New York four-piece Coheed And Cambria have gone from strength to strength. From their early days on Equal Vision Records – to their current international domination and astounding fourth full-length album, the prog-rock superstars have the making of legends within them.
First appearing on the rock radar in 2002, the group – fronted by comic book addict vocalist/guitarist Claudio Sanchez, and joined by Michael Todd on bass, Travis Stever on guitar and Josh Eppard on drums (since replaced by ex-Dillinger sticksman Chris Pennie)- quickly solidified their place as inspiring and imaginative musicians in the midst of a climate of cookie-cutter emo. Stating a starter mission to create a series of five albums – each forming a part of an imaginary story called The Amory Wars - the band set the plot rolling with story two, album one, The Second Stage Turbine Blade, in February of that year. Fans across the globe were quickly drawn to the curious and unusual stories that littered the full-length, as well as the immediately identifiable music that enveloped them. With high-pitched vocals, swathes of layered riffs and lush instrumentals, Coheed’s tunes harked back to 70s era Rush as well as referencing the melodic heaviness of emerging acts of the time. By February 2004, the band had already released their follow up, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, and had picked up their first Kerrang! cover. Now over three years on, the group have continued their epic imaginative saga with Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, and this year’s No World for Tomorrow. With one record left in this epic journey (and a series of graphic novels also available that follow the stories), all eyes are turned to this innovative band, as we wait with baited breath to see the series through to its exciting conclusion – and await the other dizzy heights that lie ahead.
