For over two decades, the Decemberists have carved out their own space in American rock, their hyper-literate folk-rock sound setting them apart. With nine full-length albums that tend to defy categorization, the band has consistently pushed the boundaries of what they’re trying to do. Now, after a six-year hiatus, they return with their most ambitious record yet, As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again. Not only is it their longest album to date and their first intentional, proper double album, it's also their most empathetic and accessible work, featuring 13 tracks that resonate with the fraught times we live in, offering both solace and subtle hope.

The first twelve tracks of the album are sharp, to the point gems, taking on themes of mortality, loneliness, longing, cynicism, expectation, and unease. The band brings these reflections to life with impeccable timing and emotional depth. John Moen’s drumming dances under the jangling guitars of the opening track, “Burial Ground,” infusing life into a song about facing the end. The infectious energy of “Oh No!” and the heartfelt surrender of “All I Want Is You” showcase the band’s range, while “Long White Veil” tells a hauntingly beautiful romantic ghost story with shimmering pedal steel. Each of these twelve songs would make a stunning album on its own, rich with the Decemberists’ signature blend of sorrow, love, anxiety, and honesty. But the true centerpiece is “Joan In The Garden,” a full-on prog rock escapade reminiscent of their album The Crane Wife. With a keening choir and arid electric guitar, the song explores doubt and ultimately celebrates music's power to convey complex emotions and tell intricate stories.

Songwriter Colin Meloy proudly claims this as the best Decemberists album, a culmination of 22 years of creative evolution. As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again feels like a renewal, appropriately titled for an album that signals a new chapter for the band. It also marks their first full-length album on YABB Records, their own label, after nearly two decades with Capitol. With this album, the Decemberists have returned to their roots as an independent band, empowered to tell stories that are both instantly familiar and imbued with hard-won wisdom. As they were once, here they are again, navigating the twists and turns of life with a sound that’s undeniably their own.