Review Summary: God dammit, we'll make it if you believe.
Passion. A word used to describe an undying love, and an innocent pursuit of something that you feel is bigger than yourself. It gives us hope and happiness, and the will to push forward even under the toughest of circumstances. A passionate album will give off a vibe like that, and when listened to, it will really impact the listener in a way that will inspire them. It tells a story, whether in the literal sense such as a concept, or within the instruments themselves, speaking of hardships and triumphs.
One of these albums is
Second Stage Turbine Blade, the first release by New York Alternative Progressive rockers Coheed and Cambria. From beginning to end, this album is a flawless, emotionally charged debut, that grabs you from the get-go and doesn't let you breathe until it is over. The song writing screams originality, and leaves the listener entrapped in a sound-saturated state. Whether it is frontman Claudio Sanchez' beautiful vocal melodies, or the sometimes crunching, sometimes soothing guitar tones, the musicianship on this album shows maturity at a bands earliest stage. The way the two guitar parts are executed throughout the album allows for diversity and creativity to shine like a light in the ever-so-darkened tunnel of modern song writing formulas. They weave in and out of each other creating a seamless, always beautiful, sense of melody that at the same time will give off a lot of raw energy. Whether it be the the floating intro in "Time Consumer" or the foreboding riff to "Everything Evil," the dual guitars never let up.
Both the bass and the drums provide a solid backbone for the guitars and vocals to work upon, and at points in the album, even stand out above the guitars and vocals. Simplicity isn't a bad thing, and in this case, is actually the best thing for the album. Both instruments really compliment everything that is building upon them, and helps add to the overall dynamic of the record.
Now the strongest point of the album, in my opinion, is Claudio Sanchez. His relatable concept-driven lyrics, and the delivery of those lyrics, is what really takes this album to the next level, and making it the classic that it is. The concept behind the album, called
The Amory Wars, is a story of betrayal and chaos that we all can relate to. But amidst the chaos, there is a love to be found that, as humans, we are just drawn to. Claudio uses these themes to create very memorable moments in the albums, where the words combine with the emotion in his voice to express his thoughts on the matter.
One of the most memorable lines is near the end of "Everything Evil" when he yells:
God damn it, we'll make it if you believe!
Combined with all of the elements of the album, the vocals and lyrics solidify the classic nature of this album.
Second Stage Turbine Blade is an album overflowing with passion and intensity, innocence and diversity, and above anything else, emotion. Overall, this is a flawless record from a band that had nothing to lose, yet everything to gain.
