The Bardic Depths return with their third album, "What We Really Like In Stories," a nuanced exploration into the minds and tales of various renowned authors. The album has eight tracks spanning 45 minutes with a thematic coherence that binds the individual pieces, each song paying homage to literary figures such as Alan Moore, Willa Cather, and the iconic duo Lewis and Tolkien, among others. The singles that we’ve been playing here on Prog Radio, the title track, ‘What We Like In Stories,’ and 'You’ve Written Poetry My Boy,' inspired by Ray Bradbury, set the tone for the record.

Musically, "What We Really Like In Stories" upholds the band's reputation for crafting detailed, harmonious arrangements that evoke a sense of nostalgia while maintaining a fresh edge. The ensemble of Dave Bandana, Gareth Cole, Peter Jones, and Tim Gehrt remains unchanged from their previous release, which you hear in the continuity and tight musicianship. Their collaborative synergy shines across the album, blending lush vocals with dense, melodic instrumentation.