With a brash chant, Coheed and Cambria’s 2005 release From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness set out to continue the tradition that their saga-filled albums have sustained. In all its guts and glory, it fell short of captivating the wider audience that the 2003 single “A Favor House Atlantic” received. It would seem that mainstream was just not cut out for this group.

That may very well be the reason why their latest album, No World For Tomorrow (released Oct. 23), has a striking omission of pop-influenced standards.

The first track “No World For Tomorrow” (succeeding a haunting intro) is forceful and holds nothing back. As it progresses to the bridge, there is a build up that features Claudio Sanchez’s memorable line (repetitive through records before) “What did I do to deserve all of you?”

Another track similar in nature is the demonic, cantering “Gravemakers & Gunslingers.” This song emulates gutbucket guitar riffs at its best, highlighted by a head-banger’s holiday solo provided by lead guitarist Travis Stever that will leave the unsuspecting listener in the dust.

Evoking a softer side, “Mother Superior” is the masterpiece of the album. Slow acoustic riffs accompany Sanchez’s high-pitched vocals and perfectly demonstrate the emotional tensions surrounding an obscure and hellish mother/son complex.

Keeping to their “rock opera” roots, Coheed and Cambria treat the last five tracks as The End Complete series. Although the sense of storybook telling is still apparent in this series, it does not contribute a memorable track like the ones before it, except for the last minute of the final track.

Once again, Coheed and Cambria went digging for gold and missed it by a short margin. Still, for AOTY (album of the year) sentiments, you can place it in contention with the other notable albums that graced 2007; I know I have.