With intricately interwoven guitar lines, spastic drumming, and lyrics that tell an apocalyptic tale, Coheed and Cambria return with a very impressive sophomore album. The follow-up to 2002's "The Second Stage Turbine Blade", "In Keeping Secrets..." continues the sci-fi saga of the couple Coheed and Cambria and their family. It's a convoluted story and it seems like quite an ambitious undertaking for a band. I believe that another album is slated for release in the future to conclude the quadrilogy (featuring the first and second albums as parts 2 and 3), along with the publishing of a graphic novel which comprises part 1.
Now I have to admit that I am a sucker for concept albums. This is not, in any way, to disparage records that don't tell a constructed story, but there is something about concept albums that intrigue and inspire me. I like digging deeper for understanding and seeing how the artist or band communicates a tale via music. It adds depth to a record for me and I truly enjoy that. I say this because I think the story element of this album might be the turning point on whether you love it or hate it. It certainly has tracks that stand well on their own merit; "The Crowing", "A Favor House Atlantic", and the title track spring to mind. However, at just over 70 minutes long, there is a lot of music here to absorb and work through.
From a purely musical standpoint, this record is a terrific blend of indie rock and punk, with bits of emo and hardcore influences. For some reason, Pink Floyd comes to mind, not as a musical ancestor, but as a sort of ideological mentor for this band. Coheed and Cambria demonstrate a penchant for experimentation and meandering that is reminiscent of Pink Floyd's sweeping musical soundscapes. Additionally, there are a couple of songs that almost sound like lost b-sides from The Cars. Lead singer Claudio Sanchez's voice is a mix of Rush's Geddy Lee, Styx's Dennis DeYoung and Glassjaw's Daryl Palumbo. His range is amazing, but it will probably be a matter of personal opinion as to whether it soothes your rock and roll heart or just grates on your nerves. Bottom line? I love this album. If you're a fan of groups like The Mars Volta and the aforementioned Pink Floyd, I would highly recommend this to you. As for me, I can't wait to see what the next chapter in this saga brings.
3/4
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