first time
Coheed & Cambria formed as long ago as 1995 but the New Yorkers didn’t make their GMM debut until 2012. Two years earlier the band around mastermind Claudio Sanchez made a huge impression at the 2010 edition of Rock Werchter. So far, the band has released ten albums, most of which continue the science fiction storyline of The Amory Wars, an ongoing series of comic books authored by Claudio Sanchez as well as a full-length novel. In 2015, C&C released ‘The Color of the Sun’, their first non-conceptual album ever, with Sanchez focusing on his personal life instead. Heavy metal, hardcore and (punk) rock have all had an impact on C&C’s music but when your influences include Led Zeppelin, Queen, Iron Maiden, Misfits and Bad Brains that is to be expected. On ‘Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures’ (2018) and ‘Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind’ (2022), the first two instalments of a planned pentalogy, Coheed & Cambria resume the Amory Wars narrative . Whereas Act I features elaborate tracks, Act II has some of the band’s most concise songwriting so far and was greeted with great enthusiasm by fans and critics alike. It is with that same enthusiasm that we look forward to their 3rd appearance here. #GMM23
