The Mars Volta
THE MARS VOLTA About The Power Of Lyrics
5 October 2023
Agreed.
THE MARS VOLTA Have The Acoustic Rework Of Their Self-Titled 2022 Comeback Album Out Today
21 April 2023
Band: THE MARS VOLTA
Who: Former At The Drive-In members
Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Active: 2001 present / 6 LPs so far
Last September they released their critically praised self-titled comeback album.
The experimental prog-rock duo stripped that album down to the bone afterward
and recorded an acoustic version of all songs. They named the collection QUE DIOS
TE MALDIGA MI CORAZON (May God Damn Your Heart). Order info here.
Artwork
Rodríguez-López (guitarist, producer): “It was a fun process. And it made me think about the history of record music in the United States. There was ‘traditional music’, which became ‘Americana’, or country music. And the other genre was ‘race music’, which was exactly what it sounds like: music made by anyone who was an ‘immigrant’, mostly meaning black people. So that means everything that wasn’t ‘country’. In other words, all the interesting shit: r&b, blues, rock’n’roll, electronic music… It says a lot about this country. It was super-fun. I feel like The Mars Volta is finally beginning – that’s why the last album was self- titled, because we’ve finally stripped everything away and arrived at what the whole concept was at the beginning. And this acoustic version comes from a profound place, with its own meaning and philosophy, and its own reason for being.”
TUTV: Imagine Bixler-Zavala and Rodriguez-Lopez playing late at night in a cozy small bar with dimmed lights and cigarette smoke floating around playing on a tiny stage seated on barstools.
Stream it here.
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The 2022 electric album.
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THE MARS VOLTA: Facebook – Instagram
THE MARS VOLTA Release An Acoustic Rework Of Their 2022 Comeback Album
16 March 2023
Band: THE MARS VOLTA
Who: Former At The Drive-In members
Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Active: 2001 present / 6 LPs so far
Last September they released their critically praised self-titled comeback album.
The experimental prog-rock duo stripped that album down to the bone afterward
and recorded an acoustic version of all songs. They named the collection QUE DIOS
TE MALDIGA MI CORAZON (May God Damn Your Heart) and it will be out on 21st April.
Pre-order info here.
New artwork
Rodríguez-López (guitarist, producer): “It was a fun process. And it made me think about the history of record music in the United States. There was ‘traditional music’, which became ‘Americana’, or country music. And the other genre was ‘race music’, which was exactly what it sounds like: music made by anyone who was an ‘immigrant’, mostly meaning black people. So that means everything that wasn’t ‘country’. In other words, all the interesting shit: r&b, blues, rock’n’roll, electronic music… It says a lot about this country. It was super-fun. I feel like The Mars Volta is finally beginning – that’s why the last album was self- titled, because we’ve finally stripped everything away and arrived at what the whole concept was at the beginning. And this acoustic version comes from a profound place, with its own meaning and philosophy, and its own reason for being.”
Listen to first taster Black Condolences.
The 2022 electric album.
.
THE MARS VOLTA: Facebook – Instagram
THE MARS VOLTA – Their First Album In 10 Years Is A Welcome Back Triumph
Standout longplayers
16 September 2022
Band: THE MARS VOLTA
Who: Former At The Drive-In members
Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Active: 2001 present / 6 LPs so far
Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez-López (Fat Bob shot with Leica M10)
New album: THE MARS VOLTA
Released : 16 September – order info here
NME says: “The Mars Volta’ is a record that seizes the attention instantly, peppered as it is with arresting top-lines. But it also demands – and handsomely rewards – repeated listens, by virtue of its meticulously assembled arrangements (just bathe your ears in shining third single ‘Vigil”s luxuriant mix). This isn’t just a striking return for one of the most individual bands of the last 20 years; it is, musically, an astounding masterpiece. Their finest hour? Quite possibly.”
Full review here. Score: 5/5.
Turn Up the Volume: Their prog-rock approach is still present here and there, but with fewer layers of wayward structures. I hear more echoes from their ardently beating hearts and Hispanic souls than before, also more direct, and earthy, even stripped to the bone at times. It makes this new one in 10 tears one of their most accessible.
A welcome back triumph.
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Singles/clips: Graveyard Love / Blacklight Shine / Vigil
– GRAVEYARD LOVE –
– VIGIL –
– BLACKLIGHT SHINE –
Stream the full album on Spotify.
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THE MARS VOLTA: Facebook – Instagram
THE MARS VOLTA Share Third Piece From Upcoming Album – Hear ‘VIGIL’ Here
ew striking strokes
9 August 2022
The single’s artwork
Band: THE MARS VOLTA
Who: Former At The Drive-In members
Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Active: 2001 present / 6 LPs so far
New album: THE MARS VOLTA
Out 26 September – order info here
New single: VIGIL
There’s a lot of passion and ardor in this one.
THE MARS VOLTA: Facebook – Instagram
THE MARS VOLTA Dropped Another New Cut – Hear ‘GRAVEYARD LOVE’ Here
New striking strokes
Band: THE MARS VOLTA
Who: Former At The Drive In members
Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Active: 2001 present / 6 LPs so far
New single: GRAVEYARD LOVE
Three weeks ago TMV revealed their first piece of new music
in 10 years. A Latin vibe inspired song named Blacklight Shine,
sung in Spanish by Bixler-Zavala.
And here’s, already, another cut.
A layered, electro groove-driven wave.
THE MARS VOLTA: Facebook – Instagram
For Your Eyes – Join The Latin Music Party Of THE MARS VOLTA With Their New Track/Clip ‘BLACKLIGHT SHINE’
Clips to impress your eyes
22 June 2022
(press photo FB – The Mars Volta)
Band: THE MARS VOLTA
Who: Former At The Drive In members
Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Active: 2001 present / 6 LPs so far
New single: BLACKLIGHT SHINE
The new piece – their first in 10 years – is fully influenced by Latin music,
with Bixler-Zavala singing in Spanish over a percussion jam that conjures up
the spirit of Santana’s early work. Fascinating stuff again by the these two
experimental prog-rock musicians.
Join the party here in the ravishing 11-minute black and white clip…
THE MARS VOLTA: Facebook – Instagram
THE MARS VOLTA – ‘LANDSCAPE TANTRUMS’ (Unfinished Recordings From Their 2003 Debut Album)
26 April 2021
Band: THE MARS VOLTA (El Paso, Texas)
Who: The founders – Cedric Bixler Zavala and
Omar Rodriguez Lopez – of post-hardcore rockers
At The Drive-In, plus two friends
Active: 2001-2013 / 6 albums
Album: LANDSCAPE TANTRUMS . A special issue of
unfinished original recordings of the duo’s 2003 debut
De-Loused in the Comatorium.
The vinyl version was part of their career-spanning 18-LP vinyl
box set La Realidad De Los Sueños (‘The Reality of Dreams’) released
last week. The box sold out the moment it was announced (only 500
copies were available)
To make it up to their loyal fans who didn’t get a chance to buy the
Box Set The Mars Volta decided to make Landscape Tantrums
streamable on Spotify. It reminds you of why the press loved these
manic prog-rockers’ debut LP.
Here we go…
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THE MARS VOLTA: Facebook
Artwork original 2003 LP De-Loused in the Comatorium
Stream here…
Career-Spanning THE MARS VOLTA Vinyl Box Set – Sold Out Before Release!
6 March 2021
Band: THE MARS VOLTA (El Paso, Texas)
Who: Founders Cedric Bixler Zavala and Omar Rodriguez Lopez
from post-hardcore rockers At The Drive-In, plus Marcel Rodríguez
López and Deantoni Parks.
Active: 2001-2013 / 6 albums
New Retrospective called: La Realidad De Los Sueños (The Reality Of Dreams)
What: An 18-LP box set with their entire studio discography alongside unreleased material.
Out: 23 April but the 5000 copies have SOLD OUT in a flash despite the staggering ‘corporate’ price of 479 dollars! Mark my words: in a few days an announcement
will come that more copies are available.
THE MARS VOLTA: Facebook