Album Review #15

Coheed and Cambria - Year of the Black Rainbow
genre: progressive rock/alternative rock
released: April 13, 2010
label: Columbia Records

So it's finally finished. Lead singer Claudio Sanchez has finished the story of Coheed and Cambria, with the band's newest album, Year of the Black Rainbow being the prequel to the four-part epic. I must say, I have enjoyed Coheed and Cambria's entire discography, if not for the story told, but for the awesome rock songs that the band writes every time they release new material. Also, I was intrigued to see how the band would complete their story with the new record, and as Sanchez told the press while the band was recording, they have written a very melodic rock album.

The new album has both positives and negatives, as one would expect. The album is very melodic, whether at a fast or slow pace with harder or softer rock, and Coheed and Cambria have written a very pretty sounding record from start to finish. Also, the album has a real technical influence on it at points, but even those sections sound great. While there are no real duds on the album, not too many songs could particularly stand out on their own, and it's hard to see a solid single in the bunch if you ask me. This Shattered Symphony and Pearl of the Stars both stand out from the rest slightly, but I still think they pale in comparison to some of the other songs they've written in the past. Although depsite that flaw, the album does have a very epic feel to it all, and can really set quite an atmosphere while you're listening. Coheed and Cambria continue to be one of the most enthralling bands in modern rock and they show why with this one.

So while I believe the band's better days are behind them as far as material, they still sound good on the new album and have another addition to their already impressive catalog. The new material fits in really well with their older songs and should transition very easily into a live set, and the crowd will be sure to enjoy hearing the new songs as well. The album certainly isn't as poppy as some of their older material, taking a much more serious tone throughout. But through all the good and the bad, Coheed and Cambria have another solid album under their belt with Year of the Black Rainbow and will continue to keep their fans happy. But the only question now, since The Amory Wars storyline is complete, what comes next?

Favorite tracks: The Broken, This Shattered Symphony, Pearl of the Stars

For fans of: The Mars Volta, Circa Survive

Coheed and Cambria's myspace