While most modern day progressive rock bands remain largely unknown (which is quite unfortunately, I must say), a few seem to have broken through to mainstream attention. Latin/Jazz/Fusion Texans The Mars Volta are one such band. Rising from the ashes of At the Drive-In and gaining notoriety after releasing their brilliant debut, De-Loused in the Comatorium, and avant-garde, experimental sophomore LP, Frances the Mute, the group has built a strong reputation as one of, if not the, most musically schizophrenic and complex bands of today. Ever since their somewhat atypical fifth album, 2009’s Octahedron, fans have been clamoring for news of a new record. Well, after several months of speculation, it has been announced; on Mach 27th (tentatively, of course), Noctourniquet will be released.
While not much is known about the album yet, a few details have been revealed. In an interview with NME, composer/guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López said, “On this record, as with all the others, I wrote the music and then gave it to Cedric [Bixler-Zavala, bandmate]…But this is the last time I'll do it like that. I want to collaborate more. I've had 10 years of kind of being a benign dictator in this band and I want to make it more like a democracy." In addition, he said that the album’s 13 tracks are “a simplified version of what we've done before.”
As for the track listing, two songs have been confirmed: “In Absentia” (nod to Porcupine Tree, perhaps?) and “Zed and Two Naughts.” Finally, a recent screenshot of baseball videogame MLB 12 The Show reveals a possible album cover (courtesy of antiquiet.com). All in all, the album sounds quite promising, and I for one can’t wait to hear it. How about you? Sound off in the comments.
For more on The Mars Volta, check out my college paper reviews of Amputechture and The Bedlam in Goliath.
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