Album Review: Coheed & Cambria - The Afterman: Descension

26 February 2013 | 11:48 am | Eli Gould

Having always been known for their experimental ways, Descension is no different in that respect, but they’ve created material more accessible than ever before.

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Coheed and Cambria have always been an intriguing band to follow as their releases are all based around one topic: The Amory Wars, a science fiction story created by frontman Claudio Sanchez. In fact, the expansive tale has actually been made into a comic book series and a novel. It's even recently been picked up by Mark Wahlberg for a big-screen adaptation – true fact. While it would be too easy to sit here and ramble on about what the actual fuck The Amory Wars is – that would be beside the point and it doesn't deny the fact that while Coheed are completely lost in their own little world, they are very talented musicians. Their follow-up to last year's The Afterman: Ascension is the concluding half of The Afterman two-part series, and it is bigger, bolder and braver than its predecessor.

Having always been known for their experimental ways, Descension is no different in that respect, but they've created material more accessible than ever before. There are elements of pop, electro, progressive rock and punk intertwined with Sanchez's delicate, precise but matured voice that intricately strikes emotion and honesty. There's not one bad track on this album and each song precipitates into another in an adventurous and cathartic manner. Away We Go is an uplifting pop rock song that is followed by an acoustic and atmospheric track, Iron Fist, shadowed by Dark Side Of Me, which bears the talents of Sanchez's voice and lyricism revealing “I gave my everything/For all the wrong things”. Ascension was a massive leap last year and Descension continues this trend – delivering some of their most polished songwriting to date.