In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3
A phone rings as crisp footsteps make there way to the call, the fifth ring brings the answer. Her breath escapes her.
In dealing with it they march for dawn, of will and worthy the truth be told the child was born
Man your own jackhammer, man your battle stations
We'll have you dead pretty soon.
Opening with a somber almost tribunal feeling opening guitar sequence many will be instantly drawn to this album and the perfection of which it is fabricated. The title track recalls a war, despair and a shattered heart. The complicated story of
The Armory Wars is brilliantly laced throughout Coheed and Cambria's second album. This time the band lay on a slightly darker tone with a more profound progressive element not as apparent with their first masterpiece. The dark tinge the album carries the album even further than the divine
Second Stage Turbine Blade in an array of colorful ways.
Cuts Marked in the March of Men illustrates the dark tone beautifully as Claudio's masterful vocal performance drops menacing lyrics as high pitched progressive chords wind their way throughout the background. The vocals still pack the brilliant emotion the first album could convey but this time allowing Claudio to branch out and give some passages a very nice "angry" effect as on "Cuts Marked". Focusing in on the earlier tracks
Three Evils (Embodied in Love and Shadow) surprises early by seemingly dropping the dark feel by opening with a positively bouncy guitar sequence. The drums, while simple, fit the music seamlessly and the frantic fills match the subtle background screams like a glove. The bouncy vibe continues throughout the entire song but somehow the band still manage to convey emotions of desperation, loss and fear.
Would I walk through the door, shedding the light of all life?
With the rise and reform, would I come as before?
Pray your not the only one.
The Crowing takes an even deeper step in a desolate direction. The clever use of chunky power chords at the beginning makes this one ominous sounding song and the lyrics are some of the most intelligent and intriguing lines I have ever heard. The band however throw on a very poppy sheen with the sugary single
Blood Red Summer. To say the song is catchy would be an understatement, it positively sticks. The clever bass guitar wind up at the beginning of the song lay way for Claudio's soaring vocal performance. While his vocals are at their angelically high pitch the lyrics still embrace an opaque cloak as lines like "what did I do to deserve?" are paired with playful background "whoa ohs" giving it a very cheerful yet lurid quality. The band, known for their conceptual style place together a wonderful mini trilogy of songs on 'In Keeping Secrets' (entitled The Camper Velorium).
The Camper Velourium I: Faint of Hearts Is the quirkiest of the bunch opening with a almost hair metal style riff that honestly reminds me of the old bands that used to dress like pirates. The song while lower on the radar for me than the others also holds one of my favorite quirks of the whole album which is the small "coo coo ca choo's" playfully sprinkled throughout the track. The whole track is heartwarming and loving with clever lines like /"I touch you if you want me to but how is up to you"/ or catchy line /"did somebody take your tongue?"/. The click click click of the guitar throughout
Backend of Forever highlight the bands more technical capabilities. The song is eerie and everything from the swooping guitar progressions to the subtly brilliant bass lines fall in place like a puzzle. A creepy ambiance scours the songs walls and the intriguing plot of every song might make you fall into The Armory Wars yourself.
Al the Killer ends the small mini series of songs in a very progressive fashion. A robotic vibe flows through the track as Claudio's vocals are slightly down tuned during certain screaming sections. The production quality is sharp but the particular track "Al the Killer" shows a slightly rawer side. Also raw are Claudio's menacing lyrics-
Will the killing veil love should the heroes play dumb?
But killings no fun when the heroes are none.
Dance upon the grave of the dead, upon your name
Die white girls, die white girl
Dance upon the grave of the dead, upon the grave.
The second to the last track
A Favor House Atlantic is on of the singles that materialized from the album. This being one of my personal favorites could take up and entire page of its own but I'll be quick. It's beyond catchy. The lines /"the words you scribbled on the walls with the loss of friends you didn't have"/ still can get stuck in my head for days. The guitar throughout the track recall an 80's hair band and Claudio's vocals soar when he sings /"good eye, sniper"/ it's positively engaging. Rarely have I been able to listen to a band that can create dense, foreboding song sound so pleasant and pleasing. All the while the bass playful dwindles at the underbelly adding interesting passages when needed. To some it up if you haven't listened to "A Favor House Atlantic" you should. Following that catchy single is an even more sentimental
A Light and the Glass. The line /"carving her name across your arms"/ is near heartbreaking and the the mood change during the midsection when the guitar slams out in an Aerosmith fashion is endearing. All this creates one of the most memorable Coheed tracks to date. The album ends in a stunning fashion with a smooth vocal chant intertwined with a towering array of squeaky guitar progressions. The soft moody piano interlude found on the other side of the phone call makes a soft return as the album comes to a close.
Yes, in my mind this is a masterpiece. Just like it's predecessor In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3 is Coheed at their greatest, most passionate and emotionally profound. Is this better than Second Stage Turbine Blade? To some maybe but to me the two albums are two pieces of perfection in their own right. The layering of progressive style rock with a sci-fi epic is, in my mind brilliant. The ideas all conveyed on the album are executed to perfection. The bass eats at the underbelly while the drums play their part and the guitar centric focus never negates from the powerful instrument that is Claudio's voice. Packed with emotion, beautiful instrument technicality and pure mood
In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3 is nothing short of a masterpiece.
But you, you know, you were my favorite .
