Coheed and Cambria are most often compared to Rush, mainly because of lead singer/guitarist Claudio Sanchez’s high-pitched wail.
And now that the band has teamed with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who helmed Rush’s latest, the excellent Snakes and Arrows, those comparisons will likely stay around. But simple comparisons do not do this band justice. Through a twisting sci-fi tale that has spanned all the band's recorded work as well as Sanchez’s graphic novels, Coheed and Cambria has staked out a unique place on the modern music scene.
Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow is basically a companion piece, musically, to their previous CD Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness. They tone down the time changes, channeling the songs into a more streamlined structure. This gives the band the space to turn it to 11.
While Coheed and Cambria are generally referred to as a prog rock band (and, inexplicably, an emo band) they bust out some serious metal chops on No World. The guitars on “Gravemakers & Gunslingers” could have come right out of the NWOBHM, “Feathers” stakes out the melodic metal route, and “Justice in Murder” starts off with a soaring Iron Maiden-like riff. The second half of the CD is “The End Complete,” and in true prog fashion they split it into five parts. This is a consistently strong CD. Lyrically, though, it can get fairly pretentious in places. Carrying a story arc over four CDs might be pushing it.
The fact that the music of an inventive band like Coheed and Cambria is played on the radio is surprising and welcome. This is music that rocks on the surface and gives a little more for those that dig deeper. No World will no doubt satisfy Coheed’s faithful, but for those that are not familiar with the band, this is a good place to start.
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