After 10 years of silence, the hiatus interruptus is no more and The Mars Volta have unleashed a new self-titled album upon the masses. Now, before we go any further, it should be understood that this album does not represent the Volta that was, but rather the Volta that is.
This is not a bad thing. This is merely an augmentation of the already broad spectrum of sound created by previous albums like Frances the Mute and Octahedron. Brilliant albums to be sure, but not the sum total of what Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez were capable of.
Some will find the quieter, more introspective nature of the album disconcerting, but its overall structure and narrative holds stronger than the schizophrenic, swirling maelstrom of past works.
Some may note this softer direction was hinted at on the band’s last album Noctourniquet - particularly in tracks like "Empty Vessels Make The Loudest Sound" and "Aegis", so it really shouldn’t come as a total surprise to listeners but nonetheless an entire album full of smooth, subdued and dare I say sexy tunes is sure to raise a few eyebrows.
In the interest of full disclosure, upon hearing the lead singles "Blacklight Shine" and "Graveyard Love" I myself was somewhat confused. But this self-titled effort is best ingested in its entirety. Through deeper cuts like "Palm Full of Crux" or album highlight "Equus 3" your understanding of what the band is trying to accomplish deepens. You may not “get it” at first, but when you do, it will be glorious.
