Album Review: Coheed and Cambria — Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe

Coheed and Cambria’s latest exploration of sound and story

The Father of Make Believe, Coheed and Cambria’s latest and 11th studio offering, is a prime example of a band that seamlessly balances intricate storytelling with dynamic instrumentals. Without compromising or abandoning their signature sound, this stunning and visceral album showcases the band’s progressive rock style, venturing into uncharted territory. The result? A blend of emotional depth with a crystalline understanding of what fans demand.

As “Yesterday’s Lost” ebbs and flows, it sets an atmospheric tone with its ethereal piano interlude. Despite the track offering a more immersive experience than one based solely on lyrics, it effectively leans into a sonic exploration. Dense storytelling intertwines with delicate instrumentals and poised vocals, its dreamlike quality setting the stage for an album that’s nothing if not unabating.

“Goodbye, Sunshine” shifts gears entirely, delivering high-energy and aggressive instrumentals that deploy the band’s signature sound: powerful, relentless, and urgent in execution. And they’re just getting started.

One of the more dynamic tracks, “Searching for Tomorrow,” flawlessly intertwines experimentation with some of the album’s most striking guitar work. The vocals are insistent and build towards an unabating chorus that echoes the band’s trademark style, albeit while powering into uncharted territory.

As the title track, “The Father of Make Believe,” encapsulates the album’s most pressing thematic elements, it’s propelled forward by stellar guitar work and a masterful, minor-chord-heavy soundscape that’s as electrifying as it is melancholic. Its lyrics prioritize storytelling, reinforcing the band’s lyrical approach to narratives within music.

Closing out with “The Continuum IV: So It Goes,” The Father of Make Believe lends itself to a brighter feel, the sprightly energy a stark contrast to more ambiguous lyrical prose, presenting listeners with a complex finale.

The Father of Make Believe balances aggression against introspection, its raw emotion on proud display. Both neophytes and seasoned fans will appreciate this latest gift from Coheed and Cambria as they tear headfirst into the experimental unknown.