30 years after their formation in Nyack, New York, one of Rock’s most distinctive and unique voices is still going strong, taking us on journeys of the imagination that few would even contemplate. With ‘The Father of Make Believe’, they return to as the press-release says “pick-up on the longest-running concept story in all of music.” If you’ve followed the story or not there’s no disputing that ‘The Father of Make Believe’ is a piece that contemplates all that has gone before musically for the band and the visions of singer and guitarist Claudio Sanchez.
Preceded by singles ‘Blind Side Sonny’ and ‘Searching For Tomorrow’ anticipation had been rightly high for this installment but listening to the former – a short sharp thrasher there was a feeling that things might just be different. It’s a great song about revenge and proves that C&C can get to the point. This one is deep, as we know in the past Sanchez has “…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 Sanchez is more directly connected – “the Father of Make Believe, gazing down upon this world he’s wrought.”
So how does it sound? Well if you’re a fan i get a shot of ‘Year of the Black Rainbow’ and ‘The Afterman’ sonically, yet the lyrics are far more personal, but fear not we’re still very much in Amory Wars territory even if we’re breaking new ground.
It all starts calmly with gentle pianos open ‘Yesterday’s Lost’ before simple strummed guitars and a questioning vocal contemplating life, there’s an antique sound to that opening that is immediately overtaken by ‘Goodbye Sunshine’ which brims before busting with fire and passion. There’s a staccato guitar and soaring melodies and a positive message that all lead into a statuesque chorus.
Coheed and Cambria with Travis Stever (lead guitar), Josh Eppard (drums), and Zach Cooper (bass) have been around for three decades now and whilst your could see this as a new Chapter it’s really just a different perspective on the story that they bring to life.
The stormy and frenetic ‘Searching For Tomorrow’ and wonderfully cascading title track ‘The Father of Make Believe’ both give you that comfort of feeling that we’re back in familiar territory as far as the first half of the record goes. There are plenty of layers to dig through though, and whilst there are all the comfortable elements at play you feel that this is a release that both looks forwards and back. It’s also a record that scatters a few wild cards – there’s the multi faceted Nu-Metal infused ‘Play the Poet’ for example that feels anachronistic here but oh so good. Juxtaposed with the crawling anthem ‘One Last Miracle’ – a huge high it’s like we’re fast forwarding and back and always landing on a winner.
You’ll of course all have heard and love the Rock and Roll of ‘Blind Side Sonny’ but every step takes you somewhere else. and the closing ‘Suite’ of four songs encompasses all of the wonder. First the Prog-Pop stuttering ‘Welcome To Forever’, Mr. Nobody‘, the many movements and instrumental breaks of ‘The Flood’ and the low-fi opening and build of ‘Tethered Together‘. It’s the final track ‘So It Goes’ though that may surprise – almost jaunty Pop might divide opinion but I suppose that’s largely the point?
As an album expect the expected and the unexpected! You’ll be left satisfied.
