Coheed And Cambria

VIMTV Album Review #565: Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman: Descension

Jake: 90/100

Tom: 84/100

Verdict: A must listen prog rock conclusion to the Amory Wars prequel.

Overview: Coheed and Cambria conclude their epic prequel (prequel of the prequel, that is) to the Amory Wars with The Afterman: Descension. This record continues the direction of progressive, all-out guitar attacks of Ascension and even brings the bands’ sound full circle by hinting stylistically to earlier records and post hardcore past. Descension hits hard; the first half of this album relentlessly rocks out whereas the second half starts to bring in more sentimental pieces that work to conclude the epic. We found Coheed’s ability to write great rock songs and ambition in regards to the story to be simply breathtaking. Ascension and Descension definitely work together if listened to as one album, but that hardly detracts from the great music and listening experience presented in Descension.

Jake’s Track Picks:

2. Key Entity Extraction V: Sentry the Defiant
3. The Hard Sell
4. Number City
5. Gravity’s Union
8. Dark Side of Me

Tom’s Track Picks:

2. Key Entity Extraction V: Sentry the Defiant
3. The Hard Sell
4. Number City
6. Away We Go

VIMTV Album Review #534: Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman: Ascension

Jake: 79/100

Tom: 82/100

Verdict: Another strong, focused, and conceptual release.

Overview: The Afterman: Ascension is the first half of a double album which serves as the first chapter in Coheed and Cambria’s grand story concept. We hear a lot of classic Coheed and Cambria on this album; progressive song structures, big guitars, spastic vocals and some space-age creativity. Ascension shows off this band’s ability to write ballads and more upbeat tracks before busting into a set of heavier and more sprawling “Key Entity” tracks. Overall this album is technically complex and just plain fun to listen to, however we can clearly tell that it was designed to be part of double album, and therefore feels a little incomplete while missing its conclusion.

Jake’s Track Picks:

6. Key Entity Extraction II: Holly Wood the Cracked
7. Key Entity Extraction III: Vic the Butcher
8. Key Entity Extraction IV: Evagria the Faithful

Tom’s Track Picks:

2. Key Entity Extraction I: Domino the Destitute
4. Mothers of Men
7. Key Entity Extraction III: Vic the Butcher

VIMTV Episode #138: Coheed And Cambria – Year Of The Black Rainbow

Jake: Recommended, 79/100

Tom: Highly Recommended, 87/100

Overview: Year Of The Black Rainbow marks Coheed’s most evident nosedive into the realm of prog-metal of their career. When you break it down, every aspect of this album is good; terrific instrumentals, memorable songwriting, and catchy vocal melodies. The only big drawback is that things begin to get a bit repetitive and less impressive in the last half, but as the prequel to the Amory Wars saga and an impacting musical statement, Year Of The Black Rainbow is a triumph.

Recommended Similar Artists: The Mars Volta, Dream Theater, Brand New

Jake’s Track Picks: