Trans-Siberian Orchestra takes a more traditional approach Always EVOLVING

December 24, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

Perhaps you’ve heard that this holiday season there’s a popular franchise starting a new beginning.

This galaxy, which goes far, far away throughout most of the year, of course belongs to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Over the past 15 years, the band has sold nearly 10 million albums and performed more than 1,600 shows to 12 million fans, making it one of the world’s biggest rock arena bands.

The popular seasonal touring act recently released its sixth studio effort, “Letters from the Labyrinth,” which is not only its first full-length album since 2009’s “Night Castle” but also eschews the rock-opera motif for a more traditional collection of songs.

“‘Letters from the Labyrinth’ is a major change from the way TSO creates new works,” said band visionary Paul O’Neill during a recent telephone conference call. “It’s the first album that’s not built around a completed story. Instead, it’s a collection of completed songs. [This] is our first album where we’re experimenting; we’re calling it an open-ended album.

“Like our own lives, the story will develop and evolve. We’re not really sure what’s going to happen tomorrow, let alone next year.”

Unlike previous efforts, “Letters from the Labyrinth” finds TSO tackling a variety of subjects ranging from bullying and banking to the Berlin Wall. There’s also a historical perspective permeating the 16-track effort that is buoyed by O’Neill’s passion. He’s quite the collector of historical artifacts, including letters by Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Oscar Wilde and George Washington.

As far as themes are concerned, the new album opens with “Time and Distance [the Dash],” which delves into how one uses his or her time on Earth. There’s also the album’s current single, “Forget About the Blame.” The latter track features guest singer Lzzy Hale of Halestorm. In fact, the rocker will be making a special appearance with TSO in Cleveland at its two Wednesday shows at Quicken Loans Arena.

Fans attending the concerts can expect to hear new tracks such as “Madness of Men” and “Not the Same.” Naturally, a TSO show in December means plenty of holiday tunes. The current tour is based on the group’s Yuletide story, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” and will feature fan favorites “Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24,” “O’ Come All Ye Faithful,” “Good King Joy,” “Christmas Canon,” “Music Box Blues,” “Promises To Keep” and “This Christmas Day.”

Already looking ahead, O’Neill said next year marks the 20th anniversary of “Christmas Eve and Other Stories.” While TSO is planning something big for the 2016 tour, there’s even something grander on its radar.

“Our next step is to head toward Broadway,” O’Neill said. “I love the coherent storytelling of Broadway. I’ve known a lot of bands that have done rock operas that even after they explain it to me, I’m like, ‘Huh? I just don’t get it.’

“Broadway never really got the true edge of rock, whether it’s from a production point of view or it’s just rock credibility. For me, it’s just a natural marriage. It’s time for rock to enter Broadway.”