Album Pick: Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness

Time to go back to progressive rock this week.  Out of their 4 studio albums, Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Volume 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, is arguably Coheed and Cambria's best work.  The lyrics are based on the comic book series entitled "The Amory Wars," written by lead singer Claudio Sanchez, which is a sci-fi space story following the son of the characters Coheed and Cambria.  GAIBS Volume 1 is their third album in the saga.

I can't say too much about the story, because I have yet to read the comics, but much of the content is based on Claudio Sanchez's life experiences.  While writing this album, he had recently been dumped by his girlfriend, so you'll notice the lyrics are very dark and angry, since he kills the love interest of the main character in his story.  Whether you like angry lyrics or not, you should give this album a listen just for the quality of the music.

The hardest thing to get used to is the vocals.  Claudio Sanchez has a very high voice which some people might find unappealing.  It took me a while before I really started to enjoy Coheed's music, but you eventually develop a taste for the expressiveness of his voice.  He does an amazing job of making you feel the emotion of the song.  Before you know it, you'll be screaming along with Claudio as you listen to the music.  You also learn to appreciate the talent this guy has when you realize that he's playing lead guitar while he is singing during live performances.

The instrumental side of this band is also worth mentioning.  There are two guitarists, one of them being Claudio and the other being Travis Stever.  The 2 guitars play a key role in the music, and they blend together very well to make for some really interesting riffs.  There's nothing really complicated going on, but it sounds amazing.  The drums and bass don't stand out very often, but they do a good job of supporting the vocals and guitar.  The vocals give a pop feel, while the guitar uses a metal sound, and the riffs are very progressive, so there is something for everyone in this band.

There isn't a single weak track on this album.  It is a really great piece of work and a good album to start with if you are interested in listening to Coheed and Cambria.  Check them out!