For three years now, the New York group have been releasing dynamic, multi-faceted albums that are as infectious as they are innovative. Their songs are packed with undeniable hooks and contemporary textures, but their sonic vistas are reminiscent of great progressive and atmospheric bands from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Best of all, like the musicians themselves, the mix is neither pretentious nor alienating.

 

“Rock n’ roll today is not the rock n’ roll I wish it was,” explains front man and songwriter Claudio Sanchez. “I’m a big fan of the music my father grew up with, and I’m very jealous of that time because back then music wasn’t a marketing tool and you had to be a good band in order to sell records. It wasn’t about the quick fix. It was about really being able to play and write great songs.”

 

On Good Apollo, Coheed and Cambria never shy away from their ambitions. The album starts with the cinematic piano and strings intro “Keeping the Blade,” then evolves into the gorgeous acoustic “Always & Never,”  which features swirling keyboards, Claudio’s laughing niece, and harmonized vocals. Then, it’s time to rock. The first single, the six-plus minute long “Welcome Home,” is epic and symphonic, resounding with start-stop strings, squalling electric guitars and dramatic vocals. This ebb and flow of the opening three songs is evident throughout the album and contributes to its thematic feel. “Everything was very carefully worked out,” bassist Mic (pronounced Mike) Todd says. “This is definitely the record we wanted to make. We’re super-proud of these songs and I think they represent everything we’re able to do as a band.”