Missouri post-hardcore four-piece find their version of heavy in seventh record, A.R.S.O.N.

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A visceral return to sparkling form, A.R.S.O.N marks a band recapturing a sound that was a universal staple in the post-hardcore landscape. Loud thrills, bodacious choruses and strong statements have been a unifying force of Story of the Years’ sound through the years. Of course, few records helped the post-hardcore scene as swiftly as the bands’ debut did. At a time of its height in post-punk and alternative noise, 2003’s ‘Page Avenue‘ endures as a 12-track anthem cementing the former pizza chain workers as bonafide music artists. The likes of ‘Until the Day I Die‘ and ‘Anthem of Our Dying Day‘ propelled the band into a commanding status on the live circuit, becoming a must-have at any festival, local or international.

The incredibly tight-knit group comprised of Dan Marsala (vocals), Ryan Phillips (guitar), Josh Wills (drums), and Adam Russell (bass) grew closer and closer with each evolving milestone that came and went. ‘Page Avenue (2003), ‘In the Wake of Determination’ (2005), ‘The Black Swan’ (2008), ‘The Constant’ (2010), ‘Wolves’ (2017), to ‘Tear Me to Pieces‘ (2023), a record as on-form as the first 20 years before.

With a unflinching fanbase through every chapter, the band have rarely stumbled but perfected their signature sound with every change and intonation in the world of metal as a whole. Originally traversing the post-punk plains, their sound has developed from hard metal, post-hardcore, alt-punk and everything in-between.

A carving presence, ‘A.R.S.O.N (All Rage Still Only Numb)‘ is no different. A direct reflection of burning it down and starting again, A.R.S.O.N refines a balance between melody and mayhem that saw many of the old ambitious records instant cult favourites. Lead ‘Gasoline (All Rage Still Only Numb)‘ sets the pretext – an explosive destruction of Phillip’s blaring guitars and Marsala’s vocals that empower both frustration and calm.

“We’ve found our version of heavy,” Russell says. “It’s in the weight and intensity of the emotions. Even when Dan’s singing the prettiest melody, there’s still something dangerous underneath.”

“We go in all different directions,” Marsala explains. “We have fast punk songs and ballads. We have screamy songs, big melodic songs. But somehow, no matter what we do, it always sounds like us.” 

The urgency continues with ‘Disconnected‘, a fast blitz tying in themes with isolation. Elsewhere, ‘See Through‘ sees a channelling of old school emo punk in chugging riffs and an elevating sing-a-long chorus.

For all its fast, abrasive and destructive nature, the record has room to emerge from the smoke with acoustic romp ‘My Religion‘ and softening ballad ‘Better Than High‘. A pivotal moment of both melody and mayhem comes on the final frontier – ‘I Don’t Wanna Feel Like This Anymore‘. An escape of fast punk bundled into an anthem, it is befitting from any era The Story So Far have effortlessly weaned themselves through as a band.

‘A.R.S.O.N‘ is not by any stretch, a nostalgia parade. It’s a reinvigoration of a sound still so burning oh so bright. Twenty years later, the same band has retained this identity of not doing things by halves – and having a blast while doing it.

Story of the Year will take their focused seventh to the Donington Park Circuit for this years’ Download Festival, the UK’s premier rock festival.