Coheed and Cambria und Kaonashi

Rising from the ashes of their former band Toxic Parents, Claudio Sanchez (lead vocals) and Travis Stevers (rhythm guitar) experimented with a host of genres influenced by the likes of: Led Zeppelin, Misfits, Pink Floyd, At The Drive-In and Iron Maiden. Originally known as Shabutie, the band released their debut EP “Plan to Take Over the World” in 1999 through Wisteria Records and followed later that year with “The Penelope EP”.

With the new millennia came new direction encapsulated in the release of their third EP “Delirium Trigger” (2000) with many of the tracks based on science fiction comic series Sanchez had been penning, initially known as “The Bag.On.Line Adventures” and later became “The Amory Wars”. It would be these works which would evoke a recurring theme which would inspire future material for the band starting with the name change to Coheed and Cambria after the two main characters.

Having signed with Equal Vision Records, the band went on to release their debut full length album “The Second Stage Turbine Blade” in 2002, taking its concept from the comic series. Later in the year the band connected with a man who take their career to unprecedented heights, Blaze James who would become their manager. Spending the next few years relentlessly touring playing alongside: Linkin Park, The Used, Slipknot, AFI and Trivium unleashed them into the public as they saw their fanbase known as Children of the Fence (another comic reference) increase tenfold.

It was the release of their second album “In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3” in 2003 which really got the ball rolling. Certifying platinum in the US, it caught the attention of Columbia Records and in 2005 they signed a multi-album deal. Five top 10 albums later, line-up changes, a fine selection of festival appearances across the globe, Coheed and Cambria continue pushing genre divides while remaining true to the very essence of what they’ve created.