Year Of The Black Rainbow
by Coheed and Cambria
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Apr 13, 2010
User Score
6.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 121 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 75 out of 121
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 121
  3. Negative: 36 out of 121

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  1. Neverender
    Feb 8, 2013
    4
    This was everything BUT Coheed. A little too over-engineered and mediocre in many parts, this album sadly stands alone in their amazing discography...
  2. Billyheel
    Oct 28, 2011
    5
    As technical as it is, 'Year of the Black Rainbow' can't break away and become what it was meant to be. As cliche as it sounds, this was supposed to be Coheed and Cambria's love-letter to their fans and in essence; their magnum opus. Highly talked about before its release, the hype not only got me researching and anticipating; I also pre-ordered it to boot. The album is as technical asAs technical as it is, 'Year of the Black Rainbow' can't break away and become what it was meant to be. As cliche as it sounds, this was supposed to be Coheed and Cambria's love-letter to their fans and in essence; their magnum opus. Highly talked about before its release, the hype not only got me researching and anticipating; I also pre-ordered it to boot. The album is as technical as it gets, with songs like 'Guns of Summer' making any fan of prog have weak knees. The guitar work is great, and the drumming is sufficient; but the bass seems flat more often than not. The technicality that is on display draws from what the album truly is, a flawed piece of work that is equally uneventful as it is impressive. Now, not to say that the entire album is bad. Songs like 'Here We Are Juggernaut' and 'World of Lines' are possibly some of the best prog songs to come out this decade. But, most of the album slips into limbo, and follows the track of being repetitive. Time and time again, an album hits that blinds with technicality; while slipping through with an unimaginative experience that will likely turn fans away. 'Year of the Black Rainbow' tries too hard, and falls short of greatness.… Collapse

Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Most Discussed Album of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. Revolver
    70
    Rainbow is definitely Sanchez's show: His dreamy vocals give all the fantasy crap real human warmth. [May/Jun 2010, p.966]
  2. AllMusic
    80
    As a band, C&C either inspire rabid adoration or complete dismissal; that won't change with Year of the Black Rainbow. That said, any fan of heavy progressive rock music may find this music to be of compelling interest, whether one buys into the conceptual nature of the Amory Wars or not.
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  3. BBC Music
    50
    It's full of fascinating, stirring moments, but overall, Year of the Black Rainbow suffers just a little too much from its own grand, sprawling ambition.
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