This has been a hot year for the band Coheed and Cambria. At San Diego Comic-Con is was announced Mark Wahlberg and Steve levinson will produce a live-action film version of their sci-fi epic, The Amory Wars. At New York Comic Con, they’re continuing the announcements from booth #1312, Evil Ink Comics.

Created by songwriter/guitarist/singer Claudio Sancez. The Amory Wars is his Bildungsroman; a cosmic narrative spanning five concept albums, countless comic books, and a novel co-written by Peter David. It’s become a defining tale for hundreds of thousands of dedicated Coheed fans, who devour and dissect each new chapter with an ardor to rival followers of Lost or Game of Thrones. The Afterman is Sanchez’s double album prequel, illuminating the mysterious history of the Amory world.

In Volume I, The Afterman: Ascension, which is in stores October 9, we witness the legendary Sirius Amory ascension into the Keywork; a vision of the afterlife as if created by James Cameron and Dante. In the Keywork, unshakable episodes of your past life metastasize and mutate into unforgettable adversaries with names like Vic the Butcher, Holly Wood the Cracked, and Sentry the Defiant. Sirius must unlock the secret of the Keywork, and the mysteries of life itself, to return home for Volume II The Afterman: Descension, in stores February 2013 — and to his true love, Meri. But in the process of his grand discovery, the most important thing in his life slips through his fingers when Meri dies in a tragic accident; and Sirius’ only mission left is to make amends.

The band plays a sold out show at NYC’s Webster Hall on Thursday, Oct 11.

Here’s the teaser for the concept album:

What is the price for flying too high? Can one life follow you into the next? What if Stanley Kubrik played guitar? These are the questions raised by COHEED AND CAMBRIA in their highly anticipated sci-fi epic, THE AFTERMAN.

COHEED AND CAMBRIA are the New York-based, multi-platinum post-punk-metal band that has developed one of the most devoted fan bases in rock music. Not only are they zealous anthem-weaving wizards of guitar and drum, but they are science fiction storytellers from another reality. Created by songwriter/guitarist/singer CLAUDIO SANCHEZ. THE AMORY WARS is his Bildungsroman; a cosmic narrative spanning five concept albums, countless comic books, and a novel co-written by PETER DAVID. It’s become a defining tale for hundreds of thousands of dedicated Coheed fans, who devour and dissect each new chapter with an ardor to rival followers of Lost or Game of Thrones. THE AFTERMAN is Sanchez’s prequel, illuminating the mysterious history of the Amory world.

In Volume I, THE AFTERMAN: ASCENSION, we witness the legendary Sirius Amory ascension to the Keywork; a vision of the afterlife as if created by James Cameron and Dante. In the Keywork, unshakable episodes of your past life metastasize and mutate into unforgettable adversaries with names like Vic the Butcher, Holly Wood the Cracked, and Sentry the Defiant. Sirius must unlock the secret of the Keywork, and the mysteries of life itself, to return home for Volume II THE AFTERMAN: DESCENSION — and to his true love, Meri. But in the process of his grand discovery, the most important thing in his life slips through his fingers as Meri dies in a tragic accident. Distraught, Sirius dedicates his life to making amends. If you think THE AFTERMAN is just STAR WARS: THE MUSICAL, you’re wrong. Imagine BLADERUNNER paired with DARK SIDE OF THE MOON as covered by Sabbath. It’s Odysseus in the Matrix, with a sick solo from a Flying V guitar.

Like the Keywork itself, THE AFTERMAN defies expectations. The story kicks off in an 8 minute single (Domino the Destitute) which leads you across a double album (to be released October 09, 2012 and February 2013, respectively) and through a deluxe hardcover book of Sanchez’s story and artwork from NATHAN SPOOR and HEIDI TAILLEFER. THE AFTERMAN is epic in scale, yet grounded in emotion; a soaring sci-fi spectacle with the haunting, crushing music of COHEED AND CAMBRIA as its beating heart. Taken together, THE AFTERMAN is a singular journey — one that the band had to experience firsthand before they could create it.

THE AFTERMAN: ASCENSION is the first new project by COHEED AND CAMBRIA in over two years. After over a decade on thewrite-record-tour-repeat treadmill, this undertaking would evolve slowly over time. “When you write a record in a month and a half, you have the same mentality throughout the entire process,” Sanchez said. “But when you allow yourself time…your mindset changes and that influences your creativity.” The next chapter in the Coheed chronicle evolved in parallel with real life. A fight at a party…learning of a death over Facebook…a close friend succumbing to addiction…these fleeting, observed bits of the here-and-now gave bloom to the cosmic saga of THE AFTERMAN.

COHEED AND CAMBRIA are explorers and storytellers. THE AFTERMAN — the songs, the story, the art — is Coheed’s own Keywork, a new realm in which the little moments of life are experienced on a cosmic scale. They’ve opened the door to an unforgettable experience of life, death, and rock ‘n’ roll. To quote E.E. Cummings, “Listen: there’s a hell of a good universe next door; let’s go.”

The full stream of THE AFTERMAN premieres today on ROLLINGSTONE.COM. PRESS HERE to stream the album.

NYCC AUTOGRAPH SIGNING SCHEDULE (Sanchez’s Evil Ink Comics Booth 1312): Coheed and Cambria: 5pm Friday (10/12) – Claudio Sanchez (with Chondra Echert): 4pm Saturday (10/13).