Often maligned - both fairly and unfairly - for its ultra-geeky themes and musical excess, progressive rock now exerts a profound influence on today's heavy bands, especially in post-hardcore circles. Fortunately, that influence has resulted in an ever-widening variety of modern permutations, so that even listeners who don't have much appreciation for prog's 70's heyday are likely to find something they like. Atlanta sextet the Dear Hunter presents a more literal interpretation of the genre with its long, multi-part suites and ponderous, fantasy-driven storylines. Masterminded by multi-instrumentalist Casey Crescenzo, the band's new sophomore full-length, "Act III: Life and Death" continues the six-part saga of Crescenzo's boy-hero protagonist and thrusts him into a parallel universe circa WWI. Besides the obvious touches of prog, Crescenzo's theatrical piano ballads show that he's got a bit of Meatloaf in him too.

The Dear Hunter plays Friday, October 30, 7 p.m. at Water Street Music Hall, 204 N Water St. $12-$13. waterstreetmusic.com.