Mars Volta Are Really Mars Volta-y in New Songs
They’re not making any more progressive, angsty punk music with At the Drive-In—their late 1990s band that just reunited for a string of festival gigs—but guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala are still making progressive, angsty prog rock with their other band the Mars Volta. Two tracks from their upcoming album Noctourniquet just dropped online in advance of its March 27 release. Push the play button below and then freak out.
Both tracks epitomize the Mars Volta’s sound and style. They’re rollercoaster prog rock tracks with loads of rhythm changes, twisting riffs and Spanish-flecked salsa beats. There’s a whole lot going on here, including some ambient and electronic sounds, which is new for TMV. The title track pairs blips and bleeps with their more usual blitz-rock fare; “Zed and Two Naughts,” which was offered to fans who pre-ordered the album via the band’s website, is a stone-cold journey. Sound effects—think the sound of a blasting laser in deep space—wind in and out of the boggling guitar work from Rodriguez-Lopez and screaming from Bixler-Zavala. It's a win-win for fans.
UPDATE: The unauthorized streams were taken off YouTube, so now only “Zed and Two Naughts” is available below. When the title track returns, you'll be the first to know.
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