Beyond the Music: The Band that Built a Comic Book Universe
When you ask someone, "What's your favorite type of music?" you'll typically get a single-genre response: rock, pop, rap, or country. Sometimes, you'll get a more niche answer like lo-fi or hyper pop. While these are perfectly fine, I suspect they are often just "on-the-surface" responses. Many people don't really think about what they like beyond the feeling it gives them—what makes them groove and what sounds good to their ears. And that's perfectly okay.
But what about music that transcends genres and even entire artistic mediums? For me, the answer is "complex music." It’s music that makes you think critically on top of just grooving along; music that delivers that hard-hitting frisson. For me, this isn't limited to a single genre. I'm into lo-fi and metal, and at times, I can even find myself enjoying country. I'm also into EDM, punk, and post-hardcore, and I have the utmost respect for classical musicians and their craft. Some musical purists would mock this interest, claiming I'm not a "real" fan. My answer? Who cares? It's my taste, my thirst, and my journey. I simply love music. I grew up with it, and it's the medium of choice (besides writing) that helps me unwind and think. After all, it's the universal language, isn't it? Writing isn't. Music is.
With all that said, if someone were to ask me what my favorite band is, I'd look them straight in the eye and, without hesitation, say: Coheed and Cambria.
If you haven't heard of them, stop reading this now and go give them a listen. You owe it to yourself to give them a shot. Then, come back and read the rest of this article.
If you have listened to them, let's continue. They essentially formed in the mid-to-late nineties and hail from Nyack, New York. While the lineup has shifted over the years, the current mainstays are Claudio Sanchez (vocals, guitar), Travis Stever (guitar), Zach Cooper (bass), and Josh Eppard (drums). What truly sets this band apart is their commitment to transcending artistic mediums. While other musical groups—like My Chemical Romance, Pink Floyd, and Green Day—have dabbled in concept albums, and made attempts at crossing mediums, Coheed and Cambria have made their entire musical journey about developing a single, long, complex story.
All of their albums (with the exception of 2015's The Color Before The Sun) are concept albums, with each one serving as a chapter in a space opera known as The Amory Wars. This saga, written by front man Claudio Sanchez, is set in a distant place called Heaven's Fence and follows the adventures of the characters Coheed and Cambria and their son, Claudio. The albums In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, and Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow tell their tale and, are your best starting points to immerse yourself in the lore.
The story became so detailed that musical albums alone couldn't do it justice. Early on, the band took a gamble and moved the story into a comic series. This was a brilliant move. While other bands only dipped their toes into other realms of expression, Coheed went all in from the get-go. They knew their lyrics wouldn't make total sense to many listeners, but they did it anyway. They successfully developed themselves as the poster band for artists who want to achieve this.
Their creation of an entire sci-fi opera resonates perfectly with their unique blend of metal, post-hardcore, and slow rock. Their music is a dynamic journey that never feels stagnant; every album has something different, from new influences to easter egg throwbacks. With each subsequent release, you can not only hear their musical progression but also feel them evolving, just like the characters in the comic series. Even their live shows strive to put you inside their story.
I know, I sound like a massive fanboy, and I am. My respect for them comes from their dedication. They aren't the biggest band in the world—many people in my circle haven't even heard of them—and their shows aren't selling out stadiums. This is okay. In my opinion, they are right where they need to be, catering to a certain subset of die-hard fans. Their followers know the lore and the history, creating a truly unique fandom. The fact that they successfully combined their love for music and comics into one long story is a testament to their vision.
The comic industry is great, and it's certainly not hurting, but every industry could always use a bit of progress. The comic culture needs more of this type of trans-medium expression, as its connection to music, in my opinion, is still few and far between.
Coheed and Cambria are a prime example of how music can serve a greater purpose. They aren't just creating songs; they're building a universe and using the universal language of music to tell a story that could never be contained in a single art form. Their journey is a testament to the power of a medium that, when pushed to its limits, creates an experience truly greater than the sum of its parts. This is the kind of artistic dedication that deserves to be championed—the kind that inspires us to think, feel, and listen in a whole new way.