The Mars Volta - Noctourniquet

They're back! After a 3 year break, The Mars Volta have returned long at last with their brand new studio set, Noctourniquet. The follow up to 2009's Octahedron finds the El Paso bred prog-rockers aiming for a continuation of the same sound that was found on their predecessor, but instead go for a more direct and polished approach that will entice the listener upon first hearing it.

We kick off the disc with "The Whip Hand" a low key, mid-tempo rocker that features gritty, prog-ready riffs brought to you courtesy of guitarist Omar Rodriguez Lopez and the lead vocals of Cedric Bixler Zavala providing for an exciting dual combination that is one of the most interesting partnerships in the music scene today. Next we come across "Aegis", a low key, mellow tune that sees the band trying a different approach with Cedric's comforting and confident vocal presence adding a great deal of intrigue to this mysterious and depth-defying tune. My favorite song off the album is "Empty Vessels Make The Loudest Sound", a track that is reminiscent of late 70's era Pink Floyd, with Cedric's beautiful and ominous vocal abilities best suiting him here on this magnificent track.  The disc's first single, "The Malkin Jewel" is one of the more loud, gritty rockers found on the disc with Omar's blasting guitar riffs picking up intensity as the song goes along and Cedric's vocals sound a bit on the demented side here, but make for a very powerful and memorable listen. "Lapochka" is a melodic, straightforward tune that shows off the band's ability to create simple structured tunes that evoke the band's diversity and their ability to dabble in other genres of music to make them stand out from all the other bands currently out there today.

 We venture into the disc's second half with "Imago" a drab, downtempo number that sees Cedric's vocals matching perfectly with the emotional intensity of the tune and gives the song a slight advantage musically over all the others featured here. "Molochwalker" picks back up the pace with a fast moving, frenetic track that shows off why the band are so musically skilled in the first place with Omar's dynamic guitar riffs and Cedric's powerful and melodic vocals delivering the goods once again. The disc begins its descent and draw to a close on "Vedamalady", an eerie, mysterious tune that evokes the emotional sensibility of the album as a whole and it's ability to enthrall and keep the listener tuned in the entire way through. The title track features some slight electronic arrangements mixed in with Cedric's familiar vocal presence adding a great deal of intrigue and suspense to a well filled out and arranged album as a whole. The disc rounds out and finishes on "Zed and Two Naughts", a well arranged opus that sees Cedric's vocals keeping you focused on the song at hand and the cavalcade of sounds gathered for your enjoyment that wrap up the album on a high note. I first discovered The Mars Volta back in 2003 when they released their debut, "De-Loused In The Comatorium" and was amazed with their ability to craft sonically pleasing tunes and make progressive rock more accessible to their fanbase from their previous band, At The Drive-In. It wasn't until their sophomore release "Frances The Mute" that I truly fell in love with them and became a devoted fan of Cedric and Omar, not just because they were in At The Drive-In, but for their sheer ability as musicians and their ability to weave intricate storylines throughout their music that make them one of the most daring and entertaining groups out there today.

All in all, a solid and well thought out effort from The Mars Volta, who have continued to make an indelible impression on their listeners with a sonic opus that takes them in and out interweaving through the cosmic wonders of the prog-rock universe.

                                                                                                                      Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. The Whip Hand
2. Aegis
3. Dyslexicon
4. Empty Vessels Make The Loudest Sound
5. The Malkin Jewel
6. Lapochka
7. In Absentia
8. Imago
9. Molochwalker
10. Trinkets Pale of Moon
11. Vedamalady
12. Noctourniquet
13. Zed and Two Naughts