Gather `round children young and old, for the good Captain Robert and his motley crew of musical troubadours have a new tale to spin to those of us that sail the skies of retro-futurism.

For those unfamiliar, Abney Park is one of the foremost names in American steampunk music. Their breakout album, Lost Horizons was, for many of us, perhaps the best example to point to and say, “This. This is steampunk.” Aether Shanties, their last release, raised the bar even higher. And now, we reach The End of Days. Each told its own story of the adventures of the crew of the HMS Ophelia, and their latest album takes these tales one step further.

I would not call this album a concept piece, but more a themed album. While listening, my imagination stood transfixed in fascination as the band wove tales of a post apocalyptic Victorian nightmare, where humanity nears its final phase, with nature waiting in the wings to swallow the last traces of our mark on the planet. An end to the world as we know it, but also a beginning. As each song’s story both takes place in a fictional world, yet carries a deeper meaning of rebellion, imagination, and following one’s dreams on one level or another. When listened as a whole, the tale of the End of Days follows a general storybook narrative, full of allegory and meaning.

The album opens at the End. “End of Days” starts the grand story, and sets the stage for the songs to come with its tale of the end of the world. The eclectic beats and percussive rhythms flow nicely into one of my favorite songs on the album, “Neobedouin,” a tale of the naturalized dregs of humanity left on the blasted lands of earth. In particular, listening to Nathaniel Johnstone rock a violin like no one else is always a treat. “Wrath of Fate” tells the story of the crashing of the great ship Ophelia, but hope remains for the future yet, as Robert sings to remind us that “I’ve Been Wrong Before.” A tale of escape after the fall is told in the song “Fight or Flight.” The tale of the “Victorian Vigilante” roaming the world, with the song’s pace, style, and flair, easily stands out as a clear favorite. Nathaniel’s banjo playing skills are showcased, as are Richard Lopez’s trombone and Cary Rayburn’s antique trumpet, which adds to their usual arsenal of aural delight and was like candy to the ears

Breaking the continued pace of the ongoing saga is perhaps the most poignant and enthralling song, “Letter Between a Little Boy & Himself as an Adult.” I don’t think I can adequately express the sheer beauty of the way this song marries lyrical narrative brilliance to collaborative musical talent, featuring the cello work of the brilliant and talented Unwoman as a guest player. Of all the tracks, I think the ladies of Abney Park really shone through here, with Kristina’s piano and Jody’s haunting vocals really adding dramatic emphasis to this story of a man rediscovering the imagination and wonder he once had as a child.

Returning us to the narrative is the haunting “Beautiful Decline,” which sounds like a romanticized telling of nature’s encroachment as it erases the signs of humanity. The beat picks right up with life “Off the Grid,” a deliciously quirky tune of eking out life in the twilight days, segueing nicely into “To the Apocalypse in Daddies Sidecar.” The tale the song spins, on the other hand, brings the story full circle, as the End draws near. The only place to go now is up. The final song, a weird west feeling tune called “Space Cowboy” closes out the grand tale, with musical bookends paired alongside the first song making it clear that the band thought hard about the placement of these tracks in the album’s narrative flow.

In all, the band easily retains their title as the definitive American Steampunk Band. With each release, the sheer zeitgeist of musical acumen is truly impressive. Robert’s vocals and musical instrumentations, along with Nathaniel’s wide array of musical brilliance lend the band a flavor of world music. Daniel’s bass and Kristina’s keys form the backbone and beat to each song, and Jody’s lilting tones add accent and flair. Truly, it is hard to find a band that seems to make the process of independent music look so effortless, which is the true mark of an artist.

The further tales of the time traveling airship pirates brings us what can only be considered a possible epilogue to their tales, one that sees the wreckage of the Ophelia and the decline of life as we know it, making way for a new life among the wild frontier of the stars. This is a must have for any steampunk fan, and I for one don’t want to close the book on the Ophelia and her crew just yet, but peeking at the end was a thrilling ride.