GOOD APOLLO, I'M BURNING STAR IV, VOLUME TWO - NO WORLD FOR TOMORROW

Coheed & Cambria [C&C] have already created a lot of waves in their (thus far) short career, appealing to many from highschoolers to renegade prog fans. While they've been best known as an 'emo' band so far it seems with this album they decided to rid themselves of that title. Yeah, it's still there in small does, bur for the most part, this is the more 'rock' album they've put out to date. The second in a two part conclusion to the concept the band has been riding since the beginning of their discography, this one is destined to be dark - seeing as how it deals with the end of the character's world. However, the album is surprisingly upbeat (for the most part) and has some excellent and catchy rock tracks with some very nice prog moments. It seems the band really has hit a niche here, because while they were toying with some of the notions present here since their first album this is the first time they've really shown mastery of what they want to do. And what is that which they want to do? This album shows a huge step forward for the band in terms of songwriting. While they may not be churning out pomp-prog masterpieces, they're showing trough a series of shorter, well produced, written and played songs that they really could do it if they wanted to.

Often labeled as ''The Next Rush'' it's important to visit that idea once more. Now, as an avid Rush fanboy - I must say that it was that exact label that turned me off of the band to begin with. I've never wanted to hear the ''next'' anything, and hearing a clone of my favorite band would not be something appealing to me. However, it was after I finally decided t take the plunge and buy their Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth album that i would find a few things. One of which is that the Rush label is almost completely unwarranted. Sure, Claudio has a high voice like Geddy and the band may have been inspired by epics like 2112 with their stories, but that's where the similarities come to an abrupt end. C&C have a very ''modern'' sound, which may turn of some prog heads, but they elements are spaced out between hard rock guitars and a couple of very prog moments that show the band in the form of The Who or even (at one point) Pink Floyd.

While a large chunk of this album is taken up by their (now standard) suite that sits pleasantly at the end of the album. Up to that point however, we're treated with some of the strongest stuff that C&C have come up with. No World For Tomorrow shows a matured version of the band that brought us songs like Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth with it's chugging pace and screaming delivery, while Mother Superior makes for a tasty, prog flavored morsel that is quite slow, but well placed and very emotionally sung. The rest of the songs here simply rock out. Starting with The Hound (Of Blood And Rank) we're introduced to a series of songs that induce headbanding with their incredible beats, choruses and melodies. This one starting with an almost Baba O'Reily kind of synth. While this is something that doesn't usually go over well in the progressive realms, the band here manages to do with grace and produces some very very good songs. Among the best are the single The Running Free with it's instruments pressing the charge and Claudio's vocals shouting back at you. This one has an infectious drum beat that, I'm sure, will get your toe tapping.

Then we get to the suite. The End Complete is comprised of 5 parts with a total running time of around 24 minutes. While the songs may not be as linked as some prog heads would like them to be, they certainly segue and know how to work well together. Obvious nods to Queen with the title Radio Bye Bye, this is the second part after the opening minute intro and what a song. A heavy guitar in the background makes for a pleasant chorus when it gets around to it. That song is still pretty standard, it's the two longer pieces of the suite that progheads will likely be looking at. The End Complete (part III of the suite) is the first longer piece - while it comes off as mostly a complex rock song instead of full blown prog it still makes for a good listen with it's time changes and, again, pleasant choruses. On The Brink is where it's really at. The conclusion to the entire series and the last track on the album, this is easily the best song on the album. Very clear influences from David Gimlour are present in the opening guitar soloing, it's chilled out melodies relaxing until they almost The Wall like chanting of ''heil! heil!''. While it may be closing in a bit too close on Floyd for comfort at points, there's no denying that this is the way we all really want the band to go. Dare I say it, this final track is full out prog.

So while the entire album may not be prog in it's fullest sense there certainly are some great moments. The band may be a bit too simple for some people's taste, but what these guys to well - they do really freaking well. This is easily the best album from the band to date, and let's hope they choose to take the direction that the final tracks on this album suggest. Commercial suicide? Perhaps. But the prog world would be happy. 4 stars! Recommended to fans of heavy prog and anyone who likes a bit of rock to their prog. An excellent addition to your collection.

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