COHEED AND CAMBRIA — The Second Stage Turbine Blade (review)

COHEED AND CAMBRIA — The Second Stage Turbine Blade album cover Album · 2002 · Metal Related Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Kilgannon
Coheed and Cambria are one of my all time favourite bands, so whilst I will try not to be biased there may appear moments of favouritism!

Second Stage Turbine Blade (SSTB) as their first release is still fairly accomplished. The album does not contain the clear and finished production that the rest of their releases enjoys (to the point that I would be interested in hearing a re-recording of the album as much as I hate the needless reproduction of back catalogues) and at times, I personally feel, this can detract from the listening experience as it can sound dated and untidy.

However the music itself, audio qualms aside, is very good and I really enjoy this album. Coheed's albums are instantly recognisable by their opening 'segues' (as good a term as any for the ~1 minute instrumentals). Their music is characterised by vibrant and speedy riffs that compliment the lyrical hooks. The bass and drums for Coheed present a strong, groovy backbone for the diverse guitar playing and eclectic vocals of front man Claudio Sanchez.

As mentioned in previous reviews, whilst the bands later albums give us a more metal and mature sound, SSTB is the youthful pop/punk/emo output for Coheed. That is not to say that the album is under-developed or out of character for the band, it is simply clear that they still on the way to developing a final sound. The album contains all the usual things that make Coheed great and is a good introduction for people as they can, in my opinion, only move upwards from this release.

SSTB does contain a number of Coheed's classics and live favourites, "Time Consumer", "Everything Evil", "Neverender" and the album is fitting with the concept/story theme that defines the journey through their albums.

While I wouldn't say it is essential to a collection (I would be adverse to describing any of Coheed's albums as essential, as it is the entirety of their catalogue to date as one continuous piece that I would describe as essential) it is definitely an excellent debut that's worth trying.
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