And in lighter news...

I'm entranced by Coheed and Cambria's new bizarrely-titled album: Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness. Yes that's it's name.

Coheed and Cambria are quickly becoming my favorite metal band since The Smashing Pumpkin's' demise. In many ways they're similar to the Pumpkins. I remember the first time I heard Billy Corgan singing I thought "What the heck? This can't be serious". I had the same reaction to Claudio Sanchez (C&C's lead singer) when I first heard him on the radio. His voice is very high. It almost sounds like he's been sucking helium. You have to get used to it before you can appreciate the rest of the music. The second time I heard The Smashing Pumpkins I was hooked on Corgan's voice and the same thing happened with Coheed & Cambria. Now it's my favorite part of their sound.

Speaking of their sound, it gets hard to classify. There's times when they sound emo-ish and then they stray into punk grooves. And this latest album is very metal/prog-rock. But whatever the case they're always beautifully melodic. My lovely wife is into them too (she has the most random musical tastes, I've given up trying to figure them out), so I'm assuming that they're not just a guy band.

Finally, one of the coolest parts about their music is that it's all a sci-fi story. Each album is a chapter in an elaborate plot that centers around two superheros named Coheed and Cambria (hence the band name) and their quest to save the universe. Admittadly , plot details are really hard to understand just from the lyrics and whenever Claudio explains some of it, I end up more confused. To help out puzzled fans like me they're publishing an independent comic book that tells the story in detail. I haven't read it so I can't recommend it but it does stir the geek in me.

Zombieslayer, I specifically think that you'd probably like these guys.

I've provided a few previews of their music so you all can judge for yourself. And really give Claudio's voice a chance.

Click here to listen to "A Flavor House Atlantic" from In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3. This is the song that first turned me on to them. It's not their best but it's a good start.

Click here to listen to "Welcome Home", the first single from their latest album. This is more in the metal vein of C&C but still good.

One final warning: They do have some swear words in the lyrics and, as this is a comic book story, there are some descriptions of violence in the lyrics. In each case it's nothing extreme (there's at most five swear words on each album) but it did seem to warrant a Parental Advisory on the latest album. Proceed with good judgment and if in doubt ask your parents.