ALBUM REVIEW: Vaxis III: The Father of Make Believe – Coheed And Cambria

Science fiction storytellers supreme, COHEED & CAMBRIA return with the highly anticipated third instalment of the Vaxis collection: Vaxis III: The Father of Make Believe. Since the beginning of this phase of the Amory Wars project, lead man Claudio Sanchez has explained that not only will Vaxis be made up of five parts. It will also bring to a close the multi-faceted story that for so long has provided the backdrop. With this in mind, as this new segment is the cusp of the sunset. Expect poignancy, expect anthems and more Easter eggs than a certain spring time bunny’s basket.

Current singles, Searching for Tomorrow, Blind Side Sonny and Someone Who Can offer a mouthwatering glimpse at the depths of this album. Offers of thrash adjacent riffs, anthemic melodies and screaming vocal lines are the order of the day. These are all trademark aspects of previous COHEED releases and are liberally applied throughout the entire album. However, the songwriting and emotive delivery are also present in abundance within The Father of Make Believe.

The magic begins right from the start. Yesterday’s Lost is heartfelt and engaging. Tender and stripped back holding a delicate nostalgia for both the impending closing of a story but can be easily extrapolated to an earnest love song. For the long-term fan, it also presents the first of many tangible nods to the past. The circle is coming to a close and COHEED & CAMBRIA waste no time in delivering that gut punch.

A truly complete album.  The Father of Make Believe encompasses virtually all aspects of what the quartet are capable of.  The aforementioned tracks showcase much of the elements that they have become known for. Yet with each track there is another highly polished yet utterly gripping genre bending delivery. Goodbye Sunshine highlights the chugging guitar, big chorus pop-punk aesthetic that has been present in previous works. Whereas the title track delivers the hard hitting prog tinged edges that is arguable the signature of the band.

In so many ways this is a triumphant album. Each member delivers a defining performance and the mix boosts every emotion and key riff to the fore driving the whole thing along at a captivating pace. For many COHEED & CAMBRIA have been an underrated gem just waiting to be discovered and albums such as this will only serve to champion them further. They have the songs to engage a stadium as well as the ability to tug the heart strings of the individual.

The Father of Make Believe represents an exceptional chapter in this potentially final phase of the Amory Wars arc of COHEED’s career. More than that, it is a stand out high point in what has already been an exceptional career. There is a completeness to the record that allows it to stand on its own. A new listener has no need to have delved into previous releases to enjoy the sumptuous lyricism and music on offer.

While there are obvious sci-fi themes laced throughout, the band have carved out a strong vein of intense personal emotion that anyone can relate to and project onto these songs. On the other side of the coin. Those that have been invested in the story, there is a veritable wealth of treasure to be unpacked. Characters and themes are re-introduced. There are moments that will make the die-hard fan of the narrative gasp in delight and feel the twinge of sadness as another page ends. If this is truly to be the end of the Amory chronicle, then COHEED & CAMBRIA are setting it up for a climax of memorable proportions.

Rating: 9/10

Vaxis III: The Father of Make Believe is set for release 14 March via Virgin Music Group

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