Coheed And Cambria – The Afterman: Descension
Review by Morgan Waldorf
Since the day I heard Coheed and Cambria for the first time in 2005 I have been floored by the band’s musicianship and consistency. Eight years and four albums later I am still just as impressed with the band’s latest record The Afterman: Descension as I was hearing “Welcome Home” for the first time. The band continues to grow with each release and consistently experiment, making each new record sound fresh and new upon first listen.
The album continues the science fiction story all of the bands previous records have been telling and is the second part in the double record which began with the previous album The Afterman: Ascension’s release in October. These two records seamlessly complement each other and truly feel like they are telling the same story.
The Afterman: Ascension ended with the slow, heartfelt track “Subtraction” dripping with heartbreak and Descension continues right where the story left off with the acoustic “Pretelethal.” The album picks up quick with the contrastingly hard hitting “Key Entity Extraction V: Sentry the Defiant” that sounds distinctly Coheed and Cambria with a thumping bass line and powerful vocals.
The album includes two well crafted ballads “Iron Fist” and “Away We Go” to balance out the heavier tracks such as “The Hard Sell” and “Gravity’s Union.” “Number City” is a standout track that sounds different than anything the band has done before. It’s got a funky beat and hard-hitting chorus that makes it memorable. “Away We Go” could probably be a radio single with its catchy melody of “oh oh oh’s.”
Coheed and Cambria have done it again with The Afterman: Descension. They’ve made a double record that showcases their talent as musicians and sounds new and different while still maintaining the vibe that has always made up a Coheed and Cambria record. Old and new fans alike will not be disappointed with this release.
Overall Rating: 5/5
Recommended Tracks: “Key Entity Extraction V: Sentry the Defiant” and “Number City”
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