Coheed and Cambria

There is nothing jokelike or reminiscent of Dungeons & Dragons about Coheed and Cambria's pummeling meanderings through prog-emo, math rock, low-end skronk, and even hair metal -- either onstage or on the band's sophomore opus, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3. The second installment of a planned trilogy, Secrets ups the pretension quotient with song titles such as "The Velourium Camper I: Faint of Hearts" and, at 70 minutes, retains the bloated grandiosity of concept albums crafted by arena stalkers of the Seventies. But the disc is an unqualified success, thanks to its wildly imaginative imagery and ability to lure listeners into its gruesome world and still leave them clamoring for more.