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Coheed and Cambria’s Creator Character Returns for “Very Melodic” Fifth Concept Album

2/10/09, 10:54 am EST

Photo: Foley/FilmMagic

The last time Coheed and Cambria played Madison Square Garden, they shared a bill with Linkin Park. And the crowd was, well, sedated in comparison to what the band has encountered on their new tour — with Slipknot. The kids in the audience on this tour wear Jason masks. They death growl at each other in the halls. And frankly, they don’t all like Coheed. “There’s nights where we stick out like a sore thumb,” says frontman Claudio Sanchez, relaxing in his tour bus before their show at New York’s famous venue last week. One particularly challenging night, Sanchez recalls “a lot of middle fingers.”

The prog-rock band, which hails from Nyack, New York, have built a loyal following over the last 14 years that includes Allman Brother Warren Haynes, Foo Fighter Taylor Hawkins and Howard Stern’s Richard Christy, who on-air, admitted to peeing his pants during their May 2008 Bamboozle set so he wouldn’t have to miss “even one minute of the show.” It was the same day that Bret Michaels asked Coheed if they’d join him onstage for a collabo.

Now, as Coheed prepares to release their fifth concept album, Sanchez is brimming with details. “One of my favorite songs that we’ve recorded so far is called ‘In the Flame of Error’,” he says. “It’s a longer, more aggressive tune.” Another cut, “When Skeletons Live,” is more uptempo and melodic. Sanchez reveals that 11 song ideas have been conceived so far, and the band expects to release the “very melodic” record in Spring 2010. They’re currently shopping for a producer.

“Pearl of the Stars” was originally considered for Sanchez’s side project the Prize fighter Inferno. “It’s a slower tempo song that I actually sing with a deeper voice (rather) than a high falsetto,” Sanchez explains. “The more I fleshed out the lyrics, the more I realized it made sense for the concept of this album.”

So what exactly is the concept of this album? The answer’s a bit tricky. Sanchez decided to make this record the prequel to the saga of the last four records, describing it as “the origin tale of Coheed and Cambria.” “It’s a love story of sacrifice,” he goes on. “Like all of the Coheed records, our main character, the Creator, is put in a position where he has to do something he doesn’t want to for the safety of his wife. I got engaged last year, so I’ve tried to put myself into the character’s perspective, wondering what it would be like for me if I were to lose my significant other. And how that would destroy me.”

“A lot of the Coheed records are very dark at the end,” he adds. Speaking of darkness, is there any chance of a Coheed collaboration with their current tourmates? “We’re actually toying around with the idea of having Clown do a remix of a song,” Sanchez says.

Related Stories:

Coheed and Cambria Run Through Four Albums For NYC Residency
Coheed and Cambria In-the-Studio Video Reveals Creative Process, Alcohol Preferences


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Comments

dude | 2/10/2009, 11:30 am EST

Wow! Bret Michaels and Howard Stern’s Richard Christy?? Haha coooool…

I hate Slipknot and I hate Coheed and Cambria, but I totally give kudos to the Slipknot fans that give Coheed the middle finger.

The Mars Volta > Coheed & Cambria.

dude hater | 2/10/2009, 12:57 pm EST

you’re so cool dude! you must be the coolest guy at shenanigans!

metalfan | 2/10/2009, 1:30 pm EST

Yeah I was at the Slipknot-Coheed & Cambria show in MSG, and I raised my middle finger while Coheed was playing. WTF are they doing on the same stage as Slipknot!!!
Maggot 4 life!!!

metalfan | 2/10/2009, 1:32 pm EST

Oh yeah, and Trivium kicked Coheed’s ass bigtime!!!

Tom | 2/10/2009, 1:51 pm EST

It’s good to see that Slipknot fans are so open minded…

the truth | 2/10/2009, 3:11 pm EST

i was at msg, and i respect the show that slipknot puts on…i mean i dont get how people actually listen to it on a regular basis unless they want to kill someone but I’ll accept that people enjoy it and not hate on them. Coheed definitely did not fit on the bill, but they played well and deserve respect for having the balls to do a show like this and attempt to expand their audience. Like them or not, Coheed is still one of the most talented, diverse, and original bands of the decade. They cross over so many genres of music that they can play with almost anyone. If you can’t agree with that then you are just shallow-minded.

the truth | 2/10/2009, 3:16 pm EST

also…

Cant wait for the new album, sounds like it is going to be awesome.

Stephen | 2/10/2009, 5:49 pm EST

People who don’t like CoCa are about as cool as people that don’t like Zeppelin. You shouldn’t have an opinion. If you can sit through The Final Cut (acoustic or live)and say they are not that good. Then you don’t deserve to listen to music at all.

“Let this colony know in the name of the dead we’re coming.”

Oh yeah and fuck Rolling Stone for not doing this interview 3 years ago.Then waiting around for Coheed to make money.

horrible try | 2/10/2009, 6:38 pm EST

Well considering Coheed and The Mars Volta don’t run in the same genre(where its apparent “Dude” feels that rolling stones can label whatever they feel prog and he goes by it), I don’t see where your little “TMV > Coheed”, comes into play. Fail. As for all the “maggots”, time to grow up and stop listening to a bunch of hicks attempt to create music. Large fail. But I guess dramatic low lives need someone to look up to…

bluntman & chronic | 2/10/2009, 10:07 pm EST

pumped for a new coheed album

on a side note, bitching between TMV and coheed…you guys know arguing on the interweb is like the special olympics, you might win but youre still retarded…so in the meantime try and stop smoking man meat and get out your parents basements for a change

YES! | 2/10/2009, 10:52 pm EST

the truth, stephen and, the horrible try; I agree 100% with everything you say…I like the part where you said people who dont like coheed are about as cool as people who dont like zeppelin..haha so tru..u know slipknot fans dont like zeppelin.

“I Bless the hour that holds your fall, I will kill you all!”

David | 2/10/2009, 11:32 pm EST

lol, Slipknot fans don’t get an opinion on what good music is. They listen to Slipknot… Enough said.

Maleficus | 2/11/2009, 4:22 am EST

Coheed is the best band ever to play on the face of the earth… period.

gravedigga | 2/11/2009, 4:53 am EST

When I was 16 I thought metal was the only music. I still love some of it bands like all that remains and shadows fall, but coheed is one of my fav bands and the masked guys are and lame the lead singer likes berry mantalo I guess thats hard core open your mind and listen to different styles of rock. Oh yeah mars best live show ever.

reuven | 2/11/2009, 9:02 am EST

hi Anonymous ,seems the only form you can write is on .post a comment!!got any thing to show for???

Anonymous | 2/11/2009, 12:29 pm EST

Coheed and Camabria is the greatest band ever. Brilliant!

Alexis | 2/11/2009, 1:25 pm EST

It’s saddens me to see how dull minded people are. If people haven’t listened to any of Slipknot’s remixes-why bag on it? And even so-why are people complaining about Slipknot’s fans when Coheed’s fans are doing basically the same thing-except via internet. Haha to that one.

On another note, Coheed’s album should be awesome. Just like every other album. Can’t wait! :)

coheed | 2/11/2009, 11:40 pm EST

Coheed and Cambria is the best band out there. Its funny that slipknot fans hate on them. Claudio even said the only reason they’re on this tour is to increase their fan base AND because they had nothing better else to do. So to all you slipknot fans or any other fans dissing on Coheed shut up, they had nothing better else to do then play with your crappy bands.

most of u r idiots | 2/13/2009, 2:15 pm EST

for dude and metalfan…i cant get over how fucking stupid both of you are. i happen to like both coheed and slipknot. stop being judgement asses.

Coheed RULES! | 2/13/2009, 2:25 pm EST

Alright, I went to the Slipknot & Coheed concert in council bluffs, IA. I like both Coheed and Slipknot, I have respect for both bands, but I will always stand behind Coheed and Cambria. I can’t wait until their new album comes out, I hate it when people freaking talk crap about them, I would love to see people go up and perform better then them. I bet my bottom dollar that they won’t get anywhere.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND !!! | 2/13/2009, 2:43 pm EST

Slipknot on tour with Coheed is like Slayer on tour Hootie and the Blowfish.WTF???

I DO UNDERSTAND | 2/14/2009, 6:05 pm EST

You just want Hootie and Slayer to tour together so you can suck your two favorite bands off on the same day

Logan | 2/16/2009, 2:31 am EST

i HATE that the new album is gonna be another year, but at least they’re not just throwing some bullshit together right? the titles sound pretty cool at least (although i did have super high expectations for the road and the damned and it didn’t quite live up) and since everyone is arguing i thought i would give my input…

I LOVE COHEED! i used to listen to nothing but metal when i was in high school and even tried to give Slipknot a chance…went out, bought an album…couldn’t ever get into it (never saw that much talent musically or vocally) i am not that big of a fan of Zeppelin, they are pretty cool, but i am picky. cant afford to go to the Slipknot tour (although i would definitely leave after Coheed) even though i wanna see Al the Killer so bad live. basically everyone has their own opinion so quit bitching!!!

dom | 2/18/2009, 12:56 pm EST

dude i can’t even stand slipknot but i’m not gonna bag on them.

but anyway coheed is the best band out there so rock on coheed

Pray For Us All | 2/24/2009, 8:33 pm EST

Coheed is such an amazing band. They put so much time into their music. thats why i dont care that they are taking so long for this new album. None of their songs every sound the same. Sanchez is a musical genius. Now I am NOT whatsoever a slipknot fan. But FOR ALL YOU INSANE CLOWN FANS, know that Slipknot asked coheed to tour WITH THEM. Coheed agreed because they know SlipKnot has amazing stage presence just like KISS back in claudios day. Claudio Compared Kiss to Slipknot when reffering to their exciting performances.

finally lets all just be supportive of both these bands.

Fluffy | 3/15/2009, 5:09 am EST

I don’t get all this Coheed Vs Slipknot crap. It’s like Kiss Vs. Zeppelin. Slipknot just looks good. Coheed plays good. Coheed will live on long after Slipknot will I promise. in 10 years no one will know what slipknot even was. in 10 years Coheed will still be going strong. I don’t mean to sound negative on the band, but slipknot is not even comparable to Coheed.

It’s about like comparing Opra to Jesus.

In the end, Jesus wins. Jesus always wins.

Boe | 4/16/2009, 4:01 am EST

Coheed and Cambria are the most original band of the decade.The best band ever. I haven’t found one song I don’t like, And to all those slipknot fans:

At least Coheed doesn’t wear crappy masks and sound like they put their album together in five minutes.

M3tall!c@ ch!ck | 4/17/2009, 7:08 pm EST

0mg! ! l0v3 y0u guys! But ! r3@lly h@t3 Sl!pknot. :P

Anonymous | 5/8/2009, 3:53 am EST

I love both bands, and dont see why any of you are trying to compare them. I’ve seen both live and again, they’re not comparable. Although, to be honest, they each has something the other misses out on.

to Fluffy’s comment..saying that slipknot will be forgotten as opposed to coheed? thats just an idiotic statement considering how huge slipknot are in comparison to coheed, and completely biased. They’re both huge within their area of music.

thaTS gay | 6/9/2009, 1:50 pm EST

wow why does everyone rag on these bands, they are all good bands, coheed happens to be my favorite, but i really like slipknot as well, and what the hell is it with people sayin stuff like trivium kicked coheeds ass….i thought the whole point of a concert was for bands was to put on a good show, didnt they all do that? they dont get up their to kick each others ass they get up their to show their talent and because music is their life and its what they love doing, and in rersponce to metalfan, shut up dude, coheed works thier motherfucking asses off to put on a show for u , u doubt u could to nearly as good as them, and how would u feel if u were famous in a band for as long as coheed and some punk ass loser like u throws up his middle finger at u while ur on stage, thats called an ass hole

Anonymous | 7/13/2009, 10:59 am EST

:gonk: Prequel–can’t wait!

Mr Winchester | 8/15/2009, 1:55 pm EST

I can safely say coheed out play slipknot any day, although nothing was quite comparable to donnington 2009, you had to be there to believe it, and slipknot were fucking fantastic. The only people that would admit to raising a middle finger to an excellent and really quite genius band are simply guys (and girls) that dont have a soul, or maybe just half of one. Stop listening to just metal and wearing just black t shirts and smelling of shit. Peace

Oh and im gonna have a phat wank when that album comes out, and probably cry a little bit.

cobalt and calcium | 9/22/2009, 6:32 pm EST

i second the last two comments.. i love both bands but coheed is the best

TheDirtyGraUK | 9/23/2009, 3:14 pm EST

I love Coheed, I find their music interesting and can listen to each of their albums time and again without ever getting bored.

I totally appreciate Slipknot though…if you got rid of the gay masks, lose the percussionists, DJ and sampler they would be a quality band. I used to love their first album and the third one was quite good too.

As for Coheed and Mars Volta? Totally different bands, both are awesome but I personally prefer to listen to Coheed as I think their song writing is better.

And don’t bother shooting me down, it’s an opinion and if you can’t accept that, go fist yourselves

Medieval Girl | 9/25/2009, 9:10 pm EST

Too those of you open minded individuals who know how to appreciate all kinds of rock, RIGHT ON! I am a huge fan of both Coheed and Slipknot! I went to the Trivium/Coheed/Slipknot tour in San Antonio and I say they ALL ROCKED! I mean, they all have something that the other does not. Trivium, with their awesome speedy, heavy metal! Coheed, whose music seems to reach right into the soul and demand we listen and Slipknot, who never fails to call out the inner demon in me! I really hate it when people go around talking crap about bands they don’t like! As if their music tastes are the best in the World! HAHA! What shallow bullcrap!

Although I think Slipknot is awesome, I fell madely in love with Coheed the moment I heard “Welcome Home”. That was years ago and since then, I buy anything Coheed and Cambria I can get my hands on! I love many rock bands heavy or not, but Coheed is my favorite for all time! No matter what song I listen to I feel something down in my soul! Coheed Rules!

Anonymous | 10/11/2009, 1:35 pm EST

coheed is the best band ever…ive never heard a band where every single song is good…definetely not slipknot

Hunter | 10/22/2009, 10:21 pm EST

Slipknot fans are NOT musicians. they have a one track mind and its quite frankly its sickening. coheed are graduates from a prestigous music college and actually know what they are doing. while i do like slipknot its very obvious that coheed are the better musicians as far as creativity and musicianship goes.

mouse-culinity | 10/27/2009, 11:44 am EST

slipknot is merely the embodiment of the American metal aesthetic. It’s more about the image and the gimmicks than the music and it shows. Slipknot’s fans are no different. They go to concerts not to hear bands play, but to see a show; which is necessarily neither good nor bad, but it seems to me that if the only purpose of a band is to be a spectacle, that band should choose a new medium through which to convey its message and leave music to musicians.

Delirium Trigger | 11/2/2009, 9:52 am EST

Coheed and Cambria are the best these days. Every band member is unique and have great talent. Chris is ridiculous. I have taken a poll from 10 musicians who have played all their lives, and they siad their bassist is one of the best they have heard. Claudio’s lead vocals are original. The concept is original. The lyrics, the guitar lines, the bass lines, the drum lines. Original. Slipknot is all right….for about 2 songs, then they kinda of all meld together. I like slipknots stage presence though.
Can’t wait to here the new Coheed album!! Hope it has Second Stage-esque feel to it. Coheed for life.

C to the C | 11/3/2009, 1:17 pm EST

I have seen coheed live 8 times including all of the neverender tour THEY ARE AMAZING
CLAUDIO SANCHEZ IS ONE OF THE LAST ROCK GODS LEFT….show a little respect haha
diff strokes for diff folks i guess

CATMAN | 11/8/2009, 10:46 pm EST

OK, well…
TMV>Co&Ca, I agree, but still, Co&Ca is pretty damn awesome.

Also, Slipknot sucks pretty hard. Try writing a couple songs, guys.

im a lover | 11/16/2009, 10:32 am EST

I love coheed and cambria and slipknot but i dont get all defensive over one or the other even though i like coheed way better then slipknot

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