By special request – Coheed and Cambria: Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking MindVaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind

Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind (2022)

This is yet another special request review. My son-in-law got wind I was taking requests and requested that I review Coheed and Cambria’s latest: Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind (2022). I know he is a big fan of the band so this was a good chance to check it out. I am aware of Coheed and Cambria and assumed they were a metal band as I know that is the kind of thing my son-in-law would like. I gave the album an initial listen and I was surprised to learn that they are pop-prog – the best comparison I can think of is the poppier side of Rush, e.g. Moving Pictures. Like Rush, they are expert musicians – the musicianship comes across in complex arrangements and great instrument play and vocals. They are melodic AF.

This is their tenth studio album and is a concept album that continues the Amory Wars storyline. Per Wikipedia:

“The Amory Wars is an ongoing series of science fiction comic books and novels created by Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez and Chondra Echert, published by Evil Ink Comics. The name also refers to the fictional conflict at the center of the story, which is told across the published works and is also the primary focus of most of the band’s music.“

I am not typically into the “concept”’ of concept albums – I am just here for the music. There are a lot of concept albums I like, but I couldn’t tell you the storyline if my life depended on it. So I have no interest in the libretto of this album. That being said, I do like the album. The catchy melodies, the dramatic dynamics, the elaborate arrangements, and the solid rock vocals are both original and familiar.

If I had to describe the band quickly it would be a pop-punk-prog (with a dash of Queen and Journey). At times it gets really poppy, for example, the song “A Disappearing Act” could be ABBA. Coheed and Cambria is not music I would typically listen to and I am not going to listen past this assignment. That being said, I fully appreciate what is going on here. It is well-executed, sonically excellent, artsy, catchy, etc. A rock band needs a great lead vocalist with a unique sound and this band has that guy in Claudio Sanchez. The guy has amazing pipes. Overall, I get the quality of the music it is just not my thing, but I am glad to have given it a serious listen.