With six members and a combined musical arsenal of more than 10 instruments, it’s no surprise that New Jersey’s Railroad Earth didn’t stay a secret for long.

What began as a casual jam band quickly became a record label-signed collective of professional musicians with multi-instrumental abilities and infinite passion.

After eight years, five records and countless live performances, Railroad Earth is known for its live improvisation and complex yet unembellished songs.

The band’s latest album, “Amen Corner,” is rich with intricate musical arrangements, raw vocals and elaborate, image-driven lyrics. Each song seems to be its own entity, but the entire album is tied together by the combined influences of bluegrass, folk and classic rock ‘n’ roll that resonate throughout the record.

“Amen Corner” was recorded last year in lead singer and guitarist Todd Sheaffer’s 300-year-old farmhouse in the New Jersey countryside. The album has a rustic, personal feel that, according to violinist Tim Carbone, is a result of the nontraditional recording environment.

“The recording sounded pretty much like our surroundings,” he said in a phone interview Friday.

But even in a traditional recording environment, Carbone said, the band prefers an unencumbered sound.

“We just try to keep it simple, let the music and the songs speak for themselves,” he said.

Though the song-writing process tends to revolve around a concept of Sheaffer’s, the band’s array of instrumental abilities allows members to collaborate in a democratic creative environment.

“The band is largely based around the songs of [Sheaffer]. He’ll usually bring in parts of a song, or a full blown song, and the rest of the members will flesh out their parts,” Carbone said. “It’s a shared vision.”

Railroad Earth has been together since 2001, and though it doesn’t appear to be leaving each other anytime soon, the members have their own interests they pursue during breaks from recording and touring.

“Everybody has their own family,” Carbone said. “When the band has downtime most people do different stuff. Everybody has their own little thing.”

But despite leading sometimes separate lives, the members make it a priority to play together as often as possible – even during long breaks.

“We’ll take a month and set it aside and play together,” Carbone said. “It’s what we do.”

It’s been more than six years since Railroad Earth has played in Athens, and many members of the community are looking forward to their return.

Katie Carmody, a long-time fan and office assistant at the Georgia Theatre, said she expects the band to draw a large, diverse crowd: “Everyone from bluegrass fans to hippie kids.”

And Carbone said Railroad Earth is just as excited to return to Athens.

“We can’t wait; it’s going to be great.”