After 20 years on the American rock scene, Foo Fighters still continues to attract and enchant their listeners. In honor of their 20th anniversary, the band released an HBO documentary series and an album on Oct. 17 and Nov. 10, respectively—both titled Sonic Highways. Fronted by lead singer Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters once again proves their artistic strength.

The documentary version of Sonic Highways follows Foo Fighters around eight major U.S. cities—Chicag; Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; Los Angeles, Seattle; New Orleans; Washington, D.C. and New York. At each stop, the band visited a well-known music studio to record a track, building an impressive repertoire of music and a dynamic documentary. Foo Fighters worked with different musicians on each track to give every song its own special sound.

In the trailer for the documentary, Grohl explains how he “really believe[s] that the environment in which you write or record an album influences the musical result.” The result is an album that ties together different studios and artists by the “sonic highways.”

The first episode in Chicago encountered studio owner Steve Albini, a Chicago music icon who also recorded Nirvana’s (Grohl’s first band) third album, In Utero. The result was “Something From Nothing,” the first single from Sonic Highways. In Washington, D.C., the band explored the city’s music scene, speaking to groups such as Bad Brains and recording studio owner Don Zientara.

In Nashville, they met with country heavy-hitters such as Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson before setting off for Austin, Texas where they met with Austin City Limits Executive Producer Terry Lickona.

The latest episode of the documentary took the band to Los Angeles, where they recorded the track “Outside” in the desert with Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, who later described himself as “an honorary Foo Fighter” in a Nov. 15 Rolling Stone article.

The final three episodes have yet to air, but they promise an equally engaging and musical education as the previous five. In 2011, the band released the movie Sound City, which inspired Grohl to continue the synthesis of film and music.

“I realized that the pairing of music and documentary worked so well because the stories give substance and depth to the song, which makes a stronger emotional connection to it. If you know the story behind the artist, or the story behind the studio, or the song, it widens your appreciation for the music,” he explained in a May 31 interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

As an album, Sonic Highways upholds the promises the documentary makes. Every song retains an original and unique sound, whether it’s Walsh’s fantastic guitar contribution or the slightly country undertones of “Congregation,” which was recorded in Nashville.

The first single, “Something From Nothing,” recalls older Foo Fighters songs with its low-key vibe and emphasis on guitar. The sixth track, “In the Clear” sounds like a more traditional rock song and breaks up the album before softer tracks such as “Subterranean.”

Of the eight songs on the album, “Outside” is a clear frontrunner, as is “I Am a River,” which starts with a mesmerizing musical interlude and builds to include Grohl’s voice. Though the lyrics seem to lack the depth of other tracks, the musical composition is commanding.

Through recording in different studios with different artists, Sonic Highways is a winding road of slightly different musical styles that keep the listener guessing. Overall, the album contributes to Foo Fighters’ existing discography that varies from alternative to acoustic to harder rock.

By adding in the documentary aspect of Sonic Highways, Foo Fighters is adapting its musical style and presentation to changing times in the music industry. With new services such as Spotify or illegal streaming, actual album sales can be affected; however, by partnering with HBO, Foo Fighters proves they are still at the top of their game.