When Coheed and Cambria delivered their “Blind Side Sonny” single earlier this fall, the band had teased that an upcoming album release would soon follow. Making due on that promise, the punky prog veterans have now officially revealed plans to release their 10th full-length, Vaxis Act III: The Father of Make Believe, in 2025.
The album follows 2022’s Vaxis Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind and will naturally build on the sci-fi lore of the band’s broader Amory Wars/Vaxis narrative. A press release notes that guitarist-vocalist Claudio Sanchez is getting extra meta with his lyrics this time around, with the master storyteller casting himself as the titular Father of Make Believe. As previously reported, the storyline also introduces Blind Side Sonny as a new villain figure.
To tease their next chapter further, Coheed and Cambria have unveiled a fist-pounder called “Searching for Tomorrow,” which homes in on Sanchez’ signature sinewy vocal style, sports some herky-jerked rock hooks, and includes a laser-beamed guitar solo of epic proportions.
You can check out the brand new video for “Searching for Tomorrow” up above.
Speaking about “Searching for Tomorrow” and The Father of Make Believe, Coheed bandleader Caludio Sanchez commented: “This song is a reminder that always looking for something better in your life robs you of being able to appreciate the good things you already have.
“With every album I try to ‘outdo’ the one before, or at least make something that sounds different and evolved in some way. I think that initial struggle added to the feeling of having a kind of musical midlife crisis… this constant internal battle of searching for creative release and growth… the being unsure if it’s the right path. This one took more effort in the beginning, but in the end I think the digging was worth it for the subsequent surge.”
Vaxis Act III: The Father of Make Believe is being released in multiple formats, along with bonus goodies like a “fully wearable and functional” Blind Side Sonny helmet and “neuro-dynamic display goggles,” a hardcover illustrated novella coffee table, posters, a death certificate signed for fictional character Siv Trafinder and more. You can find out more details here, while the record officially lands March 14th via Virgin Music Group.
As previously reported, Coheed and Cambria will be mounting their next SS Neverender rock cruise, officially dubbed “Good Apollo, We’re Boating to Cozumel: MMXXV,” to Cozumel, Mexico, next November. The trip sets sail from Miami, Florida, on November 8th and will feature performances from Thursday, L.S. Dunes, Zulu, the Dear Hunter and many more in addition to Coheed themselves. You can find out more info over here.
Vaxis Act III: The Father of Make Believe tracklisting:
Yesterday Lost
Goodbye, Sunshine
Searching for Tomorrow
The Father of Make Believe
Meri of Mercy
Blind Side Sonny
Play The Poet
One Last Miracle
Corner My Confidence
Someone Who Can
The Continuum I: Welcome to Forever, Mr. Nobody
The Continuum II: The Flood
The Continuum III: Tethered Together
The Continuum IV: So It Goes