The Mars Volta

[RJK]

Tour dates! Pre-sale Wednesday public Friday!

[Jon]

I enjoyed the song itself, it's got a great groove, but it seemed like all the other tribal drum stuff wasn't really related to the song. I kept waiting for the song to kick back in and it just didn't.

The single is 2:55. Legit has 7 minutes of tribal drumming not a part of the song...

[PhoenixML]

New album + "title" confirmed from bio:
https://www.axs.com/events/439042/th...skin=terminal5

It's going to be a self-titled album.

edit: the text was changed since then.

[Jinsai]

well, I've changed my mind about the Mars Volta more completely and more often than I have with almost any other mainstream rock band from the past thirty years, so I'm just going to wait to hear it on the album... because the track on first listen, I'm not sure what to make of it.

I think it's very likely that the long extended drum section is something that's in the video but might not necessarily appear in that form on the album. My speculation there is based on absolutely no concrete information or anything though, so... Until we know more

[PhoenixML]

Or you know, the song is 2:55 on every streaming platform.

[acrid avid jam shred]

I'm digging the new track! I love how groovy and percussion-focused it is, and Cedric sounds great. It definitely sounds like it's one of their most melodic and psychedelic tracks ever! Very excited to hear the new record.

[Mr. Blaileen]

Looks like I'll be making yet ANOTHER three hour drive to Chicago this year for a show...thankfully it's on a Saturday, at least. The Aragon Ballroom sound sucks ass, though.

Haven't seen Volta since they were opening for A Perfect Circle. Pumped!

[RJK]

Looks like I'll be making yet ANOTHER three hour drive to Chicago this year for a show...thankfully it's on a Saturday, at least. The Aragon Ballroom sound sucks ass, though.

Haven't seen Volta since they were opening for A Perfect Circle. Pumped!

I'll be at the Chicago show!

[Mr. Blaileen]

Nice! I hope the setlist is varied- checking out the last shows they were playing before they stopped, the set was 90% Noctourniquet. I don't hate the album, but there's a lot of stuff I'd like to see.

[RJK]

I'm just honestly happy that I finally get to see them live

[Mr. Blaileen]

I feel that as well. Last time I saw them I had no idea who they were and kinda hated them, which is unfortunate as it was during the 'De-Loused' era...

[bobbie solo]

They added second shows in SF NYC & LA. First shows all sold out instantly I think.

Also, listen to this instead of the new song:

[RJK]

https://themarsvolta.lnk.to/GraveyardLoveIN

They super obnoxiously added a Milwaukee show after I bought Chicago tickets. Ugh maybe I'll do both

[ghostaustin]

Pretty interesting style for TMV. I'm wondering, with the short lengths and abrupt endings of the two singles, if the songs will run together and feel like a cohesive thing

[Wretchedest]

Pretty interesting style for TMV. I'm wondering, with the short lengths and abrupt endings of the two singles, if the songs will run together and feel like a cohesive thing

It feels like it's building up to something that doesn't pay off, so I'm wondering if this is more of an ORL split track thing. I hate when he does it, but he never really stopped. So maybe one song across a couple of tracks.

[Mr. Blaileen]

They have a Milwaukee date on sale now. I'm grateful for the chance to get to see them again, but it's so common for a band to announce a show in Wisconsin after I've already bought the Chicago tickets. So so common...

[Self.Destructive.Pattern]

I'm digging the new tracks, but have a feeling they are exactly what they are and won't feel anymore cohesive. I hope they prove me wrong, but they seem like one and done to me.

[Mr. Blaileen]

9.16.2022

01 – “Blacklight Shine”
02 – “Graveyard Love”
03 – “Shore Story”
04 – “Black Condolences”
05 – “Vigil”
06 – “Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazon”
07 – “Cerulea”
08 – “Flash Burns From Flashbacks”
09 – “Palm Full Of Crux”
10 – “No Case Gain”
11 – “Tourmaline”
12 – “Equus 3”
13 – “Collapsible Shoulders”
14 – “The Requisition”

[Jon]

Here's "Vigil":

[Mr. Blaileen]

Interesting change of direction for these guys. I'm not minding it, but a lot of the internet is hating it. The new single is interesting, tempted to listen multiple times but I generally like to avoid that these days until the album comes out.

[stankeybearlover]

For those not in the know about the band's private lives. Cedric and his wife used to be Scientologists. His wife is who turned him on to the cult. They started to distance themselves from the cult when his wife started to open up about the abuse (incl. sexual) she'd had to endure for years. Among others by that one guy from That 70s Show. They are out now. This song - and allegedly the entire album - refers to this ordeal.

[Jon]

For those not in the know about the band's private lives. Cedric and his wife used to be Scientologists. His wife is who turned him on to the cult. They started to distance themselves from the cult when his wife started to open up about the abuse (incl. sexual) she'd had to endure for years. Among others by that one guy from That 70s Show. They are out now. This song - and allegedly the entire album - refers to this ordeal.

I got the strong sense upon first listen to "Vigil" that was definitely the case (at least for that track); will have to go back and engage the rest more meaningfully.

After several singles, it seems apparent this record is an "evolution", so to speak, in their sound. I have no doubt this will have its share of 5–9 minute songs, however, either way is not a deal-breaker in this case (for me).

EDIT: Spoke too soon:

Blacklight Shine (00:02:55)
Graveyard Love (00:03:14)
Shore Story (00:03:15)
Blank Condolences (00:03:27)
Vigil (00:03:14)
Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazon (00:01:41)
Cerulea (00:03:45)
Flash Burns From Flashbacks (00:02:38)
Palm Full Of Crux (00:03:36)
No Case Gain (00:02:41)
Tourmaline (00:03:34)
Equus 3 (00:04:09)
Collapsible Shoulders (00:02:24)
The Requisition (00:04:12)

TOTAL ≈ (00:44:45)

[Wretchedest]

The last single definitely felt like it was about that. It's a great concept and subject for the album, but the music is missing me by a mile. It's fine if they want to be "different" but they're really now only different from themselves and more like everyone else. I'd rather it be a different different.

[bobbie solo]

Vigil is awful. Stop being polite people. All the released songs are awful. Sound nothing like what anyone wants from this band.

[stankeybearlover]

Rumor has it Equus 3 might be this song that leaked years ago.

[Mr. Blaileen]

Vigil is awful. Stop being polite people. All the released songs are awful. Sound nothing like what anyone wants from this band.

I’d love for you to enlighten me as to what I want to hear from this band.

I’m enjoying the change of pace, honestly. It's not my favorite thing they've done or anything, but I’m not bumping into it that much. I’ve always liked subdued Volta.

Regarding the above video, that wouldn’t shock me..the track lengths have me leaning towards believing that rumor.

[RJK]

I love "Graveyard Love" just something about it that connects with me

[Self.Destructive.Pattern]

I'm liking the feel of these tracks; seems a bit more intimate and I can dig it. I do hope that the album sounds like a cohesive piece, and not just a bunch of songs thrown together.

Also, being half Puerto Rican, I connected a lot with Graveyard Love so I guess it just hits different for me.

[Kodiak33]

I got the strong sense upon first listen to "Vigil" that was definitely the case (at least for that track); will have to go back and engage the rest more meaningfully.

After several singles, it seems apparent this record is an "evolution", so to speak, in their sound. I have no doubt this will have its share of 5–9 minute songs, however, either way is not a deal-breaker in this case (for me).

EDIT: Spoke too soon:

Blacklight Shine (00:02:55)
Graveyard Love (00:03:14)
Shore Story (00:03:15)
Blank Condolences (00:03:27)
Vigil (00:03:14)
Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazon (00:01:41)
Cerulea (00:03:45)
Flash Burns From Flashbacks (00:02:38)
Palm Full Of Crux (00:03:36)
No Case Gain (00:02:41)
Tourmaline (00:03:34)
Equus 3 (00:04:09)
Collapsible Shoulders (00:02:24)
The Requisition (00:04:12)

TOTAL ≈ (00:44:45)

Holy cow those are short.

[Blade3327]

I like all the songs released so far. The band seems to have leveled up in terms of pure songwriting. The only thing that bums me out is knowing every track will be four minutes or less. A sub-50 minute record from TMV, that's almost as surprising as their return.

I don't think they went mainstream either. No one I know with average/accessible/non-discerning music tastes would jump on something like this. If you think this is mainstream, you're giving the actual mainstream too much credit; the current radio scene is so much blander than you know.