the Kansas line-up which has been intact for over a decade. David Ragsdale’s violin textures were added five years ago to revamp the signature full-throttle Kansas sound.

“It’s a very aggressive record,” Ehart said in a press release. “Fast and loud. It shows that Kansas still plays like it always has.”

Kansas invited back Jeff Glixman, who produced two of their biggest records, Leftoverture and Point of Know Return, to do their record. Original guitarist Kerry Livgren also contributed a song on Freaks of Nature.

“We just wanted it to be the band,” Ehart added. “We didn’t want it to be layered with lots of production. It’s played aggressively and produced sparingly.”

Aggressive is an understatement. Kansas mix their well-known Midwestern rock with powerful symphonic orchestrations to create their most innovative record to date.

Kansas formed around 1970 in Topeka, where Livgren and Ehart attended high school.Walsh was added to the line-up shortly after.

Kansas released their self-titled debut in 1974, after touring as a cover band and struggling to work in originals. “Carry On My Wayward Son” and “Dust In The Wind” carried the band up to their 1980 gold record, Audio-Visions.

Although Walsh left the band shortly after, Kansas continued to tour year after year during the ’80s. “Kansas is just a different kind of animal,” Ehart said. “And we’ve worked hard to maintain our identity.”

Styx sail through Ames behind the wind of their Greatest Hits: Volume II record, released last May. The album completes a duo of albums that now include rock opera classics “Babe,” Renegade,” “Too Much Time On My Hands,” “Lady,” “The Grand Illusion” and of course “Come Sail Away.”

Volume II also features two new Styx songs in “Little Suzie” and “Takes Love To Make Love” and a remade version of “Lady,” this time with guitarist Tommy Shaw.

The original Styx are taking their music on the road for the first time in 13 years. The first group ever to have four consecutive triple-platinum albums, Styx reached a pinnacle in 1980 when they were voted the Most Popular Band in America in a Gallup poll.

Like Kansas, Styx formed around 1970, from the brother duo of Chuck and John Panozzo. Dennis DeYoung and James “JY” Young filled keyboard and guitar vacancies, respectively, to complete Styx.

Shaw joined the band in 1976, just in time for Crystal Ball. July 7, 1977, Styx released their seventh record, The Grand Illusion. Luck came their way with their first Top 10 hit and a record that stayed on Billboard charts for two years.

Since then, Styx have dominated rock format stations with their radio friendly vocals and heavy guitars. Styx headline Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. show at Hilton Coliseum. Tickets, priced at $25.50, are still available through all TicketMaster centers.