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After a two-year hiatus, Zach Bryan returns with With Heaven On Top, a 25-track album that expands his country sound without abandoning the vivid lyrics and acoustic foundation behind his rise.

The lengthy sixth album gives Bryan room to revisit recent years through songs about travel, love, hard-earned lessons and the memories collected along the way. Despite its size, the tracklist uses its shifting themes and styles to sustain the journey.

“Runny Eggs” is among the album’s strongest songs. It begins with subdued vocals before building into the chorus, following Bryan’s recollections of the running of the bulls in Spain and a snowy performance at Colorado’s Red Rocks. The locations matter less as destinations than as settings for moments that remain long after the trip ends.

Bryan picks up the pace on “Appetite,” layering several instruments with a horn section that gives the song a lively, upbeat character. Its faster tempo offers a welcome change and demonstrates his willingness to venture beyond familiar arrangements.

The album’s emotional center emerges on “DeAnn’s Denim,” another tribute to Bryan’s late mother, DeAnn. The heartfelt song uses a play on “jeans” and “genes” to explore what people inherit from their parents, pairing intimate subject matter with Bryan’s characteristic wordplay.

With Heaven On Top ultimately plays like a diary of Bryan’s recent life, documenting both its rewarding and difficult moments. His storytelling keeps the 25-song collection engaging while bringing listeners into those experiences.

The album earns an 8.5 out of 10, offering enough range for longtime followers as well as listeners who know Bryan primarily through a handful of hits.