Album Review: Coheed and Cambria-The Afterman: Ascension

Coheed and Cambria has been one of my favorite bands since I was in middle school. Their earlier albums are amongst my all-time favorites, but their more recent material has been a bit disappointing and taken their sound into a less exciting direction. Their new release, The Afterman: Ascension, however is a very satisfying return to form for them.

The Afterman: Ascension is Coheed and Cambria's finest effort since From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness. They had struggled with consistency on their last two records. There are a decent number of standout songs on each, but there was a lot of filler that dragged the album down as a whole. Outside of the underwhelming album closer "Subtraction", This album is full of quality tracks throughout. Another key issue from the past two records that is addressed is the quality of the multi-part epic song suite which Coheed and Cambria has made an album staple throughout their career (with Year of the Black Rainbow being the exception). No World for Tomorrow's multi-part conclusion The End Complete was bloated and more than outstayed it's welcome after the first two sections. This album's long epic Key Entity: Extraction, contains most of the best moments of the whole record. This series of tracks shows that the old Coheed and Cambria that we know know and love is back. Their heavier side ("Domino the Destitute", "Holly Wood the Cracked") and their proggier side ("Vic the Butcher, "Evagira the Faithful") is equally on display and it's glorious. The riffs, the energy, the brilliant guitar solos, the twists and turns in the songwriting, this is exactly what most of No World for Tomorrow and Year of the Black Rainbow was missing. This record has plenty to note besides the grand scale Key Entity Extraction. "The Afterman" is a solid, subtle, slower track, "Mothers of Men" is a grand prog rock opus, and "Good Night, Fair Lady" is a Thin Lizzy-esque jam that would make Phil Lynott proud.

The Afterman: Ascension is a pleasant surprise and a definite turnaround album for Coheed and Cambria. They are finally back on track after two disappointing albums. The record isn't quite up to their classics In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 and From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, but it's in the same vein and a much-appreciated return to their classic sound. The Afterman: Ascension is a great, old-school Coheed and Cambria record and I can't wait for the second part The Afterman: Descension in 2013.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Key Entity Extraction II: Holly Wood the Cracked
2.Key Entity Extraction III: Vic the Butcher
3.Key Entity Extraction I: Domino the Destitute