Coheed and Cambria return with "Blind Side Sonny", their heaviest track yet

News

2 Oct

Veteran prog-rock innovators Coheed and Cambria are back with a vengeance, unveiling their new single "Blind Side Sonny", a track that marks the beginning of a bold new chapter in their ever-evolving The Amory Wars saga. The song is the first piece of new music since the release of Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind, which cemented Coheed’s status as one of the most daring acts in the rock world. Known for their ambitious concept albums and sprawling narrative arcs, Coheed and Cambria show no signs of slowing down, with "Blind Side Sonny" showcasing some of their most aggressive material to date.

The track introduces a new villain to the band’s expansive mythos. As frontman Claudio Sanchez explains, "Blind Side Sonny" delves into themes of revenge and perception. "What may seem like an innocent choice to one person could be the spark for another’s malicious misunderstanding," Sanchez notes, pointing to the nuanced storytelling that has always set Coheed apart from their peers. Lyrically, the song is as layered as the music itself, which moves seamlessly from hard-hitting riffs to haunting, ethereal passages.

Musically, "Blind Side Sonny" sees Coheed and Cambria pushing themselves further into heavy territory. The track opens with blistering guitars, anchored by Josh Eppard’s thunderous drumming and Zach Cooper’s muscular bass lines. Claudio Sanchez’s vocals alternate between emotive croons and full-throated screams, embodying the duality of the song’s central themes. There’s a palpable tension running through the track, making it one of the band’s most intense offerings in recent years.

The Max Moore-directed music video, which accompanies the single, captures the band’s electric live energy, juxtaposing shots of them performing with imagery of Sonny, the new antagonist, slowly infiltrating the crowd. Moore, known for his dynamic and visually striking work, adds another layer to the song’s narrative, reinforcing the themes of deception and manipulation that underpin the lyrics.

Following the release of Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind and a string of high-profile tour dates, including sold-out shows at iconic venues like Madison Square Garden, Coheed and Cambria have been on a relentless creative streak. Their summer tour with Incubus introduced their genre-blurring sound to new audiences, and their recent co-headlining stint with Primus was further proof that Coheed are a band at the top of their game, both in the studio and on stage.

As Coheed and Cambria prepare to headline Furnace Fest in Alabama and When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas, "Blind Side Sonny" signals that the band is ready to continue pushing the boundaries of progressive rock. With over 20 years in the game, they remain as innovative as ever, with Sanchez and company showing that they still have plenty of stories left to tell.

For fans of the band’s sprawling concept albums and intricate musical arrangements, "Blind Side Sonny" is an exciting glimpse into what’s to come. The single marks the start of a new era for Coheed and Cambria, and if this track is anything to go by, their next full-length project will be nothing short of epic.

Watch the video for “Blind Side Sonny”: