Coheed and Cambria Launch Manchester into Orbit with a Sci-Fi Rock Spectacle on the Welcome to Forever Tour

Manchester Academy, 20th October 2025

WORDS / IMAGES MICHAEL BOND

Credit MICHAEL BOND

Coheed and Cambria make a sci-fi rock opera come to life on their Welcome to Forever Tour, with support from And So I Watch You From Afar

There’s an electricity in the Manchester Academy tonight, with fans gathered for what feels less like a rock gig and more like an intergalactic roller-coaster. Steeped in prog, post-hardcore, and intergalactic mythology, Coheed and Cambria are back in the UK celebrating their Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe album, with their Welcome to Forever Tour

Belfast post-rock group, And So I Watch You From Afar, open the night with a masterclass in instrumental intensity. With no need for vocals, the band lets their sound do the talking, unleashing wave after wave of intricate guitar interplay, thunderous drumming, and dynamic tempo shifts that keep the audience hanging on every note.

The atmosphere is electric as the crowd surges with the music, responding to every euphoric build and crushing breakdown. Hit with precision the band blend mathematical tightness with punk-like urgency. Despite the complexity of their compositions, the band performs with effortless cohesion, locked into a groove that feels both chaotic and controlled.

Visually, they’re just as captivating, heads down and silhouetted and instruments thrashing, fully immersed in their craft. There’s an unspoken connection between band and audience, proving why they remain at the forefront of instrumental rock. A powerful, passionate, and utterly mesmerising performance.

As the lights dim, a cheer erupts across the venue. And without hesitation, Coheed and Cambria launch into “Goodbye, Sunshine”, a slow-burning opener from Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind. It’s a cinematic start, moody and expansive, setting the scene for a night that’s as much about atmosphere as it is about power chords.

Then come the crunching guitars as “Shoulders” bursts into life. Frontman Claudio Sanchez, with his hair covering his face, owning the stage. His vocals, still on point after two decades, cut cleanly through the mix, as the crowd match the energy from the stage. There’s a noticeable swell of excitement as “Blood Red Summer” begins, and from the first chorus, the entire venue is singing along.

“Blind Side Sonny” offers a more experimental feel, a moodier tune that slows things down without losing momentum, with minimal visuals that match the song’s mysterious energy. Coheed’s universe is vast, spanning 20 years of albums and comics, but you don’t need to know the story to feel the emotion behind the music. And as a newcomer to the band this definitely makes you feel included.

Then comes the throwback: “Everything Evil”, as the room starts to shake. The band tears through the early track with ferocity, reminding everyone that behind the prog trappings lies a core of raw post-hardcore energy. Josh Eppard’s unrelenting drumming is definitely a highlight of this track, while Zach Cooper's basslines weave around the chaos.

“Number City”, is up next, with its funky swagger, again changing the pace and reminding everyone of the band’s range. The groove has the crowd moving and dancing, before the set plunges into the emotionally charged “The Suffering”, which sees Sanchez step back from the mic for the chorus, giving the crowd an opportunity to all sing along together.

“Searching for Tomorrow” and “The Continuum II: The Flood”, showcase the band’s flair for dramatic storytelling. Forming chapters in a larger narrative spanning across their back catalogue. And though the band never over-explains this onstage, the emotion within the performance communicates everything effortlessly.

The singalong moment of the night belongs to “A Favor House Atlantic”. The moment the bright, pop-punk riff hits, Manchester Academy turns into a giant chorus. With beer flying through the air and arms around shoulders, every word is shouted along with the band. “In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3” takes a more sermon turn. As Sanchez belts out the opening lines “Listen now...”, the room falls silent, before collectively erupting again.

“Man your own jackhammer!” rings out like a war cry, and the response from the crowd is deafening. The stage lights flash and the floor shakes as the main set is brought to a close.

After a brief break, the band return for a three-song encore. First up is “Corner My Confidence. Its introspective tone offers a moment of calm before launching into “The Continuum III: Tethered Together”, the final song in a multi-part epic that’s seen through the night.

And then comes “Welcome Home”, as the crowd scream every word. It’s a cinematic end to an evening that has felt, in every way, like stepping into another world.

Tonight’s show has been more than just a concert; it’s been a journey through sound and story. And whether you're a fan or a casual listener, the experience has been inspiring.

Setlist:

1. Goodbye, Sunshine

2. Shoulders

3. Blood Red Summer

4. Blind Side Sonny

5. Everything Evil

6. Number City

7. The Suffering

8. Searching for Tomorrow

9. The Continuum II: The Flood

10. A Favor House Atlantic

11. The Liars Club

12. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3

Encore:

13. Corner My Confidence

14. The Continuum III: Tethered Together

15. Welcome Home

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