Regardless of whether you play RockBand or not, or if you're one of those people who claims to hit every note and bashes anyone who misses even one, you can't deny that the above drum track is at least difficult. This track doesn't even begin to fully compliment how remarkable and technical it really is.

The addition of Chris Pennie to Coheed could only mean that they band's music was bound to be more technical and aggressive. Aside from the rest of the band's general progression, those who knew Chris' past work with The Dillinger Escape Plan knew that his skills would be the perfect fit to Coheed and Cambria's new direction. The last song -- "The Broken" -- was a great example of how Chris provided a new sense of style to the band's progressive chops. As one progresses through the rest of the album, this style becomes more evident. And there's no better example than "Guns of Summer."

Without a doubt the most aggressive and fast-paced song in Coheed's career to date, "Guns of Summer" is one of those that could most likely take some time to getting used to. As soon as the song begins, the guys waste no time in shoving the music in your face. At first, the song sounds like a complete mess; the guitars are layered over each other with riffs that are played so fast it feels as if Claudio and Travis were trying to break their fingers. The drums are equally ridiculous (the RockBand drum track gives you some idea). Only Mic's bass lines show sign of sheer simplicity.

But Coheed has not always been about simplicity. They've always been experimental. What better way to experiment than utilize what skills they've developed over the years and apply them?

After a few listens, it becomes apparent "Guns of Summer" isn't as messy as it feels. The crazy verses transition into equally loud and powerful choruses, but they're a bit more simple in that the riffs use chords. But of course, the band quickly pulls the listener back again with a wacky solo and bridge, only to end with a final chorus. The solo and bridge are truly my favorite moments of this song. Again making use of their experiments with noise and ambient sounds, the band compiled together a bizarre sounding solo. What I find most interesting about it though is that the sound of it feels as if it could be something that came straight out of The Second Stage Turbine Blade, further driving home that the album is a prequel. In fact, there are plenty of moments where these tunes are a mix of Coheed's earlier sounds, which I'll get into later. To put it simply, the song is all over the place while still retaining a strict formula. It's both chaotic yet orderly, which perfectly reflects the concept behind the song.

The story can get confusing here. First, allow me to explain the novel a bit. The novel begins with Coheed and Cambria (the characters) on a secret mission, long before their memories were erased. They've been sent on this mission by their creator, Dr. Leonard Hohenberger, who, until this album, has had no appearance in The Amory Wars series. After this chapter, the novel goes back in time to explain how Coheed, Cambria, and Inferno were created, and why. In the next chapter, the novel chronicles the rise of Wilhelm Ryan, an ambitious Mage destined to guard one of the sectors of Heaven's Fence. Not content with such a position and sure of his own superiority, Ryan starts the brutal Mage War to take supreme control of Heaven's Fence. The Prise do almost little to nothing to stop his conquest, being the servants of God and fearing a riddle He gave them long ago -- a riddle that would spell doom for Heaven's Fence should His designs be challenged.

(To digress here for a moment, this "doom" turns out to be Claudio Kilgannon years later.)

Anyway, the Mage War rages across Heaven's Fence and affects even the ordinary Man, the general citizens. So much that many of them rise up to protest the war, asking for peace. One of these is young Joseph Hohenberger, son of Leonard and Pearl Hohenberger. "Guns of Summer", both the song and chapter, pretty much follow Joseph's decision to attend a protest. However, this decision proves folly, as he and many of the other protesters are killed by Ryan's Red Army. This act of brutality and the loss of his only child eventually lead to Leonard's determination to strike back against Ryan.

In the meantime, an eerie celestial phenomenon appears over Heaven's Fence, an expansive stretch of blackness that appears to defy the very laws of nature: The Black Rainbow.

I've read the novel and listened to the album many times and I still feel excited. Well, stay tuned for the next review!