The masters of storytelling are back asCoheed and Cambria have released their 11th studio album,Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe.The band joins a growing list of artists to put out new records in 2025, includingSpiritbox,Ringo StarrandThe Weeknd. This album is the third installment of the Vaxis series, followingVaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creaturesin 2018, andVaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mindin 2022.
For over twenty years, Coheed and Cambria have been telling the story ofThe Amory Wars. The only time the band has truly stepped away from this was with their 2015 album,The Color Before the Sun.The concepts of each record follow comics and novels created by the band’s frontman, Claudio Sanchez. This 2025 record is another return to it, butthe album contains a personal touch that reflects Sanchez’s true feelings over the past few years of life.
14Yesterday’s Lost
Track 1 - 3:24
While promoting this album,lead singer Claudio Sanchez was quick to point out his age and how it had prompted him to truly start self-reflecting. Sanchez, who turned 47 on August 18, 2025, seemed determined to explore the themes of loss and mortality within this record. “Yesterday’s Lost” not only serves as the first track on the album but also an introduction to these themes.
Sanchez, who turned 47 on June 03, 2025, seemed determined to explore the themes of loss and mortality within this record.
The song is very gentle, featuring the sounds of piano and acoustic guitar. The lyrics are few, with only a couple of verses, but they are sung with a softness rather than intensity. This causes the listener to hang on to each word andtruly begins the album off on a moving note. Once you hear this, your emotions are immediately opened up, and you are ready for the journey of the 13 other tracks.
13The Continuum IV: So It Goes
Track 14 - 5:45
The last four tracks on this record are all “The Continuum” with each receiving its own part. Part IV is not only the final one in the story but also the last song on the album. “The Continuum IV: So It Goes” is rather mild in its nature, featuring sweet elements throughout,culminating in a climactic final two minutes that closes things with a heroic ensemble.
The story goes much deeper though, as the song appears to reference Kurt Vonnegut, an author who used the phrase “so it goes” to acknowledge suffering and loss in his controversial novelSlaughterhouse-Five. This theme not only seems to represent adversity inThe Amory Warsbut alsorelates back to Claudio Sanchez’s real-life self-reflection on these two subjects.
12Corner My Confidence
Track 9 - 4:04
For as emotional as the opening track “Yesterday’s Lost” is, “Corner My Confidence” is arguably the one with the most sorrow. Just look at the beginning of the chorus, which starts with"Endings don’t come any easier. As I needed one, you stole the sun.“These may be some of the most powerful words on the album. Backed by a soft acoustic guitar,the song profoundly affects one’s feelings.
For as emotional as the opening track “Yesterday’s Lost” is, “Corner My Confidence” is arguably the one with the most sorrow.
It is a continued exploration of loss and grief, but also a quest to find meaning in a disorderly world. As you listen and replay the lyrics, you begin to realize their impact: a continual search to find answers through grief. While this may not be a party anthem,it is an important track as it cuts to the core of the record’s message.
11The Continuum III: Tethered Together
Track 13 - 4:36
The Beatles said in 1967,“I get by with a little help from my friends.“The reliance on others in some form or another seems to be a fundamental aspect of human experience. While “The Continuum IV” focuses on suffering and loss, “The Continuum III: Tethered Together"emphasizes connection and reliance on one another, even when it’s difficult to do so.
The song serves as a true reflection of life, where we all get by with a little help. The message is strong, acting as a link between the band and their fans. The piano in the beginning further strengthens the track, butthe true power comes from the guitars. They include some of the most pleasing riffs on the entire album, tying together this important idea.
10Meri Of Mercy
Track 5 - 4:16
The hardcore fans ofThe Amory Warswill greatly appreciate “Mari of Mercy"as the song seems to draw from the story’s protagonist, Cambria. This track addresses the “merciless warrior” whose feelings of compassion lead to conflict when trying to find the balance between life and duty. It’s one of those songs that not only continues the story but also allows any listener to derive meaning from it.
10 Comics Written By Musicians
While it may seem like an unlikely medium for a musical artist, musicians like Jason Derulo and Gerard Way crossed over into comic book writing.
The tale is conveyed through the track, which feels quite upbeat. It features a small piano solo about three-quarters through, which is a nice touch.Another key element of the song is the opening verse, which lasts for a minute. It is a really cool way to start the song, and further enhances the overall objective of telling its story.
9The Continuum II: The Flood
Track 12 - 6:23
As the third and fourth parts of the “Continuum” deal with relying on someone, and then the loss of someone,“The Continuum II: The Flood” is more about the anguish of a relationship ending. There’s no mistaking that the lyrics"Where I once loved, now pumps cold blood"are calculated, signifying the end of a once-happy relationship.
When you listen to this track, be prepared to be locked in for a while as it runs over six minutes and is the longest track on the album. It does leave room for assimilation as it has a nice instrumental interlude that lasts for a few minutes. Perhaps the most appealing part of the song is the wayClaudio pronounces each word with so much emphasis.
8Blind Side Sonny
Track 6 - 2:22
Released as a single, “Blind Side Sonny” was not only important in promoting this new record, but it also served as the introduction of a new character inThe Amory Wars.The character Sonny is portrayed as a villain, who is most likely after the “unheavenly creatures.” If you watch the music video, you will see the new character making their way through the crowd while wearing a black cloak.
“Blind Side Sonny” was not only important in the promotion of this new record, but it served as the introduction of a new character inThe Amory Wars.
On the surface, this is a track that makes you want to move, and the music video leaves you longing to be at a Coheed and Cambria concert. However, a deeper dive into the lyricsreveals a song about revenge. It’s a story of how an innocent choice became misinterpreted and led to vicious consequences, highlighting how the wrong perception can be destructive.
7The Father Of Make Believe
Track 4 - 4:39
The title track of the album appears to be a personal one for Claudio Sanchez.The song explores themes of being a leader and a family manwhile also dealing with life’s struggles. It strongly highlights how Sanchez has been able to carefully craft his messages without putting his entire life on display.
The song is powerful in its instrumentals, and showcases the beauty of what rock opera can be. The lyrics"I’m the vision that you choose to see. The one you’re able to hate or love as you need"reveal a true struggle in how one is perceived. In this song,Sanchez is no different from any Coheed fan. He is simply a person with multiple roles, trying to be what people need him to be.
6Searching For Tomorrow
Track 3 - 3:33
Fans have had a long time to digest “Searching for Tomorrow” since the song was released ahead of the album back in November 2024. The song features an animated video that is visually captivating. During it, you will see the Sonny character again in what is the beginning of the “Blind Side Sonny” music video, butquickly you are taken to another realm ofThe Amory Wars.
It’s a tale of how searching for something more in life prevents you from appreciating what you already have.
Not only does the video tell an incredible story, but the actual lyrics of the song do as well. It’s a tale of how searching for something more in life prevents you from appreciating what you already have. Given how fast life can move,this is a message that many can relate to. It ties back to one of the overarching themes of the record: self-acceptance.
5The Continuum I: Welcome to Forever, Mr. Nobody
Track 11 - 3:43
This song begins “The Continuum” in the absolute best way possible.It is a fast-paced tune that is in your facefrom the very start. If you listen to the four tracks consecutively, there is no doubt this track grabs your attention and serves as a great hook for the rest of them. The other three deal with the feelings someone else can evoke in you, while this one focuses on self-evaluation.
It would be nice to know everything, but unfortunately, the knowledge of the world may be too vast for that to be possible. This song is the acceptance of that. While it’s easy to feel lost at times in a fast-paced society, there is comfort in realizing you’ll never have everything truly figured out. This is Coheed and Cambria’s way of sayingit’s okay to be yourself.
