Coheed And Cambria
In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3

THE REVIEW

In the context of the modern emocore horizon, 2003 witnesses the much-anticipated and explosive confirmation of one of the breakthrough bands in the entire global rock scene. We're talking about Coheed & Cambria. We're talking about Claudio Sanchez, Travis Stever, Michael Todd, and Joshua Eppard.

It is particularly difficult for me to review an album by the New Jersey quartet because, like most music critics, I align with the thoughts of those who assert that the success of Coheed & Cambria is not only based on a high-level musical technique that encompasses the entire rhythmic section of the band but also and above all, an omnipresent eclecticism that emanates from the brilliant minds of Sanchez & co., which ultimately proves to be the fundamental and characteristic component that pushes the group beyond the stereotypical boundaries of the "musical genre." Such is the case in the fantastic "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3," the group’s second work, a maturity album where the sounds are polished with particular mastery and where influences from different musical genres converge, all laid on a spine-tingling emocore foundation that forms the common ground, the glue of the entire journey. Yes, because it's a journey indeed. From the listening of the intro onwards, what catches the listener’s ear is the interruption of the monotony of everyday life’s rhythm by Coheed's melody, transporting us to a place far away in time and space. Then the title track. "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3." The notes flow through my ears as I write. The concept repeats itself from the first beats of Claudio's Gibson. I'm no longer in front of my home PC. I don’t know where I am, but I’m swept away by the emotional whirlwind stirred by Coheed and Cambria. Sanchez and Stever's guitars scratch like nails; sweet sounds alternate with sharp riffs that suddenly and magically blend together. After all, who could handle emocore for 8 minutes without losing the intensity of emotional involvement? It's not a task for everyone; only Coheed manages it. The last minute and a half of the track is an escalation of overwhelming sensations and intense emotions: the guitars, the bass, the drums, the keyboard, the chorus of voices, the voice of Claudio: everything is simply perfect. It might seem like I've dwelled too long on this, but this is absolutely, to me, the best song on the album, the one that makes me always hit the repeat button on my player.

But the beauty and strength of the quartet don't end here; in the next two tracks, anything goes: riffs reminiscent of Santana, relentless rhythms, usual roars, all seasoned with the ever-venturesome voice of the singer while the dialogue between the guitars remains constant, producing the best emocore of the last 10 years. "The Crowing" deserves special mention because it showcases that metal-dark vein that will explode in the next work "Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness" (note the sudden accelerations) and for the sensational ending ("Dear Ambellina, the prize wishes you, to watch over me!" will remain impressed in my memory for a long time!!!). With "Blood Red Summer" and "A Favor House Atlantic", Co&Ca demonstrate they can rock hard with highly catchy melodies, easily assimilable and seemingly simple, yet always tied to the group's personality. The three "Velorium Camper" continue the journey into the depths of Coheed & Cambria's world, or Coheed and Cambria, who are precisely the imaginary characters invented by Claudio, and whose intertwining events constitute the story that forms the backdrop to the New Jersey group's music. The CD concludes with the bonus track and "The Light & the Glass", which sums up a bit of all the musical prerogatives of the four.

Listening to "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3", one is thus faced with an album of great stature, permeated by the most authentic spirit of a group that, as I have already written, makes versatility and eclecticism its banner and looks at emocore in an original and undoubtedly new way, managing to captivate the listener throughout the entire album, forcefully projecting them into a surreal, dreamlike, sci-fi atmosphere that only Coheed & Cambria can create.