Coheed and Cambria

Yes, The Father of Make Believe carves out new sonic territory amidst all of the wailing guitars, drums that crack like fireworks, and Sanchez’s aching, powerful voice that centers us through moments both placid and pinwheeling.

But where the set really forges new ground is in how Sanchez embraces the role of main character. He’s often used epic songcraft to mask the stories he wanted to tell: reflections on an addicted father, memories of his beloved grandfather, concern about raising a child in a cruel world, hopes and fears around the love of his life. This time, he’s writing more directly about his life and, especially, his unusual career. Sanchez is the Father of Make Believe, gazing down upon this world he's wrought.

“This record is a midlife crisis,” he chuckles. “I realized, 20-some-odd years in, I was struggling with the brand I've given myself: Am I satisfied being the science fiction rock ’n' roll guy when so much of my material comes from personal experiences?” Of course, Sanchez being Sanchez, Coheed’s wiki-writing legions of fans will still find plenty of rich character work, narrative flourish, and references to the running lore. But if you’re new here, there’s no homework required to tap directly into our host’s struggles and triumphs — although, you might get drawn in anyway.