The Afterman: Ascension

Coheed and Cambria began recording the double album in November 2011,{{cite web |author=Bryan VanGelder |url=http://streetdate.radio.com/2011/10/18/nycc-interview-with-claudio-sanchez-of-coheed-and-cambria/#ixzz1bK05ZA61 |title=NYCC Interview with Claudio Sanchez Of Coheed And Cambria |publisher=Streetdate.radio.com |date=2011-10-18 |access-date=2012-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020120048/http://streetdate.radio.com/2011/10/18/nycc-interview-with-claudio-sanchez-of-coheed-and-cambria/#ixzz1bK05ZA61 |archive-date=2011-10-20 }} and had finished recording by June 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2773942 |title=Coheed and Cambria Finish New Album - News Article |publisher=AbsolutePunk.net |access-date=2012-08-19}} It is the first Coheed and Cambria album featuring Zach Cooper on bass, and the first to feature Josh Eppard on drums since Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness released in 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/coheed-and-cambria/65250 |title=Coheed And Cambria announce new double album 'The Afterman' and UK tour – ticket details | News |publisher=Nme.Com |date=2012-08-01 |access-date=2012-08-07}}

In February, 2012, Coheed and Cambria singer/guitarist Claudio Sanchez released a self-shot acoustic rendition of a new song titled "Key Entity Extraction V: Sentry the Defiant" via the band's official YouTube channel.{{cite web|last=Ableson |first=Jon |url=http://www.alterthepress.com/2012/04/coheed-and-cambria-perform-new-song.html |title=Coheed And Cambria Perform New Song "Sentry The Defiant" |publisher=Alter The Press! |date=2009-08-20 |access-date=2012-08-19}} The song later turned out to be on the second album, The Afterman: Descension.{{cite web|url=http://nathanspoor.bigcartel.com/products |title=Nathan Spoor – Products |publisher=Nathan Spoor |access-date=2012-09-27}}

On August 7, 2012, Rolling Stone revealed that the first single and music video from the album would be "Key Entity Extraction I: Domino the Destitute". Later the same day they played the song for the first time as part of their set in Tucson, Arizona.{{cite web|url=http://www.theprp.com/2012/08/08/news/coheed-and-cambria-perform-new-single-domino-the-destitute-in-tucson-az/ |title=Coheed And Cambria Perform New Single "Domino: The Destitute" In Tucson, AZ | Theprp.com – Metal, Hardcore And Rock News, Reviews And More |publisher=Theprp.com |access-date=2012-08-21}} The single was released digitally on August 28, along with a music video.{{cite web|url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/news.php?newsid=23883 |title=New Coheed Single/Video |website=Sputnikmusic |date=2012-08-28 |access-date=2012-08-28}} Two weeks before the album's release, the band premiered the studio version of the title track "The Afterman" on Rolling Stone.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/song-premiere-coheed-and-cambria-the-afterman-20120926 |title=Song Premiere: Coheed and Cambria, 'The Afterman' | Music News |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2012-09-26 |access-date=2012-09-26}}

The band released a music video for "The Afterman" on November 16.

The album was released in both digital and physical formats on October 9, 2012; the second part was released on February 5, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://theaudioperv.com/2012/07/31/coheed-and-cambria-announce-new-double-concept-album-the-afterman/ |title=Coheed and Cambria Announce New Double Concept Album "The Afterman" |publisher=The Audio Perv |date=2012-07-31 |access-date=2012-08-07}} The album name and release date were announced on July 31, 2012 via a press release and a YouTube teaser video, featuring a man in a spaceship he refers to as "All Mother".{{cite web|url=http://www.rocksound.tv/news/article/coheed-and-cambria-announce-new-double-album-and-uk-tour |title=Coheed And Cambria Announce New Double Album And UK Tour! | News | Rock Sound |publisher=Rocksound.tv |access-date=2012-08-22}} Coheed and Cambria co-produced the album with Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner under the label Hundred Handed/Everything Evil and will be distributed by Fontana/INgrooves.{{cite web|author=bravewords.com |url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/188012 |title=> News > COHEED AND CAMBRIA - The Afterman: Ascension Album Trailer Posted; New Double Album Details Revealed |publisher=Bravewords.com |access-date=2012-08-08}}

The deluxe version of the album was released with a hardcover coffee-table book of the album's Amory Wars storyline, the concept all Coheed and Cambria's albums follow (with the exception of 2015's The Color Before the Sun). The book is written by Sanchez. The double album tells the story of Sirius Amory, the namesake of the concept, as he explores the energy source holding together the Keywork (the 78 worlds in which the Amory Wars is set) and finds that it is in fact a horrible afterlife for departed souls.{{cite magazine|author=Greg Prato |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/coheed-and-cambria-ready-two-more-installments-of-career-long-saga-20120807 |title=Coheed and Cambria Ready Two More Installments of Career-Long Saga | Music News |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=2012-08-07}} The artwork for the book was created by Heidi Taillefer and Nathan Spoor, and the book provides a "song-by-song" experience for the listener.

{{Album ratings

| MC = 74/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-afterman-ascension/coheed-and-cambria|title=The Afterman: Ascension|website=Metacritic|access-date=October 14, 2012}}

| rev1 = Allmusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev2 = Artist Direct

| rev2Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web| last = Florino| first = Rick| title = Coheed and Cambria "The Afterman: Ascension" Album Review| publisher = Artist Direct| url = http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/coheed-and-cambria-the-afterman-ascension-album-review-5-out-of-5-stars/10254359| access-date = October 8, 2012}}

| rev3 = The A.V. Club

| rev3Score = B {{cite news| last = Heller| first = Jason| title = Coheed And Cambria: The Afterman: Ascension: Review / The A.V. Club| newspaper = The A.V. Club| url = https://www.avclub.com/coheed-and-cambria-the-afterman-ascension-1798174527| access-date = October 9, 2012}}

| rev4 = Consequence of Sound

| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine| last = Coplan| first = Chris| title = Album Review: Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman: Ascension | magazine = Consequence of Sound| url = http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/10/album-review-coheed-and-cambria-the-afterman-ascension/| access-date = October 21, 2012}}

| rev5 = Kerrang!

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Citation| last = Paul| first = Travers| title = Coheed and Cambria: The Afterman: Ascension| magazine = Kerrang!| issue = 1435|date=October 2012| page = 54}}

| rev6 = Mojo

| rev6Score = {{Rating|3|5}} {{Citation| title = The Afterman: Ascension review| magazine = Mojo|date=November 2012| page = 103}}

| rev7 = Popmatters

| rev7Score = 8/10 {{cite web|last=Blum |first=Jordan |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/164301-coheed-and-cambria-the-afterman-ascension/ |title=Coheed and Cambria: The Afterman: Ascension < PopMatters |publisher=Popmatters.com |access-date=2012-10-26}}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8Score = 6/10 {{Citation| title = Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman: Ascension| magazine = Q| date = March 2013| url = https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-afterman-ascension/coheed-and-cambria}}

| rev9 = Rock Sound

| rev9Score = 8/10 {{Citation| last = Hidden | first = Chris | title = Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman: Ascension| magazine = Rock Sound| issue =167 | date = November 2, 2012| url = http://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/article/coheed-cambria-the-afterman-ascension}}

| rev10 = Sputnikmusic

| rev10Score = 3.5/5 {{cite web| last = Sowing| first = Season| title = Coheed And Cambria – The Afterman: Ascension (staff review) | website = Sputnikmusic| url = https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/52501/Coheed-and-Cambria-The-Afterman%3A-Ascension/| access-date = October 12, 2012}}

}}

The album has received mainly positive reviews, gaining 74/100 on Metacritic from twelve reviews. Artist Direct singled out the album as the band's "best album to date". Allmusic criticized the album for being "a bit of a mess" due to the scale of its ambition, though it acknowledged that this could be forgiven as there is "so much here that works". Both The A.V. Club and Sputnikmusic rated the album as a step forward for the band.

All songs written by Claudio Sanchez and arranged by Coheed and Cambria. Segues written and arranged by Claudio Sanchez and Josh Eppard.

{{Tracklist

| headline = The Afterman: Ascension

| title1 = The Hollow

| length1 = 2:11

| title2 = Key Entity Extraction I: Domino the Destitute

| length2 = 7:51

| title3 = The Afterman

| length3 = 3:11

| title4 = Mothers of Men

| length4 = 4:11

| title5 = Goodnight, Fair Lady

| length5 = 3:23

| title6 = Key Entity Extraction II: Holly Wood the Cracked

| length6 = 3:26

| title7 = Key Entity Extraction III: Vic the Butcher

| length7 = 5:47

| title8 = Key Entity Extraction IV: Evagria the Faithful

| length8 = 6:22

| title9 = Subtraction

| length9 = 3:07

| total_length = 39:29

}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ingroovesfontana.com/new-releases/cd-vinyl/10-2-&-10-9-INgF-NR-Book.pdf |title=INgrooves/Fontana – CD and vinyl releases |publisher=INgrooves/Fontana |access-date=2012-08-26 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{tracklist

| headline = iTunes Edition Tracks

| all_lyrics =

| all_music =

| title10 = The Homecoming

| note10 = bonus track

| length10 = 3:57

| title11 = Goodnight, Fair Lady

| note11 = demo

| length11 = 3:07

| title12 = The Afterman

| note12 = demo

| length12 = 3:11

| total_length = 49:44

}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-afterman-ascension/561567417 |title=The Afterman: Ascension – iTunes Preview |publisher=Apple Inc. |access-date=2012-10-05}}

{{Tracklist

| headline = Limited Deluxe Edition Box Set: Disc 2 (Big Beige demos)

| title1 = Domino the Destitute

| note1 = demo

| length1 = 7:59

| title2 = The Afterman

| note2 = demo

| length2 = 3:11

| title3 = Mothers of Men

| note3 = demo

| length3 = 4:04

| title4 = Goodnight, Fair Lady

| note4 = demo

| length4 = 3:08

| title5 = Holly Wood the Cracked

| note5 = demo

| length5 = 3:01

| title6 = Vic the Butcher

| note6 = demo

| length6 = 5:39

| title7 = Evagria the Faithful

| note7 = demo

| length7 = 5:39

| title8 = Subtraction

| note8 = demo

| length8 = 2:55

| title9 = The Homecoming

| note9 = bonus track

| length9 = 3:58

| total_length = 39:34

}}

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

;Coheed and Cambria

• Claudio Sanchez – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, electric piano, voice of Sirius Amory{{cite web|url=http://www.westword.com/music/coheed-and-cambria-on-getting-less-progressive-but-more-approachable-7737022|title=Coheed and Cambria on Getting Less Progressive but More Approachable|first=Lauren|last=Archuletta|date=26 March 2016}}
• Travis Stever – lead guitar, lap steel guitar, backing vocals
• Zach Cooper – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Josh Eppard – drums, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals

;Additional musicians

• John Medeski – piano, clavinet, synthesizers
• Daniel Sedownick – percussion
• Karl Berger – orchestration
• Julianne Klopotic and Chern Hwei Fung – violin
• Nicole Federici – viola
• Tomas Ulrich – cello
• Chondra Sanchez – additional background vocals, voice of The All Mother
• Madeline Birnbaum – additional background vocals

{{col-2}}

;Production

• Coheed and Cambria, Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner – production
• Rob Gill and Jeff Champtone – guitar techs
• Rich Costey – mixing on "Key Entity Extraction I: Domino the Destitute" and "Mothers of Men" at Eldorado Studios, Burbank, CA (assisted by Chris Kasych)
• Ryan Williams – mixing on "The Afterman", "Goodnight, Fair Lady", "Key Entity Extraction II: Holly Wood the Cracked", "Key Entity Extraction III: Vic the Butcher", "Key Entity Extraction IV: Evagria the Faithful" and "Subtraction" at Pulse Recording, Silver Lake, CA
• Howie Weinberg and Dan Gerbarg – mastering at Howie Weinberg Mastering

;Artwork

• Heidi Taillefer – cover art
• Nathan Spoor – interior art
• Bill Scoville – package design and additional graphics

;Management

• Peter Lewit and David Rappaport (Davis, Shapiro, Lewit and Hayes) – legal representation
• David Weise, Kathy Izaguirre, Beth Sabbagh and Tagui Karagaryan (David Weise and Associates) – business management
• Kirk M. Sommer, (William Morris Endeavor) – North America booking
• Rob Markus (William Morris Endeavor) – Mexico and Puerto Rico booking
• Steve Strange (X-Ray Touring) – booking (rest of world) (assisted by Josh Javor)
• Pete Stahl – tour production guru
• Blaze James (Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group) – navigator

{{col-end}}

The Afterman: Ascension debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200 on October 17, 2012.{{cite magazine| url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474608/macklemore-ryan-lewis-score-top-billboard-200-debut-mumford-still-no-1| title = Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Score Top Billboard 200 Debut, Mumford Still No. 1 | magazine = Billboard| year = 2012| access-date = 2012-10-22|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130202201459/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474608/macklemore-ryan-lewis-score-top-billboard-200-debut-mumford-still-no-1 |archive-date = 2013-02-02}} It also reached number 11 on the Canadian Albums Chart{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=coheed and cambria|chart=Canadian Albums}} |title=Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Score Top Billboard 200 Debut, Mumford Still No. 1 |magazine=Billboard |date=2009-09-14 |access-date=2012-10-26}} and number 5 on the UK Rock Albums Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-albums-chart/20121014/112/ |title=2012-10-20 Top 40 Rock & Metal Albums Archive |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=2012-10-20 |access-date=2012-10-26}}

class="wikitable"
Chart (2012)	Peak position
Billboard 200	style="text-align:center"|5
Canadian Albums Chart	style="text-align:center"|11
UK Rock Albums Chart	style="text-align:center"|5

{{reflist|2}}

{{Coheed and Cambria}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Afterman: Ascension, The}}

Category:2012 albums

Category:Coheed and Cambria albums

Category:The Amory Wars

Category:Science fiction concept albums