The Dear Hunter are one of modern progressive rock’s great storytellers — the richly orchestrated, fiercely ambitious vehicle of singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer Casey Crescenzo. Blending prog, chamber pop, indie rock and orchestral grandeur, and built around an epic, multi-album concept saga, they have earned a devoted cult following with music that is as cinematic and intricately constructed as it is emotionally direct.

The short version

Formed in Providence, Rhode Island in 2005 by Casey Crescenzo, The Dear Hunter play richly orchestrated, narrative-driven progressive rock — lush, theatrical and genre-spanning. Their signature work is the “Acts”, a planned six-part concept saga following one character’s tragic life; alongside it sit standalone projects like the colour-themed “The Color Spectrum” (2011) and “Migrant” (2013). Cinematic, intricate and deeply melodic, they are among the most ambitious storytellers in modern prog.

Providence: Casey Crescenzo’s vision

The Dear Hunter began in 2005 as the project of Casey Crescenzo, who had been a member of the post-hardcore band The Receiving End of Sirens. Conceived as an outlet for music that didn’t fit that band, it quickly became his sole focus, and what started as a largely solo endeavour grew into a full, evolving ensemble. From the 2006 debut onward, Crescenzo’s blend of sweeping orchestration, intricate songwriting and ambitious storytelling won The Dear Hunter a passionate and devoted following.

Richly orchestrated, narrative-driven prog

The Dear Hunter’s music is defined by its scope and its lushness. Casey Crescenzo writes, arranges and plays much of it himself, weaving progressive rock together with chamber pop, indie rock, jazz and full orchestral arrangements that have been compared to film scores. Over it all sit his expressive vocals and gorgeous, layered harmonies. Their songs swing from intimate balladry to grand, theatrical set pieces, always in service of a story — few bands marry such intricate, large-scale composition to such genuine emotional warmth.

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The Acts

At the heart of The Dear Hunter lies the “Acts” — an ambitious concept saga planned across six albums, of which five have so far been released. It follows the tragic life of a character known only as “the Dear Hunter”, born at the dawn of the twentieth century, from his childhood and his bond with his mother through love, the First World War, and a fateful act of deception in which he assumes the identity of a half-brother. As the story unfolds across “Act I” (2006) to “Act V” (2016), the seeds of that deception flower and unravel, building toward a long-hinted final reckoning. Sombre, sweeping and richly drawn, it is one of the most ambitious narrative works in modern rock.

Beyond the Acts

The Dear Hunter have also stepped outside the saga for some of their most adventurous work. “The Color Spectrum” (2011) was a vast project of themed releases, one for each colour of the spectrum, spanning an enormous range of styles. “Migrant” (2013), by contrast, was a more personal, non-narrative album that set the storytelling aside in favour of direct, heartfelt songwriting. Together they show just how broad Crescenzo’s musical reach can be.

Album by album

Seven richly orchestrated, ambitious releases spanning the Acts saga and beyond. Tap any title for its guide.

The players

The Dear Hunter is, at its core, the vision of Casey Crescenzo, who founded the project, writes and composes its music, produces its records and plays a great many of the instruments himself. Around him, the band has grown into an evolving ensemble — long including his brother Nick Crescenzo on drums, alongside a rotating cast of guitarists, bassists and keyboardists who help bring his elaborate arrangements to life on record and on stage. Through every release, Crescenzo’s singular creative vision has remained The Dear Hunter’s guiding force.

Where to start

Newcomers can dive straight into the saga with “Act I: The Lake South, the River North” (2006) and the fuller “Act II” (2007), or jump to the lush, acclaimed “Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise” (2015) and “Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional” (2016). For a taste of their range outside the story, the sprawling “The Color Spectrum” (2011) is a treasure trove. Any of these reveals one of modern prog’s most distinctive voices.

Why they still matter

The Dear Hunter matter as one of the most ambitious and singular acts in twenty-first-century progressive rock — a project that has pursued epic, multi-album storytelling and lavish orchestration on its own uncompromising terms, and built a devoted following in the process. Casey Crescenzo’s blend of cinematic scope and emotional intimacy has expanded what modern prog can be, proving that grand concept work still has the power to move. For anyone drawn to richly told, beautifully orchestrated prog, The Dear Hunter are essential listening.

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