Review By Drew Fulton
Coheed and Cambria can be quite daunting from the outset – their songs are filled with lore from not only their 11 albums over 20 years but also vocalist/lead guitarist Claudio Sanchez’s many forays into the comic book world.
So how does their latest release, The Father of Make Believe, fare as an entry point for a relative newcomer like me?
The answer – an album full of surprises, influences, and an earworm or two!
The album opener, “Yesterday’s Lost,” begins with an ethereal, haunting piano and string section before making way to a muted acoustic and a mellow vocal from Claudio, reflecting on life and time. It is a sombre start to the album, followed by the almost pop-punk “Goodbye, Sunshine.” Almost immediately, the drums of Josh Eppard start marching to some of those signature catchy riffs and anthemic choruses.
“Searching for Tomorrow,” one of the singles from the album, follows with an infectious riff and the first true hints of the proggy side of Coheed and Cambria. This is easily one of the standout tracks, underpinned by bassist Zach Cooper’s driving basslines and a beautifully filthy solo dripping with fuzz.
The title track, The Father of Make Believe, continues the prog vibes and features some standout vocal work from Claudio. “Meri of Mercy” returns to the laid-back vibes of the opener before transitioning into a mournful yet uplifting chorus.
This is fiercely contrasted by the most aggressive track (and single) on the album, “Blind Side Sunny,” which features the harshest vocals I have heard from Claudio, taking the album in a punk direction. The song blends seamlessly into “Play the Poet,” where Coheed and Cambria weave in a classic Drum N Bass beat along with some electronic elements. “One Last Miracle” keeps the energy high, with another singalong chorus.
We then take a turn back to the emotional “Corner My Confidence,” where Claudio positively croons along to some finger-picked acoustic. The final single from the album, “Someone Who Can,” is described as the band’s most accessible song yet and would fit any pop radio station while still retaining that unmistakable Coheed and Cambria touch – no small feat!
The album closes with a quadrilogy of songs under The Continuum banner. The first track, “The Continuum I: Welcome to Forever,” begins with a robotic voice before descending into a downright evil riff. The longest track on the album, “The Continuum II: The Flood,” feels the most steeped in lore and features multi-layered vocals, electronic production, and blistering guitar work.
“The Continuum III: Tethered Together” echoes the first track by returning to some ambient piano before kicking back into the prog-pop-rock laced throughout the album. Album closer “The Continuum IV: So It Goes” instantly gave me The Beatles vibes, with trippy reversed vocals and staccato piano reminiscent of “A Day in the Life.” This track was by far the biggest surprise on the album, and I couldn’t help but bop my head along.
Overall, The Father of Make Believe is a thoroughly enjoyable listen. Knowledge of Coheed and Cambria’s back catalogue and the lore so evident throughout the album would undoubtedly enhance the experience, yet my lack of familiarity didn’t detract from it. I’d say this serves as a great entry point for new listeners, and I’m sure standout tracks like “Searching for Tomorrow” and “Play the Poet” will make it onto many a playlist.
8.5 out of 10
THE FATHER OF MAKE BELIEVE
TRACK LISTING:
01. Yesterday Lost
02. Goodbye, Sunshine
03. Searching For Tomorrow
04. The Father of Make Believe
05. Meri of Mercy
06. Blind Side Sonny
07. Play The Poet
08. One Last Miracle
09. Corner My Confidence
10. Someone Who Can
11. The Continuum I: Welcome to Forever, Mr. Nobody
12. The Continuum II: The Flood
13. The Continuum III: Tethered Together
14. The Continuum IV: So It Goes
