Coheed and Cambria – The Father of Make Believe

If you heard Blind Side Sonny, the first single from Coheed and Cambria’s tenth album, The Father of Make Believe, then you probably noticed that something seemed different about the sci-fi-inspired New York prog legends. A two-minute, thrash-adjacent metal ripper whose chorus screams, Blood! We want blood! We want blood!, the track embodies an urgent, almost rabid desire to be heard clearly and felt intensely. How many times have I heard the ‘underrated’ statement about us? asks Claudio Sanchez. It’s something that lives in all of our subconscious minds and has certainly played a role in making us who we are. This is a song of revenge.

A funny thing happened as Sanchez, a master of translating reality into fantastical tales, began plotting Coheed’s latest. Yes, The Father of Make Believe carves out new sonic territory amidst all of the wailing guitars, drums that crack like fireworks, and Sanchez’s aching, powerful voice that centers us through moments both placid and pinwheeling. But where the set really forges new ground is in how Sanchez embraces the role of main character. He’s often used epic songcraft to mask the stories he wanted to tell: reflections on an addicted father, memories of his beloved grandfather, concern about raising a child in a cruel world, hopes and fears around the love of his life. This time, he’s writing more directly about his life and, especially, his unusual career. Sanchez is the Father of Make Believe, gazing down upon this world he’s wrought.

This record is a midlife crisis, he chuckles. I realized, 20-some-odd years in, I was struggling with the brand I’ve given myself: Am I satisfied being the science fiction rock ‘n’ roll guy when so much of my material comes from personal experiences?” Of course, Sanchez being Sanchez, Coheed’s wiki-writing legions of fans will still find plenty of rich character work, narrative flourish, and references to the running lore. But if you’re new here, there’s no homework required to tap directly into our host’s struggles and triumphs — although, you might get drawn in anyway.

Format – CD, Limited Edition Transparent Magenta Coloured Vinyl 2LP & Limited Edition Transparent Coke Bottle Green Coloured Vinyl 2LP (Indies Exclusive)