Progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria have released quite a few albums in their 20 year existence. Their most recent album, The Color Before the Sun, marks an interesting shift in style. While the band has always appealed to mainstream audiences due to their pop-rock influences, they have also kept the technicality and complexity that is often found in the progressive genres. However, with their most recent album marking their eighth studio release, they appear to have thrown technicality to the wayside in favor of immensely polished rock music.
The Color Before the Sun is many things, but it is absolutely not a progressive album. Much of the song construction is quite basic, and none of the songs break many musical conventions. For some fans of the band, this might be a deal breaker, but if listeners are willing to look past the relative simplicity of the music, they will find an incredibly enjoyable, catchy, and fun album. This album marks Coheed’s first non-concept album, and instead of telling a story with the lyrics, lead singer Claudio Sanchez writes some intriguing lyrics dealing with various social issues, such as bullying in “You Got Spirit, Kid” and separated families in “Atlas.”
Some particularly fantastic tracks on this album are “Island,” “Here to Mars,” “Atlas,” and “The Audience.” Every single track on the album is quite enjoyable, but these four in particular packed a special punch.
“Island” is the very first song on the album, and it opens as a soothing and catchy pop ballad. The instrumentals are enjoyable enough, with the guitar, bass and drums all providing enjoyable melodies, but Sanchez’s vocals are what really steal the show with this track. The same can be said about “Here to Mars,” the second single to be released off the album. While once again the instrumentals are enjoyable, Sanchez’s vocals soar over them in this wonderful love song. While less “poppy” than “Island,” this track still showcases the general style of the album.
The same cannot be said for the other two standout tracks. Both “Atlas” and “The Audience” break the general pop-rock stylings of the rest of the album, each in a specific way.
“Atlas” was originally released on YouTube in 2014 as an acoustic track, but the version of the song featured on the album involves the entire band, and they do a fantastic job turning an already great song into an even greater one. This song features the most technical instrumentals on the album, with Sanchez’s vocals and guitar taking the forefront, but the bass holding its own. This six minute long masterpiece will warm the hearts of listeners, as Sanchez sings about missing his son while he’s away from home.
“The Audience” is the heaviest track on the album, coming very close to being a heavy metal song, and is a rather large break in style from the rest of the album. While some listeners might be taken aback by how greatly the style changes, this track is absolutely fantastic. Featuring driving guitar riffs, a particularly groovy bassline and a very intense vocal performance, this track will be a favorite of any of fans of heavier music.
While it is clearly a departure from the rest of Coheed and Cambria’s work, The Color Before the Sun is still a fantastic album, and should be given a listen, even by those who do not enjoy the rest of the band’s work. Perhaps this album will change their mind. One thing is for sure, the band is still going strong after twenty years. Overall, this album earns a rating of 4/5.
