Storyline albums are making a comeback and Save Face is at the head of this movement. New Jersey’s finest rockers have released their first full-length album, titled Merci, and not to be dramatic, but we are losing our minds over it. After releasing their debut EP Folly in 2016, Merci has been in the works for well over a year and a half and has been highly anticipated by the band’s following.

Merci follows the tragic story of Kaleb, an addict who worries that they’re slipping into their old drug habits and leaves their fiancé after a paranoia-fueled meltdown. The consequences of that decision form the thematic core of this narrative which takes place in France. The album’s title and three songs, “Merci,” “Pour,” and Rien” (“Thanks” “For” “Nothing”), bring necessary dramatic tension to the album which proves that these are more than just songs. This is an album that you can listen to from front to back to take in the story and characters or just jump to certain songs and lose yourself to that particular song.

The album begins with a little interlude, “Merci,” that blends straight into the heavy-hitting first single, “Bad,” and next we transition to the absolute bop “Blues.” After that, we take a turn and slow things down with “Heartache” which will make you want to drunk-dial your ex and scream the lyrics to them. From there we go through “Weak,” “Jonesin’, ” “Pour,” — which is perfect to listen to while drinking a good red wine — “Mercy,” and “Plans,” both of which feel like the perfect road trip songs. I won’t spoil the rest for you so you can envision each song on your own.

Save Face is also pulling a Beyonce (and a Fall Out Boy from Save Rock and Roll) by releasing a video for each song to help drive and add more power to this story. Tyler Povanda says, “I really want someone to be able to ‘watch’ the album if they want to. After writing the record around this narrative, adding another dimension to it through the use of film seemed like an obvious, yet admittedly daunting, necessity.”

All in all, Merci is well written with just the right hooks and riffs to keep a different song stuck in your head each day. It is well worth the wait and does not disappoint whether you just want rock and roll or a heart-wrenching story to go along with it.