In my last Song of the Day post I warned you to expect something different…

It’s hard for me to talk about Coheed & Cambria without divulging into my affiliation with the band that formed a large part of ‘teenagehood’. I shan’t bore you with the details, however, and will keep this succinct.

Released earlier this week, The Afterman: Ascension is their latest record, and will be followed by The Afterman: Descension in February 2013.

My music taste has branched off in a multitude of directions since I first heard ‘Blood Red Summer’ back in 2005, and after 2010’s immensely disappointing The Year of the Black Rainbow, I started to wonder whether I had finally out-grown the band. Thankfully the latest record has reaffirmed that I shall always make room for Claudio Sanchez & Co.

Most of the time I’ve been the sole supporter of the group amongst friends – I’ve firmly stood my ground for all these years. The Musika community may well be more accommodating when it comes to debated musical taste, however for me this is merely a personal post and show of support.

I have selected the album’s first track; firstly because I would pick all nine songs as a playlist if I could, and secondly (perhaps more importantly) because when I heard that oh-so-familiar signature thematic motif (that has been absent from the music for years), I am joyfully reminded that there is still a part of my floppy-haired, six-string-twanging self inside me somewhere. (Editor’s note: Edward is still floppy-haired, though we are dubious of his ‘six-string-twanging’ skills.)