Biography
Story of the Year emerged as an American hard rock ensemble whose early work helped establish the emo-punk and melodic post-hardcore landscape of the 2000s. The group surfaced in 2003 with the platinum-certified Page Avenue, building a devoted following through roaring guitars, expansive singalong choruses, and a persistent message of resilience. Following the 2010 release of The Constant, the band entered hiatus before resurfacing triumphantly with Wolves in 2017. Their sixth studio album, Tear Me to Pieces, arrived in 2023.
The act originated in the late 1990s in St. Louis, Missouri, initially performing as Big Blue Monkey. At that stage their sound carried a heavier edge reminiscent of Deftones, and the eventual Story of the Year roster had not yet formed. Big Blue Monkey maintained a steady schedule of local shows, issued several EPs, and weathered the personnel changes common to developing groups. Their resourceful and determined self-promotion drew the attention of producer John Feldmann, who introduced Maverick Records to the picture. By 2002 the band had adopted the name Story of the Year, signed a recording contract, relocated to Southern California, and toured alongside Feldmann and Goldfinger.
Vocalist Dan Marsala, bassist Adam Russell, drummer Joshua Willis, and guitarists Ryan Phillips and Phillip Sneed entered the studio with Feldmann and delivered the debut album Page Avenue in spring 2003. Story of the Year played Warped Tour dates that summer ahead of the September release. By then their style had shifted fully into emo-inflected post-grunge comparable to Thrice or The Used, another Feldmann project. The live set Live in the Lou/Bassassins appeared in spring 2005, preceding In the Wake of Determination, which surfaced in October and reached number 19 on the Billboard 200. Three years later the band issued their third album, The Black Swan, on Epitaph Records. The record charted higher than its predecessor, leading to another Warped Tour run and further live dates.
One year afterward, Story of the Year returned to the studio for The Constant, released in early 2010. The members took a brief hiatus to pursue side projects before reuniting in 2013 for a tour and the re-recorded Page Avenue titled 10 Years and Counting. Adam Russell departed before the group reentered the studio. Their fifth album, the ’80s-inspired Wolves, appeared in late 2017 after a seven-year gap in original material. Guitarist Phillip Sneed left the following year, and Russell rejoined shortly thereafter. In 2022 the band signed with SharpTone Records in advance of their sixth full-length release. Tear Me to Pieces, which featured the anthemic title track, followed the next year.
The act originated in the late 1990s in St. Louis, Missouri, initially performing as Big Blue Monkey. At that stage their sound carried a heavier edge reminiscent of Deftones, and the eventual Story of the Year roster had not yet formed. Big Blue Monkey maintained a steady schedule of local shows, issued several EPs, and weathered the personnel changes common to developing groups. Their resourceful and determined self-promotion drew the attention of producer John Feldmann, who introduced Maverick Records to the picture. By 2002 the band had adopted the name Story of the Year, signed a recording contract, relocated to Southern California, and toured alongside Feldmann and Goldfinger.
Vocalist Dan Marsala, bassist Adam Russell, drummer Joshua Willis, and guitarists Ryan Phillips and Phillip Sneed entered the studio with Feldmann and delivered the debut album Page Avenue in spring 2003. Story of the Year played Warped Tour dates that summer ahead of the September release. By then their style had shifted fully into emo-inflected post-grunge comparable to Thrice or The Used, another Feldmann project. The live set Live in the Lou/Bassassins appeared in spring 2005, preceding In the Wake of Determination, which surfaced in October and reached number 19 on the Billboard 200. Three years later the band issued their third album, The Black Swan, on Epitaph Records. The record charted higher than its predecessor, leading to another Warped Tour run and further live dates.
One year afterward, Story of the Year returned to the studio for The Constant, released in early 2010. The members took a brief hiatus to pursue side projects before reuniting in 2013 for a tour and the re-recorded Page Avenue titled 10 Years and Counting. Adam Russell departed before the group reentered the studio. Their fifth album, the ’80s-inspired Wolves, appeared in late 2017 after a seven-year gap in original material. Guitarist Phillip Sneed left the following year, and Russell rejoined shortly thereafter. In 2022 the band signed with SharpTone Records in advance of their sixth full-length release. Tear Me to Pieces, which featured the anthemic title track, followed the next year.
Albums
The Constant
2010
The Black Swan
2008
In the Wake of Determination
2005
Live in the Lou
2005
Page Avenue
2003
Singles
