Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman: Ascension
Review by William Howard
Coheed and Cambria have suffered a number of hits since the release of their 2009 record The Year of the Black Rainbow. After their bass player Michael Todd was arrested in Massachusetts for armed robbery, and the loss of their drummer Chris Pennie, it was unclear for quite a while if the band would be able to recover and release the new record. However in October of 2011 front man Claudio Sanchez announced that the new album was written and they would begin the recording process. Now, a little under a year later, the band is releasing the first half of this double record. Continuing to follow the Armory Wars comic book series, a storyline written by Sanchez, the Afterman is a double album divided into Ascension and Descension following Sirius Armory as he uncovers the source of energy holding together the Keywork.
Coheed and Cambria is a band entirely defined by the comic book series, even down to the name of the band, and each album title. As both the visual and musical elements are incomplete perspectives on their own the power and beauty in the new Coheed and Cambria record is not lost on those lacking the comic book knowledge to fully understand. The record is littered with lengthy sonic expressions of emotion and passion projecting the listener into the mind of Sirius Armory. With a clear expansion of their sonic influences and writing abilities since the Year of the Black Rainbow, The Afterman: Ascension takes this writing to a whole new level of expression. Designing a record intended for cover-to-cover listening and understanding rather than the simple one off listens of a single. Creating the full fan experience Coheed and Cambria has created what every band dreams of, a fan base so hooked on your storyline they can’t leave.
The Afterman: Ascension is Coheed and Cambria’s sixth release, and at that only the first half. After almost a decade of releases, and telling the story of the Armory Wars, Coheed and Cambria has created their greatest and most inspiring record to date. Afterman: The Ascension is pure emotional sonic beauty. A powerful and inspiring series of songs, purposefully orchestrated to draw the listener through every thought and emotion of Sirius Armory. Listen, understand, and discover.
Overall Rating: 6/5
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