Introduction

This is the blog that I have made about Coheed and Cambria. I hope that you will enjoy it.

The History of Coheed and Cambria

After six years and six different members, Coheed and Cambria (originally called Shabütie) consisted of Claudio Sanchez on lead vocals and guitar, Travis Stever on backup vocals and lead guitar, Michael Todd on Bass and Josh Eppard on drums, all from Nyack, Woodstock or Kingston, New York.

In 2001, Coheed and Cambria signed to Equal Vision Records and in February, 2002 they released their first album (the second of five concept albums depicting a five-part story called The Amory Wars). The album, The Second Stage Turbine Blade, was later re-released in September, 2005 with three bonus tracks. Unfortunately, the album wasn't very popular.






In 2003, Coheed and Cambria released their second album, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3. The album went gold and their fan base enlarged greatly. In between recording sessions for a new album, Coheed and Cambria played some concerts, which all sold out very quickly and released their first DVD, Live at the Starland Ballroom in March, 2005. It contained songs from both of their albums.





A few months later, they released their third album, Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. The album did not do as well as their previous one, but it still managed to go platinum. But, unfortunately, soon after they finished touring to promote their album, Coheed and Cambria's drummer, Josh Eppard and bassist Michael Todd left the band. They were replaced with Chris Pennie on drums and Matt Williams on Bass. Also, Coheed and Cambria have recently announced that they will be playing new songs at this year’s Vans Warped Tour and might release a new album in Summer 2007.

The History of Progressive Rock

Coheed and Cambria is a rock band, but more specifically, a progressive rock band. Progressive rock, often shortened to prog rock, or simply, prog, is hard to define, but it often has these characteristics:

• Irregular song structure – Either does not have a verse, chorus, bridge, etc., or has extended sections, additional passages, etc.
• Rhythm – The use of time signatures and other rhythmic techniques that are not often used in rock music.
• Concept albums – Many progressive rock artists write concept albums, albums that have a theme or concept or tell a story.

Progressive rock began in the mid 1960s, but became much more popular in the 70s and has continued to be popular until now. Prog often combines elements of other genres such as jazz. Some of the first progressive rock bands, many of which influenced several bands are Jethro Tull, Yes, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Rush, Gentle Giant, Van der Graaf Generator, Uriah Heep and King Crimson. There have been many progressive rock bands since then. Such as, The Alan Parsons Project, The Mars Volta and The Moody Blues.

Why I Think Coheed and Cambria is Awesome!

Coheed and Cambria is awesome for many reasons. For one thing, Travis Stever and Claudio Sanchez are great guitarists and their riffs are very catchy and get stuck in my head all the time.

Second, I really like the use of the splash cymbal in many of their songs and how the drumming is simple, but it flows along really well with the guitars.

Third, Claudio Sanchez has a very high pitched and unique singing voice. Certain vocals get stuck in my head even more than all of his guitar riffs and they distinguish them from other bands more than anything else.

Another thing that I like a lot about them is how well the background vocals compliment the lead vocals.

Also, some of the bass lines are quite eccentric as well.

Overall, COHEED AND CAMBRIA ROCKS!

Coheed and Cambria vs. Rush

In the past, many people have compared Coheed and Cambria to Rush. This comparison is often made when it is one of the first times that you are hearing their music. But, if you listen to many different songs multiple times, you realize that there are many differences between the two bands. For example, Coheed and Cambria's music is often dark and eccentric. While Rush's music is also somewhat eccentric, it's often quite upbeat and fast paced. Also, Coheed and Cambria's drummer doesn't play anything that is very complicated. Rush's drummer, Neil Peart (one of the greatest drummers of all time), often plays very complicated rhythms and has a much wider variety of drums and cymbals. Although Rush has been around for a very long time and they were very successful, and Coheed and Cambria has only been around for about six years, they are becoming very successful as well.

The Amory Wars

The Amory Wars, originally called The Bag.on.Line.Adventures, are a series of comic books that depict Coheed and Cambria's concept albums. They are written by Coheed and Cambria's lead singer, Claudio Sanchez and published by Evil Ink Comics. A comic that doesn't have an album about it is the Amory Wars Sketchbook, which is mostly drawings.

The story is about Coheed Kilgannnon and his wife Cambria and their four children, Claudio, Josephine, Maria and Matthew. Coheed and Cambria were infected by something called the Monstar Virus and it was passed on to their children because of the Sinstar Virus. The Sinstar Virus has made the Monstar Virus much more powerful and it now has the power to destroy the entire universe.

Videos

Here are their music videos and a clip from their new DVD, Live at the Hammerstein Ballroom.

Delirium Trigger



Devil in Jersey City


A Favor House Atlantic



Blood Red Summer



Welcome Home



The Suffering



Ten Speed



In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (Live)