They say the running theme that emerged proved to be one of transformation. But if one tried to choose a word to describe the jump between their debut and the brand-new release, transformation would be an understatement. They’ve been honing more than just their video game skills.

“We didn’t set out with a theme in mind,” Brad explains, “[but] we have grown as people, and [since the last record] we had become something other than what we were. And I think … our songs reflect that.”

“There is not a single song on the album that we put on there to just fill up space,” says Josh. “I feel like every song … has a reason to be on the album.”

And every song has a story behind it. OK is not just another creative batch of ear candy. As the title would lead one to believe, The Afters refuse to settle for mediocrity. Instead, they’ve chosen to come into their own as a band, and the result is a beautifully crafted work of art, inspiring listeners to become all they can be and make their lives count for something meaningful.

The lyrical depth of the new songs mirror the light of hope shining through personal struggle and hardship. Take artistic gem, “Summer Again,” for example. “[There are] seasons that you go through in life …” Brad says, “something that was really beautiful, then you see a temporary decay and a lifelessness and then a rebirth again, and it’s a cycle we tend to go through from time to time.” He says the song is open to interpretation, but it personally reminds him of his 8-year-old autistic son. “When I hear that song, I end up thinking about my little boy … I remember the time before he was diagnosed, and … he was such a happy, vibrant kid. And now he’s so much different than he was. It’s so hard to relate in so many different ways. We hope that there’s a recovery there that we can get our little boy back.”

Other songs were born out of personal life stories experienced by the other band members. The title track evokes thoughts from Josh about the transformation of his younger brother, who recently overcame a 15-year drug addiction. “I really look to him as evidence that there is no one who is ever really out of God’s grasp, because he rejected God for the longest time,” says Josh. “My mom used to always tell me, ‘Don’t give up on your brother. God loves him, and He is going to bring him back …’ [My brother] is definitely evidence that we should never give up on anyone we love. And that’s the thing, God’s love can turn anyone around.”

And that’s the very definition of "Never Going Back to OK" for him:  “Today’s a new day. You can put everything behind you. It’s all in the past—all the mistakes that you have made, all the struggles that we have, all of our regrets—and [we can] move forward, thanks to what God has done for us.”