The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV

Vol. III: Air is a guitar-focused[3] atmospheric rock[4] release, alongside acoustic and up-tempo rock tracks.[2] The disc's overall atmosphere recalled the Appleseed Cast and The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me (2006)-era Brand New,[5] utilizing reverb and delay frequently.[6] Kensrue said the disc was a summary of the other three discs;[7] it featured some stripped-down material, electronic tracks, and full-band songs.[8] Eddie Breckenridge cited artists he was listening to at the time as inspiration for the disc, namely Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Rós, and the Mercury Program.[9] "Broken Lungs" is a mid-tempo track with delayed guitar parts,[10] alongside bell chimes and a glockenspiel. Riley Breckenridge uses different drum tones and electronic drums.[11] The bridge section sees Kensrue switching from screaming to a falsetto within a few seconds.[12]

"The Sky Is Falling" is a pop rock song, which talks about the fallout of the September 11 attacks.[3] It employs a number of effects, such as feedback, hammer-ons and echo-filled guitar work.[11] "A Song for Milly Michaelson" is a minimalistic track with a repetitive guitar part and gentle vocals from Kensrue,[11] which recalled Pedro the Lion frontman David Bazan.[3] Gusts of wind are heard and build, alongside a reverb-hampered piano line.[11] "Daedalus" discusses the Greek figure of the same name and his son Icarus. It has several bending guitar parts,[5] and showcases Kensrue's aggressive vocal ability.[10] It is a post-hardcore track, and was reminiscent of A Types (2004) and Magnetic North (2007)-era Hopesfall.[11] "As the Crow Flies" sees Kensrue whispering throughout it, repeating the line "Fly over me";[13] it is followed by "Silver Wings", which incorporates the use of a breakbeat alongside organic drums.[11]

Vol. IV: Earth is an Americana,[11][14] folk[5][11][14][15][16] and roots rock[10] release, inspired by soul music.[10] It featured stripped-down, acoustic instrumentation,[2] such as banjos, tambourines, piano, acoustic guitars, horns and upright bass.[7] It channelled a mix of Bob Dylan, the National, Led Zeppelin and Murder by Death.[11] The disc drew comparisons to Kensrue's debut solo album Please Come Home (2007);[5][12] one track he planned to include on his solo album made its way onto the earth disc.[17] "Moving Mountains" sees Kensrue rehash 1 Corinthians 13, which talks negatively of any act that lacks love.[3] The blues-indebted guitar work utilizes hammer-ons and pull-offs, backed by arpeggios.[11] "Digging My Own Grave" sees the earth as being the figure of death for a man living a chaotic life. It encapsulates the man's fear of his lifestyle being his own demise.[2] Donia Lee contributes additional vocals to the track,[18] which also features woodwind instrumentation and finger snapping. Kensrue's vocals sit atop a jazz-esque piano progression.[11]

The band covered the Frodus song "The Earth Isn't Humming", which they turned into a slow-tempo country-esque track, complete with banjos.[5] "The Lion and the Wolf" consists of solely a piano and Kensrue's vocals.[19] "Come All You Weary" uses the earth as a metaphor to unite the human race, and sets up unanimity among one another.[2] It features an organ, against a repetitive acoustic guitar chord progression.[11] For "Child of Dust", the group put a microphone in a coffin and buried it in full-funeral style. The track becomes muffled over time, eventually closes with the sound of shovels clinking into dirt and rocks.[5] It features backing vocals from Aushua, Nick Bogardus, Brent Kredel and Brett Williams,[18] alongside trumpets and a repetitive piano line.[11]