Amazing, inventive and cutting edge record from a band who never pulls its punches

Awesome.

Excellent CD - better than their last from start to finish. I wouldn't say it's overlong - they keep changing things up enough to make it interesting throughout.

Brilliance, just insanely good.

This is the best band I have ever had the pleasure to listen to! OMG

Words couldn't describe the music on this cd

somehow seems shorter than it really is, strange considering it is 70 minutes long. very good disc

this is my favorite album of 2005 so far, with death cab for cutie's Plans a close second. buy it now and prepare to be confused and enthralled all at once.

I must admit I was a little worried by the title and track composition of the new C&C albumn when I first saw it, wondering if perhaps the band had gone a little over the top in their desire to create a concept albumn/ (albumns?). Fortunately, all fears were unconfounded. C&C seem to get better with every release. Fans will not be disappointed, although C&C may still be a bit too inaccessable to new listeners.… Expand

i would have given this epic album an eleven but ten is the highest that is offered. From the first through the last song, claudio sanchez's beautifully crafted lyrics fit perfect with double guitar harmonies and delicately crafted vocal melodies. This album showcases influence from pink floyd, led zepplin, and rush. Is is refreshing to hear bands like coheed & cambria and the mars volta. Absolutely amazing!… Expand

Great album. Must have.

I first got this CD during Christmas of '05. 8 months later and I'm still going back and listening to it for days on end. The songs are catchier than any pop song you'll ever hear. Combined with Claudio Sanchez's excellent guitar riffs and Geddy Lee-type vocals, and this is a CD that you'll listen to for ages.

Outstanding, original, and addictive - the greatest reason to keep listening to music.

An album with epic scope - prog rock at it's very best.

Cheesy, lame pop-punk bullshit. This is NOT prog.

First thing is first. coheed and cambria has all my respect. they are def my favorite band and i get so sick of people saying they are not prog enough or too much prog! get over it!

The sound of a generation of idiot suburbanites barfing in unison. Ugh.

Coheed and Cambria is what The Mars Volta would be if they sucked.

C&C continues to evolve while making amazing music. Every time I listen I'm left wanting more, I hope Claudio never stops writing. C&C bring a breath of fresh air to the stagnant pop-punk/screamo scene. Buy Good Apollo, Keeping Secrets, and Second Stage the first chance you get...

This cd kicks some serious ass oldskool.

What an incredible cd!! I've been listening to them since the start of the series. The story and the music only get better the more you listen.

Co&Ca continue kicking out the jams and surpasing most bands past and present. Coheed and Cambria are the new kings of (Prog)Rock. Also if you get a chance, check these guys out live, you will not be disapointed.

Their best album to date. And that's saying something. For those who hate pop music because of misapplied associations, or those who hate concept albums because they're confusing, you should really give it another chance. This album overcomes stereotype and genre pigeonholing through the sheer monumental quality of the artists' craft..

sheer brilliance.

Far and away their best album yet, IV shows the band moving toward a more classic-rock sound. Every song is incredible, except for perhaps 'Wake Up', which seems a bit too sappy. Still though, my favorite album in the past couple of years.

Grows on me with every listen, and live its even better. But unless you're really into them, please dont spoil it for the rest of us with your half-arsed support.

what a mess. i mean there is some plot running through it but its impossible to tell whats going on as the lead singer's WIERD voice is at times incomprehensible. some of the tracks sound like random notes are being played! There are a few good tracks (particularly TEN SPEED..... and THE SUFFERING) but the album is just as incomprehensible as the title. I also felt really nerdy listening to this. With all their characters and stories, i was just plain confused. The track names are incredibly dumb as well. (APOLLO: THE WRITING WRITER). well duh. what else does a writer do? I really think this band has potential. I just want them to stop with their story and make a straight-forward album. This album is OK if you listen to it not thinking about the plot. But otherwise without the plot what would be the point in pointless 7-minute tracks that seem like they will never end? If u really want this CD get it burned off someone, which is what I did.… Expand

I used to love Coheed and Cambria but this album leaves much to be desired. They could use more song writing ability, less guitar wankery. All of these songs just get boring long before they're over and with no interesting hooks, vocally or from the guitars, there's nothing to grasp on to. Overall disappointing album from a once promising band.

Coheed and Cambria is the Greatest Rock Band today if not ever. This is the kind of music and sound you want to hear from a Rock group.

This was the first time in my life I've ever bought tow cd's from the same band in one day.

A terrible mix of terrible genres. If you like this kind of music, there is a good chance you are a pretentions internet dork who thinks dragons are really cool.

Very good, I enjoyed it a lot but I think I like In Keeping Secrets a little more, but this overall has a different feel

Incredible..the first time i heard this band was when "A Favor House Atlantic" came out...i just enjoyed the song and then didn't exactly take them seriously;however, a year or so later the track "Welcome Home" was released and it rocked my socks off...it was insane...i imediatly bought a copy of Good Apollo...i was blown away by the very unique sound of the album...i then bought their previous 2 cds and have been a HUGE Coheed fan ever since… Expand

These past few years I have been jerked from the commercial pop and rock sound into the progressive music by the wonderfully classical prog Dream Theater, from there its a slow descent into prog mental, prog rock, and then power/epic/speed metal, and then found that I got too deep into metal for my liking (never did get any enjoyment out of Metallica - no offense), and got back into the prog zone, and enjoying it. Where as bands like the recently famous Pain of Salvation (awesome band IMO) edges to the explorer of sound that no one else does, Coheed and Cambria hid its genius in what first appear to be a commercial, overlaiden sound. But once I've listened to this album, man what a rush, good beats, awesome melodies, only thing is I couldn't quite follow what they were singing about in the more intense sound (too entranced by the melody and beats). Where as the equally greatmOperation Mindcrime excel in delivering clear, clean and crisp sound that let the story carry you as much as their music, the intricacy and musicmanship here threatens to drown out the storyline at times. It is actually not neccessarily a bad thing, as some of the lyrics are a bit too cheesy (never enough to turn me off though, I like the singer's voice fine after Geedy Lee's tuning forks), and the lyrics you DO hear delivers the punchlines. This music is delivering a soundscape like no other, and damn its prog man! Their other albums are quite good, but this one delivers the most kickass sounds in one package. I can't wait for their new release.… Expand

Their first album was pretty good. Their second album is the best CD I've ever heard in my life. This new one is absolutely killer. 10/10

A little over the top for me, but still good.

By far, their best work. Coheed has created an album listenable from beginning to end. It's addicting.

A little long compared to what I like, but also delivers as far as musical integrity and creativity. You know you've created a hit when one song [Welcome Home] is a set on its own at a show. If your opinion of this is "Pop-Punk" then you probably don't deserve this album, or this band. "This is the album that 1985 failed to produce." This is Prog. Rock at it's finest.

The Best Band i have Heard in a long time amazing on cd and amazing live.

This is THE coheed and cambria album to end all their albums. This album sounds if Rush and Led Zeppelin had a baby it would be this band. The band departs from their older prg styles and take up more of a neo-classical style of rock and they do great thing with it.

Just who the hell do this Coheed and Cambridge think they are. They are a bunch of talentless nobodies. Fucking sons a bitches. They couldn't....actually, the album is awesome. It may not be as good as the second, but there's not a lot of albums in that category. I am a huge fan of Coheed, actually starting a small fan club in my tiny home town. I believe the next album they put out will be better, maybe deserving of something higher than a ten. Good job Claudio, keep up the good work.… Expand

Coheed and Cambria found success last year with there breakthrough album In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3 and the single “A Favor House Atlantic.” Now they’ve followed that up with more of their progressive rock nonsense in the ridiculously long-titled Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV: Volume 1. From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness (which will be referred to from now on as just Good Apollo... because I’m not typing that again). Now, to start this review, I have got to point out that along with a 20 syllable album name, this CD is also jammed pack with a stunning almost 72 minutes of almost pure music. A few minutes of ambiance every now and then, but for the most part, it’s all Claudio Sanchez singing in his incredibly high voice and amazing guitar parts. And while seeming very unique in today’s media, some music listeners might be able to recognize them as more of just a throwback to the 30-plus year old band Rush, with similar guitar and bass riffs and Claudio’s voice in the same pitch as Geddy Lee’s (the singer of Rush). Though in no way would I simply call Coheed a carbon copy of the elder band. The album opens up with piano and violin instrumental “Keeping the Blade,” which is beautifully composed and not under-thought (or over-thought) unlike some band’s attempts at an instrumental. It slowly moves on to the acoustic “Always and Never,” giving listeners it first taste of the Coheed and Cambria sound. With the sounds of small children in the background and an extremely falsetto voice singing “Stay with me and fall asleep/Pray to God for no bad dreams.” “Welcome Home” follows with a short acoustic intro, then a short electric intro, then charging into full out epic guitars and violins. This is the Coheed and Cambria sound. The album continues on with that not necessarily heavy, but intense rhythm until it slows down a bit after a few more tracks into “Wake Up” with both acoustic and electric guitars playing very melodic riffs above a smooth bass line (and once again, violins make themselves present). Here Coheed shows a bit more emotion in their music this time instead of just their lyrics (though the lyrics are still heartfelt). “The morning will come/In the press of every kiss/With your head upon my chest.” This might be a bit too much for some, but for others the words will make you feel all soft and gushy inside. To spice up the mood of Good Apollo..., Coheed follows up with the first single of the album, “The Suffering” Once again, they’re singles are almost deceiving the listener (doing so in their last album with the very radio friendly “A Favor House Atlantic“). The poppy and upbeat feeling doesn’t betray their sound ) as it may seem like I’m saying (they’re not the most serious band out there), but the bridge to the chorus does contain cheerleaders shouting “Hey! Hey!” like they were rooting for the band like they were a football team. But that’s Coheed and Cambria for you. The last 30 minutes of the CD contains a 4 part song which also contains a second part to an earlier song in the album. Huh? Exactly. That statement alone pretty much sums up this album. It’s long, full of concepts, and (most importantly) good music. Now no one can really tell you whether or not you will like Coheed and Cambria, even if you have a very distinct previous musical taste. You simply just have to check them out yourself. They draw from so many different forms of music (i.e. progressive, emo, metal, alternative) that they can’t be drawn so simply into one style. And though I won’t rate them, I will suggest them to anyone looking for something different. Coheed and Cambria is definitely a band you need to check out.… Expand

This is a great album... listen closely and you will see why.

Not their best, but so far Coheed and Cambria have done no less than a 10 on any album.

Simply stunning...not many albums have the ability to move a person to tears, but this one achieves it and then some...buy it NOW

Trash this album because it's one volume of an epic story that you are completely oblivious to instead of actually taking a couple of minutes educate yourself to band's conception. Brilliant!

Coheed and Cambria have, in my opinion, created the most stunning album released to date. The absolutely incredible lyrics inspire a sense of awe, accompanied by guitar and drum performances that bleed emotion into every song. Absolutely genius, 10 out of 10!

this kicks ass

I have to admit I didn't like these guys when i first heard them. However, one of my friends was completely obsessed with them so I was exposed to their music. I was completely shocked when I head "Welcome Home" for the first time. It reminded me not only of Rush and prog-rock, but also of Zeppelin and Queen. It just rocked in a way that no songs put out in my relatively short lifetime did. What sets this album apart from other Coheed albums and from other modern "prog-rock" bands (like the Mars Volta) is the taste and thougtfulness in the album production. The overall flow of the album is SUPERB, with each song leading clearly into the next. What had turned me off previously from this band was the thin sound their earlier albums had. But Apollo sounds lush and full without ever being too produced. As a guitarist, I also have to appreciate the soloing and overall guitar work of the album. You just don't here this level of virtuosity in rock music much anymore. Also, this is my brother's favorite drumming album, and I think he tries to incorporate a lot of the chops from this work into his playing. All in all, anyone who is a fan of truly great, epic rock should get this album.… Expand

This is the best CD I've heard in a while. Coheed and Cambria are probably the best modern rock band out. If you haven't heard this album yet, get off your butt and go buy it!

One of my favorites, by far. Perfect mix of concept (something The Mars Volta cant get right for the life of them after Deloused) and catchy rock. The crying baby almost drops it a point though. Cheesy.

One of the best albums I have ever heard in my life. It's original, it's everything that as a musicsian wants to hear in rock n' roll music. Coheed is argurably the best band ot there today, alot better than most of the stuff out know and even up and coming. I highly recomend this album to any one

This album is a tough listen at first attempt. However, once you grow accustomed to lead singer and rhythm guitarist Claudio Sanchez' spiraling vocals, you'll grow to love them. The music reeks of musicianship and variety. "Welcome Home" is a sonic attack, that I can't help but head-bang to. It, and its proteges "Ten Speed (Of God's Blood & Burial,) and "Willing Well I: Fuel for the Feeding End" make for stunning examples of pure rock. Stunning, because I have not witnessed craftsmanship like this since I last obsessed over Pink Floyd and Rush. "Wake Up," a soft-spoken crooner, is proof that Claudio and his crew know how to cut a soft (and rather touching) track. "Always and Never" reminds me of Simon & Garfunkel, which is always a plus. The lyrics directly reflect Claudio's fantasy Sci-Fi universe, whose story is told in his graphic novel series, "The Amory Wars." The lyrics might get confusing when you encounter names (Newo, Apollo, etc.,) but strangely, the references don't get in the way of the music. The series is worth diving into, if you love good Sci-Fi. The band does something that many mainstream rock acts seem to be afraid of- they make music, not genres. Coheed simply cannot be crammed into a label- they are too diverse. Each listening brings more- a subtlety of the guitar, or a synth run that I didn't quite catch the first time around. Not to mention, the tunes are downright catchy. Give it a chance, and "Welcome Home" will have you screaming, "You stormed off, to scar the armada," and chanting "One, last, kiss for you" before you realize that Co & Ca are talented, dedicated, and powerful musicians. Definitely an album you'll not regret giving a chance.… Expand

Love it. Rolling stone's comment says "could do with less prog and more rock." Well the music industry could do with less Rolling Stone, more music. Coheed fans will enjoy it and I'm glad they kept the faith rather than sell out like so many others in music today, like Rolling Stone

Pretty good album. I liked most of the tracks on it but like all albums it does have its bad ones. I would say its one of their best albums. Though it could have done with that lame bonus track added onto the last song.

I liked the album a lot and imo it was some of Coheed and Cambria's best work. Quite a few good tracks on the album but also quite a few bad ones as well. Still worth the listen though.