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COHEED AND CAMBRIA
The Father Of Make Believe
Album Review

(2nd March, 2025)

Review by Sylwia Green

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Photo – Jimmy Fontaine

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The kings of cosmic rock are returning with a new album on March 14, 2025.

After nearly three decades of blurring the lines between progressive rock, metal, and sci-fi storytelling, Coheed and Cambria are back with their 10th full-length album (released via Virgin Music), ‘The Father of Make Believe’. For fans, this isn’t just another record—it’s the next chapter in an epic saga that’s been unfolding since 2002. And while Claudio Sanchez and company may be neck-deep in their fictional universe, the emotions they channel hit closer to home than ever.

If you’re already aboard the Coheed ship, rest easy—they haven’t thrown the playbook out of the airlock. But for newcomers, is this the best point of entry into the band’s sprawling lore? Well… buckle up.

A Space Odyssey with a Human Heart

Over the years, Coheed and Cambria have become the musical equivalent of a cult sci-fi series: deeply loved, sometimes dense, but always ambitious. ‘Vaxis—Act III: The Father of Make Believe’ continues the band’s Amory Wars narrative—a tale so vast it has its own comic book series. But beneath the galactic battles and interstellar drama lies something more grounded.

In an interview with Revolver, Sanchez described the album as a reflection of ‘a kind of musical midlife crisis,’ a struggle between creative growth and staying true to their roots. That tug-of-war is audible from the opening notes of ‘Yesterday’s Lost,’ where soft piano chords and a cinematic swell set an introspective tone. When Sanchez asks, ‘If this life ends early, would I have spent our time right?’ it’s less a plot point and more an existential gut punch.

It’s a deceptive calm before the storm.

By track two, ‘Searching for Tomorrow,’ the band catapults back into their signature mix of punchy riffs and soaring vocals (think: MTV in the early 2010s). Travis Stever’s guitar solo—sharp and unapologetic—feels like a callback to the band’s earlier bangers like ‘Comatose’ from ‘Vaxis—Act II,’ but there’s a restless energy here that suggests the band isn’t just coasting on nostalgia.

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The Father of Make Believe —Heavy Lies the Crown

The album’s title track, ‘The Father of Make Believe,’ is classic Coheed: long, theatrical, and built to crush live audiences. The intro creeps in like a shadow in deep space before exploding into a chorus dripping with anguish and defiance. When Sanchez belts out, ‘Just take my hand when the monsters turn off the lights,’ it’s the sound of a man wrestling with both fictional demons and real-life doubts.

And while the band’s prog-metal theatrics are still front and center, they haven’t lost their softer side. Tracks like ‘Meri of Mercy’ and ‘Corner My Confidence’ offer a breath between the bombast—shimmering with the same vulnerability that made ‘The Color Before the Sun’ such an outlier in their discography. These aren’t just side quests; they’re essential emotional anchors.

👉 Read also:

Interview with Travis Stever from Coheed and Cambria

Coheed and Cambria Share New Single ‘Unheavenly Creatures’

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Legacy vs. Evolution—Have They Outdone Themselves?

Sanchez claims he tries to ‘outdo’ each previous album (check out the BLUNT interview). But has ‘The Father or Make Believe’ truly pushed Coheed into new territory? Not exactly. In my opinion, you won’t find any wild stylistic pivots here. And truth be told, there are moments where the band’s formula feels a little too familiar.

That said, why fix what isn’t broken?

Fans fell in love with Coheed’s blend of sci-fi grandeur and emotional rawness, and this record delivers both in spades. If you loved ‘In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3’ or ‘Good Apollo,’ you’ll feel right at home here.

As for the album’s most powerful message, I found mine in the first line of the opening track. As Sanchez describes it: ‘Always searching for something better robs you of appreciating what you have.’ In a world obsessed with constant progress, Coheed and Cambria remind us that sometimes, staying true to yourself is the most radical act of all.

Find the upcoming 2025 tour dates
👉 Pre-order the album

The Final Verdict

‘The Father of Make Believe’ isn’t a reinvention—but it doesn’t need to be. It’s a testament to a band who know exactly who they are and refuse to compromise. With thunderous riffs, cinematic highs, and moments of heartfelt reflection, Coheed and Cambria continue their legacy without losing their heart.

And, unlike some movies, ‘Vaxis—Act III’ isn’t any worse than the prequels.

✅ You may also like: Tides of Man, Jimmy Eat World, Porcupine Tree.
✅ My top tracks: ‘Father of Make Believe,’ ‘Yesterday’s Lost.’
✅ Skip it if: You prefer your softer rock.

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THE FATHER OF MAKE BELIEVE – OUT MARCH 14, 2025
PRE-ORDER/SAVE: HERE
DELUXE BOX SET: HERE

SOMEONE WHO CAN – OUT NOW
LISTEN: HERE
WATCH: HERE

THE FATHER OF
MAKE BELIEVE
Track Listing:

01. Yesterday Lost
02. Goodbye, Sunshine
03. Searching For Tomorrow
04. The Father of Make Believe
05. Meri of Mercy
06. Blind Side Sonny
07. Play The Poet
08. One Last Miracle
09. Corner My Confidence
10. Someone Who Can
11. The Continuum I: Welcome to Forever, Mr. Nobody
12. The Continuum II: The Flood
13. The Continuum III: Tethered Together
14. The Continuum IV: So It Goes

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Follow COHEED AND CAMBRIA

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Photo – Jimmy Fontaine

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Press Release 15th January 2025 (below) HERE

COHEED AND CAMBRIA
Shares soaring new
single & video
SOMEONE WHO CAN

LISTEN | WATCH

THE FATHER OF MAKE BELIEVE
due March 14

VIA VIRGIN MUSIC GROUP

VAXIS ACT III:
THE FATHER OF MAKE BELIEVE
PRE-ORDER SAVE – DELUXE BOX SET

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AMNPLIFY – DB