Although the.story.of has relocated to Austin, Texas since the release of their last album Trust in Amanita, the bands latest release, Foothill Highway Appalachian Road, remains true to their original sound as created in Athens, Ohio. With an average track length over 5.6 minutes, they continue to show a preference towards a fully developed composition and technical ability. While the length of the opening and closing tracks – “Animals Can Reason” and “Our Lobe Loop” respectively – are obvious nods to their progressive influence, they are far from the only instances of the genre’s impact on the band.

Aided by Christman Hersha’s keyboard, excellent distorted guitar tone, and electronic effects, Foothill Highway Appalachian Road maintains an epic and somewhat futuristic tone. The tracks fully showcase the.story.of’s compositional abilities as they evolve over a course of layered melodies and transitions executed by the band members’ obvious skill with their instruments. Hersha along with guitarists Alex Huff and David McCully demonstrate Bach-like precision during select segments as drummer Jonathan Gibbs and bassist Jeremy Gordon lock down the rhythmic attacks.

Hersha’s lyrics, while not of any direct fantastic nature on paper, approach it when presented in his light, somewhat fragmented style. The delivery carries an impression of floating/flying that pairs well with the recurring theme of travel/journey presented throughout Foothill Highway Appalachian Road, most notably on the cover of Enya’s “Orinoco Flow”.

The album offers a unique musical experience for those open to it. While I may have focused primarily on the progressive influence, Foothill Highway Appalachian Road is a rather effective blend of the group’s varied tastes. One can only hope that more bands will begin to appreciate the world outside of simple verse/chorus/verse and take a similar journey.