The Story So Far captures their roots, growth in new album 'I Want To Disappear'

The Story So Far is back and better than ever with their fifth album 'I Want To Disappear'

The Story So Far. Image Credit: Eric Soucy

The Story So Far just dropped their new album I Want To Disappear today (June 21), about six years after their fourth album Proper Dose. You can check out the album below.

Six years after Proper Dose debuted at #19 on the Billboard 200 chart, The Story So Far has returned with a punch. The three singles released prior to the album’s release were a tremendous hit with their fans. With a solid combination of classic The Story So Far elements as well as new sounds and styles, there is no doubt that I Want to Disappear will meet or exceed the success of Proper Dose as far as fans are concerned.

“We kind of grew out of our 20s between this record and last” says Torf. “Like a lot of people, you go through so many different things in life and you’re faced with new challenges. As a band, when you go through hardships you realize that some things are more important than music. These can and do take priority over playing, and that can feel divisive. It’s sometimes necessary though, to get to where you want to go.”

Check out my thoughts on the record below, and keep up with The Story So Far on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook.

I Want To Disappear beautifully highlights TSSF’s personal and musical growth while still showcasing their roots.

Band member Ryan Torf’s (drums, rhythm guitar, and keys) explanation of the album and the band’s situation while writing is clearly evident in each track of I Want To Disappear. It opens with “All This Time”, which captures the essence of the iconic The Story So Far we all know and love. It is an impeccable opener to the transformative track list. It feels as if an introduction to the story of the band’s growth throughout the record.

The second track, “Watch You Go”, opens with fast, hard-hitting drums that will get any pit moving. Track 4 is titled “Jump The Gun” and maintains energizing riffs with a more sing-a-long vibe. Shortly after, “Nothing To Say” opens with another hard-hitting rhythm and a rocking guitar melody.

I think “Nothing To Say” sticks out to me more than any other track because of how the guitars and drums pair so powerfully with the painful lyrics “don’t feel you at all” prior to the closing riff. This speaks volumes to me. As someone who never seems to say the right thing or who talks to much, the level of frustration and hurt I have to be at to have nothing to say is intense. At moments when you feel like you want to disassociate from yourself or other people, this song will undoubtedly bring you comfort.

The next song “Keep You Around” follows a similar vibe lyrically; however, the guitar and drums on the outro of the song are *chef’s kiss* perfection. The band slows things down with “White Shores” which opens with a soft guitar melody and softer, smoother vocals prior to closing out the album with the title track.

It is quite intriguing that I Want To Disappear closes with a soft, acoustic song. This is arguably the saddest song on the record, with the repeated lyric saying “Cause I’m not sure that I love you.” The track brings this idea full circle when it ends with the line “Cause now I’m sure that I love you.” For me, it speaks on the idea of having doubts and battling through them.

Ultimately, I Want To Disappear is my favorite album by The Story So Far. As we continue to grow up and grow old, The Story So Far is growing with us, which is why they will claim their rightful spot at the top of the international charts this weekend when the record drops.

Let us know what you think of the album in the comments below!