Kansas brought a touch of heartland grit to ‘70s prog-rock. The Topeka natives incorporated the boogie-fried riffs of Southern rock while conjuring windswept fantasies of a great storybook adventure. Their tales of climactic devotion and battles of good and evil helped lead the transition from ‘70s classic rock to ‘80s arena metal. After frontman Jeff Livgren became a born-again Christian, the band's music started to promote the inspirational faith that had always been implied in their earlier works. Their biggest songs still have the ability to lift new listeners on high.