The Afterman: Descension

Last updated
The Afterman: Descension
The Afterman Descension album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Coheed and Cambria
ReleasedFebruary 5, 2013
RecordedNovember 2011 – June 2012 Applehead Recording Woodstock, NY
Genre
Length43:24
Label Hundred Handed/Everything Evil
Producer
  • Coheed and Cambria
  • Michael Birnbaum
  • Chris Bittner
Coheed and Cambria chronology
The Afterman: Ascension
(2012)		The Afterman: Descension
(2013)		 The Afterman (Live Edition)
(2013)
Singles from The Afterman: Descension
  1. "Dark Side of Me"
    Released: January 14, 2013

The Afterman: Descension is the seventh studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. It is the second part of a double album, the first part of which is The Afterman: Ascension . The band took seven months to record the albums between 2011 and 2012, and announced a February 5, 2013 release date.

Contents

The deluxe version of the album was released with a coffee-table book co-written by band member Claudio Sanchez and writer Peter David, giving a song-by-song experience of the concept album. The album is a prequel to the Amory Wars storyline, and concentrates on the character Sirius Amory.

Background and recording

Coheed and Cambria began recording the double album in November 2011, [5] and had finished recording by June 2012. [6]

"Iron Fist" was debuted in 2010. The song was also featured in the acoustic set during their "Neverender: Second Stage Turbine Blade" dates in 2011.

In February, 2012, Coheed and Cambria singer/guitarist Claudio Sanchez released a self-shot acoustic rendition of a new song titled "Sentry the Defiant" (later retitled "Key Entity Extraction V: Sentry The Defiant") via the band's official YouTube channel. [7]

Release

The album was released in both digital and physical formats on February 5, 2013; the first part ( The Afterman: Ascension ) was released on 9 October 2012. [8] The album name and release date were announced on July 31, 2012 via a press release and a YouTube teaser video, featuring a man in a spaceship speaking to an AI he refers to as "All Mother". [9] Coheed and Cambria co-produced the album with Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner under the label Hundred Handed/Everything Evil and will be distributed by Fontana/INgrooves. [10]

The deluxe version of the album was released with a hardcover coffee-table book of the album's Amory Wars storyline, the concept all Coheed and Cambria's albums follow (with the exception of 2015's The Color Before the Sun). The book is co-written by Sanchez and writer Peter David, who worked together on the book which accompanied Coheed and Cambria's previous album, Year of the Black Rainbow . [10] The double album tells the story of Sirius Amory, the namesake of the concept, as he explores the energy source holding together the Keywork (the 78 worlds in which the Amory Wars is set) and finds that it is in fact a horrible afterlife for departed souls. [11] The artwork for the book was created by Heidi Taillefer and Nathan Spoor, and the book provides a "song-by-song" experience for the listener. [10]

The song "The Hard Sell" was released on December 18, 2012 as part of Guitar Center's Fresh Cuts Vol. 8 compilation CD. A lyric video of the song was later put on the band's official YouTube channel. [12] "Dark Side of Me" was later released on January 14, 2013, along with a lyric video, on the band's Facebook page. [13] The band also played the song on the January 21 episode of Conan . [14] Similarly, "Number City" was released exclusively on NME.com on January 30, 2013, [15] and "Iron Fist" was released on the official Coheed and Cambria Tumblr Account the following day. [16]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 75/100 [17]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Alternative Press Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Classic Rock Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Consequence of Sound Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [19]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
musicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Punknews.orgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [20]
Sputnikmusic4/5 [21]

Critical

The album was met with generally positive reviews. It has received 4/5 ratings from Allmusic, Alternative Press , Kerrang! and musicOMH. [2] [3] [18] The overall rating on Metacritic is 75/100. [17]

Commercial

The Afterman: Descension debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 albums chart on its release, selling around 41,000 copies in the United States in its first week. [22] It also debuted at No. 3 on both the Billboard's Top Rock Albums and Alternative Albums charts. [23] [24] The album has sold 91,600 copies in the United States as of October 2015. [25]

The album debuted at number 64 on the UK Albums Chart [26] and number 3 on the UK Rock Albums Chart. [27]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Claudio Sanchez, except "Away We Go", "Iron Fist" and "Dark Side of Me" composed by Claudio Sanchez and Travis Stever [28] [29]

The Afterman: Descension
No.TitleLength
1."Pretelethal"3:21
2."Key Entity Extraction V: Sentry the Defiant"5:45
3."The Hard Sell"5:10
4."Number City"3:49
5."Gravity's Union"6:46
6."Away We Go"3:55
7."Iron Fist"4:46
8."Dark Side of Me"5:03
9."2's My Favorite 1"4:55
Total length:43:24
iTunes Deluxe edition bonus tracks [28]
No.TitleLength
10."Dark Side of Me" (Einziger and Sanchez remix)4:24
11."Carol Ann" (bonus track)5:06
12."Random Reality Shifts" (bonus track)5:47
Total length:15:15
Limited Deluxe Edition Box Set: Disc 4 (Big Beige demos)
No.TitleLength
1."Sentry the Defiant" (demo)4:56
2."The Hard Sell" (demo three)4:39
3."Gravity's Union" (demo)5:54
4."Away We Go" (demo)4:07
5."Iron Fist" (Bunny Man Bridge demo)4:38
6."Iron Fist" (Acoustic Stripped demo)4:36
7."2's My Favorite 1" (demo)3:21
8."2's My Favorite 1" (Piano demo)3:25
9."Carol Ann" (bonus track)5:06
10."Random Reality Shifts" (bonus track)5:47
11."Dark Side of Me" (Einziger and Sanchez remix)4:25
Total length:50:52

Personnel

Coheed and Cambria

Additional musicians

Artwork

Charts

Chart (2013)Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC) [31] 64
UK Rock Albums Chart [27] 3
US Billboard 200 [32] 9
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [33] 3
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [34] 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [35] 3
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [36] 3

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coheed and Cambria</span> American progressive rock band

Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York, formed in 1995. It consists of Claudio Sanchez, Travis Stever, Josh Eppard, and Zach Cooper. The group's music incorporates aspects of progressive rock, pop, heavy metal, and post-hardcore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claudio Sanchez</span> American writer and musician

Claudio Paul Sanchez III is an American writer and musician best known for being the lead singer, guitarist and primary lyricist for the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. He is the creator of the comic book series The Amory Wars, as well as Key of Z and Kill Audio, both co-written with his wife Chondra Echert. Sanchez co-authored the novel Year of the Black Rainbow with Peter David.

<i>In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3</i> 2003 album by Coheed and Cambria

In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 is the second studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. It was released on October 7, 2003, through Equal Vision Records. It was recorded at Applehead Recording, Woodstock, New York and produced by Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner.

<i>The Second Stage Turbine Blade</i> 2002 studio album by Coheed and Cambria

The Second Stage Turbine Blade is the debut studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. It was originally released on March 5, 2002 through Equal Vision Records. It is their first album and part one of a tetralogy, telling the story of The Amory Wars. It was re-released on September 20, 2005, and included three previously unreleased bonus tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Prize Fighter Inferno</span> American acoustica/elctronica band

The Prize Fighter Inferno is an acoustic/electronica project of Claudio Sanchez, the lead singer and lead/rhythm guitarist for the band Coheed and Cambria, and his wife Chondra Echert. The first album, called My Brother's Blood Machine was released on October 31, 2006, through indie label Equal Vision Records. According to My Brother's Blood Machine liner notes, Claudio recorded the album over a period of seven years with "...random recording devices...".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Favor House Atlantic</span> 2004 single by Coheed and Cambria

"A Favor House Atlantic" is a song by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria from their 2003 album In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3. In the United States, it remains Coheed and Cambria's highest charting song, having peaked at No. 13 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart. It reached No. 77 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welcome Home (Coheed and Cambria song)</span> 2005 single by Coheed and Cambria

"Welcome Home" is a song by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria, released on September 20, 2005 through Columbia Records. It is the third track on the album, Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. The song was the first single on the album and was made into a music video. The song tells of the hostility in The Writer and Miss Erica Court's relationship in The Amory Wars, according to bandleader Claudio Sanchez. It reached #24 on the Mainstream Rock chart. A 7" version backed by a live-version of "The Crowing" and sold with the album.

The Amory Wars is an ongoing series of science fiction comic books and novels created by Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez and Chondra Echert, published by Evil Ink Comics. The name also refers to the fictional conflict at the center of the story, which is told across the published works and is also the primary focus of most of the band's music.

<i>Good Apollo, Im Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow</i> 2007 studio album by Coheed and Cambria

Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow, is the fourth studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria, released on October 23, 2007. The album is a direct sequel to their previous album, Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. The album comprises part four of band's Amory Wars narrative. It is the only album to feature Taylor Hawkins on drums, following the departure of Josh Eppard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coheed and Cambria discography</span>

Most of Coheed and Cambria's albums are part of a sci-fi saga called The Amory Wars. They have been released out of sequence in relation to the story arc. The first album released was The Second Stage Turbine Blade, the second part in the series, followed by the third, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, and the fourth, which is split into two volumes. The first, Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, was released in 2005, and the second, entitled Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow, was released on October 23, 2007, and is said to be the last chapter in the ongoing saga of Coheed and Cambria Kilgannon, the main characters in The Amory Wars saga. They released the prequel to the saga, Year of the Black Rainbow, on April 13, 2010. The band then released a double album entitled The Afterman, set before the events of Year of the Black Rainbow. The first part, The Afterman: Ascension, was released October 9, 2012, and the second part, The Afterman: Descension, was released February 5, 2013. The band's eighth album, The Color Before the Sun, was released on October 16, 2015. It is the band's first album not to be part of The Amory Wars concept. After this, the band returned to the Amory Wars storyline with a planned pentalogy of albums, titled Vaxis. The first part, Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures, was released on October 5, 2018. The second part, Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind, was released on June 24, 2022. The band's upcoming album, Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe, will be released on March 14, 2025.

<i>Neverender: Children of The Fence Edition</i> 2009 box set by Coheed and Cambria

Neverender: Children of the Fence Edition is a live CD/DVD box set by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria that was released on March 24, 2009. It contains five DVDs and four CDs featuring live footage of the concert series Neverender and audio from each night. In addition, a fifth disc features a documentary of the concert series. The band officially reported on their Myspace that the Children Of The Fence edition would be limited to 15,000 copies worldwide. The first 3,000 copies were signed by the band. Children of the Fence is a reference to Heaven's Fence, the universe in which the band's concept albums take place, and thereby the nickname for fans of the band.

<i>Year of the Black Rainbow</i> 2010 studio album by Coheed and Cambria

Year of the Black Rainbow is the fifth studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria, released on April 13, 2010 through Columbia. The album is a prequel to the band's previous four concept albums, which comprise The Amory Wars narrative. Year of the Black Rainbow marks drummer Chris Pennie's only studio appearance. It is the last album to feature Michael Todd on bass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Running Free</span> 2007 single by Coheed and Cambria

"The Running Free" is a song by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. The song was released as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow.

<i>Good Apollo, Im Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness</i> 2005 studio album by Coheed and Cambria

Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness is the third studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. It was released on September 20, 2005, through Equal Vision Records and Columbia Records, and is the first release on a major label. It is the third installment of a tetralogy, as well as the final studio album to feature drummer Josh Eppard before his original departure. He was replaced by Chris Pennie who was with the band for their next two albums before Eppard returned to the band in late 2011. On their previous album, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, the phrase "My dearest Apollo, I'll be burning Star IV" is written after the lyrics for the song "The Light & the Glass".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chondra Echert</span> American writer

Chondra Echert is an American writer and musician, best known as co-writer of the comic book series Key of Z, Kill Audio and Translucid.

<i>The Afterman: Ascension</i> 2012 studio album by Coheed and Cambria

The Afterman: Ascension is the sixth studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. It is the first part of a double album, the second part of which is The Afterman: Descension. The band took seven months to record the albums between 2011 and 2012, released a live acoustic version of "Key Entity Extraction V: Sentry the Defiant" in February 2012, and announced a release date of October 9 later that year. The first single was "Key Entity Extraction I: Domino the Destitute", released in August 2012. It is the first Coheed and Cambria album since 2005's Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness to feature Josh Eppard on drums, and the first to feature Zach Cooper on bass. The album received mainly positive reviews.

<i>The Color Before the Sun</i> 2015 studio album by Coheed and Cambria

The Color Before the Sun is the eighth studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. Following the conceptual double album, The Afterman: Ascension and Descension, released in 2012 and 2013 respectively, The Color Before the Sun is the first non-conceptual album the band has released, making it the only Coheed and Cambria album to not be a part of The Amory Wars storyline. The band released a live acoustic version of "Atlas" in August 2014, and announced a release date of October 9 in July of the following year, before announcing a push back to October 16, 2015. The first single was "You Got Spirit, Kid", released in July 2015, with a music video for the song released in August. A second music video, for the song "Island", was released in October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Suffering (song)</span> 2006 single by Coheed and Cambria

"The Suffering" is a song by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria, appearing on the band's third studio album Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. The song was released as the album's second single and had some crossover success, reaching no. 10 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

<i>Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures</i> 2018 studio album by Coheed and Cambria

Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures is the ninth studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. It was released on October 5, 2018, returning to the band's Amory Wars concept after 2015's The Color Before the Sun.

<i>Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind</i> 2022 studio album by Coheed and Cambria

Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind is the tenth studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. The album, like most of the studio albums from the band, is a concept album that continues the Amory Wars storyline. It was released on June 24, 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "Preview: Progressive band Coheed and Cambria keeps sci-fi concept going through seventh album - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Post-gazette.com. 2013-02-07. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  2. 1 2 3 Jurek, Thom. "Coheed and Cambria: The Afterman: Descension: Review". Allmusic . Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Headon, Martin. "Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman: Descension". musicOMH . Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Afterman: Descension". Tone Deaf. 24 January 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  5. ↑ Bryan VanGelder (2011-10-18). "NYCC Interview with Claudio Sanchez Of Coheed And Cambria". Streetdate.radio.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2012-08-19.
  6. ↑ "Coheed and Cambria Finish New Album - News Article". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved 2012-08-19.
  7. ↑ Ableson, Jon (2009-08-20). "Coheed And Cambria Perform New Song "Sentry The Defiant"". Alter The Press!. Retrieved 2012-08-19.
  8. ↑ "Coheed and Cambria Announce New Double Concept Album "The Afterman"". The Audio Perv. 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  9. ↑ "Coheed And Cambria Announce New Double Album And UK Tour! | News | Rock Sound". Rocksound.tv. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  10. 1 2 3 bravewords.com. "> News > COHEED AND CAMBRIA - The Afterman: Ascension Album Trailer Posted; New Double Album Details Revealed". Bravewords.com. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  11. ↑ Greg Prato. "Coheed and Cambria Ready Two More Installments of Career-Long Saga | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  12. ↑ Coheed and Cambria - The Hard Sell (Lyric Video) on YouTube
  13. ↑ "Coheed And Cambria "Dark Side of Me" - Exclusive Video Premiere @". Teamcoco.com. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  14. ↑ "COHEED AND CAMBRIA To Perform On 'Conan'". Blabbermouth.Net. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  15. ↑ "Coheed And Cambria stream new track 'Number City' exclusively on NME.COM". NME.com. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
  16. ↑ ""Iron Fist" Song Premiere!" . Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Afterman: Descension". Metacritic. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  18. 1 2 Freeman, Phil (February 2013), "Coheed and Cambria: The Afterman: Descension", Alternative Press , no. 296, p. 87
  19. ↑ Freed, Nick. "Album Review: Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman: Descension". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  20. ↑ RENALDO69 (7 February 2013). "Coheed And Cambria – The Afterman: Descension (staff review)". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 18, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ Garland, Robert. "Coheed And Cambria – The Afterman: Descension (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  22. ↑ Keith Caulfield (February 13, 2013). "Josh Groban Earns Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard.
  23. ↑ "Rock Albums". Billboard. February 23, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Alternative Albums". Billboard. February 23, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015.
  26. ↑ "2013-02-16 UK Albums Chart – Archived". Official Charts. 2013-02-10. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  27. 1 2 "2013-02-16 Top 40 Rock & Metal Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 2013-02-10. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  28. 1 2 "iTunes - Music - The Afterman: Descension (Deluxe Edition) by Coheed and Cambria". Apple. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  29. ↑ The Afterman: Descension (CD booklet). Coheed and Cambria. Hundred Handed/Everything Evil. 2013. HHI007.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ↑ Archuletta, Lauren (26 March 2016). "Coheed and Cambria on Getting Less Progressive but More Approachable".
  31. ↑ "Coheed and Cambria | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
  32. ↑ "Coheed and Cambria Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  33. ↑ "Coheed and Cambria Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard.
  34. ↑ "Coheed and Cambria Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  35. ↑ "Coheed and Cambria Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  36. ↑ "Coheed and Cambria Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.