Deloused in the Comatorium

not for me. almost nothing in there that I enjoyed

When you order spicy food and it is perhaps too spicy but you keep eating anyways because it tastes good and your eyes are running and you are gulping liquids..... this album. Compelling and bordering on painful.

Very original.

heeeert kei zit gha zum notize mache aber en dude wo glichzitig mit mir d zvdk ufnahmeprüefig gmacht het het mer mol gseit mer müesi das uuunbedingt mol ghört haa. has nie glost. ich han vilicht z wenig gnau glost aber ich checks nöd würklich. s isch chli proggy moderne rock aber null catchy. sött vlt nochli lese drüber

MARE E LUMEAAAA ohaaa mega de post-hardcore vibe!! hani iwie gar nöd erwartet sini stimm isch eifach so komisch nöd ganz grifbar UHHH geili drums EEEEXXOskeleTOUL hahahah so funny drunkship of lanterns findi en absolute banger drums wo so nervös mached und denn immer wieder sini stimm wo dur alles schniidet wauw UUUND ES CHUNNT NOMAL ZRUGG jaa am schluss ischs z lang gange aber ich han easy spass gha

Cool prog rock vibe but not as memorable as other albums. Good example of this era and genre, but it's not my era and genre.

When I seen it was an hour long with only 10 songs I was sceptical. The first track is about 1 minute 30, so I was correct. Alot of unnecessary synonyms and metaphors that appear deep and meaningful but don't pack any depth. Not for me

I at first thought this was gonna be another ambient album. Because it wasn't, it got an extra star from me

Dimly aware of the band (or at least, the name), this passed me by when it came out, which is unusual because it came out around my paying-attention-to-new-music peak. The music put me in mind of a cross between My Chemical Romance and, in places, Bloc Party. I quite liked it, although several of the tracks were a length I'd consider over-indulgent. I also found the tone a desperate tone a bit wearing after a while (is this emo?). Would happily listen to a track or two of this among a selection, but not sure I'd listen to the whole album end-to-end again.

I've sat on this one for awhile and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. It was definitely interesting, and some of the songs had very interesting soundscapes. I think it's definitely a record you need to spin a couple of times before it really settles in.

It’s funny that this music is very polarizing to the general public. You either love it or you hate it. Which I find is a common theme for most “heavier” rock or fast-paced music with higher energy. I’m familiar with The Mars Volta and to me, they’re usually a hit or miss. I find the more I listen to them, the more I like it. This is definitely one of their better records and I found that I enjoyed a lot of the songs off this record. It’s crazy to think that this album came out in 2003. So far ahead of its time and still stands today as incredible. Aged like fine wine. I’d argue that it’s probably better in today’s music than it was back in 2003

I enjoyed the music a decent amount, but struggled with the vocals.

It's just noise. Guy's voice gets a 1 star bump.

Ugh 1

It is fine. Nothing special and sounds like a lot of other albums being released at that time. 5/10 Top song Drunkship of lanterns

Fine. I prefer less rawk in my prog.

Ok but too prog for me.

Correcto

What a pleasant surprise. What at first sounded like sheer anarchy started growing on me; it was as if Gabriel-era Genesis Ike up from a coma in 2000 and was really pissed. While I may not listen to it again, I applaud the workmanship and concepts.

No idea who The Mars Volta are, but this is some nice progressive rock, and I'm always down for that. Among other things, the vocals were surprising. Love to hear a prog rock album with modern technology and production.

Meh, not my favorite style of music. It was kind of interesting with the bass lines and rhythmic guitar.

Odd, progressive rock that is soothing at times. Can definitely feel the Pink Floyd and Tool vibes. Top tracks: "Inertiatic ESP," "Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt," "This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed"

Yes. FUCK YES Will you, dear reader, love this album as much as I? Maybe (probably) not. Do you need to hear it before you die? Absolutely

2/5

Interaiatic esp Eriatarka

Wow, amazing album. I listened, not knowing what to expect, and I really enjoyed it. Reading the reviews, it's either like it a lot, or a great big no! I'm coming back to this one, it's going on my list!

Pretty good, but could be shorter. Definitely one of the better 21st century prog rock albums. Crazy cover by the way.

Iconic album 5/5.

Wtf?! + 1 star for concept, + 1 for drums, + 1 for all other instrumentation, -1 for incomprehensible lyrics delivered via annoying voice. Wtf?!

This is #day595 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I'm listening to this one a day later, as yesterday I was overwhelmed with other stuff. But hey, that still counts, right? I mean, I'm not really missing anything. Now, this is my first-ever experience with The Mars Volta. I never really had a reason to listen to them until now, although I do remember briefly checking out Antemasque when it came out. For the most part, I don't quite care for what I'm hearing. I didn't expect the vocals to be that high. I like some of the post-hardcore moments, but prog rock has never really been my thing. The music is more technical than musical, if that makes sense. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day596.

Lleno de matices. PUede ser una escucha difícil pero está completito completito.

Loucura, parece uma banda que o Gus iria num show em São Paulo numa terça feira. Álbum experimental com uns sons da hora, foi outro que fiquei curioso de pesquisar, apesar de nenhuma música chamar atenção. A obra como todo parece ser divertido de sentar num sofá, colocar o som e comer uma berga.

Ugh. No

As a Cardiacs nut, this record ticks a lot of boxes for me - that urgent, mathy, prog sound is right up my street. I bought this record when it came out but haven't listened in years - it hasn't dated at all and remains every bit as compelling as I remember. I love with records like this how, despite the apparent chaos and turmoil of the music, you're left humming the hooks and melodies for days. Very much enjoyed revisiting this one.

I don't know if there was something about the vocals that reminded me of Thom Yorke of Radiohead but several times I caught myself thinking if Radiohead had been a rawk band they'd sound like this. If I listen to this again I will probably wonder what I am on about. However while it had moments of interest I don't think I am likely to get the chance to wonder.

Music wise, I'm more of an At The Drive-In person than a Mars Volta person. However, this album is a classic. The only album where the band got the balance between prog and catchiness just right, without sounding overindulgent.

So proggy, but like so much in the genre, leaves me dead cold. Just feels like technical execution minus a lot of feeling. I like a good concept album, but the ratio of bad to good has to be easily 20:1...

Better than I expected

Enjoyed this quite a bit. 4*

Hits you with the face with rapid fire drum beats, abrasive guitars and tons of energy from the vocalist. It bounces between loud explosions of anger and cathartic slow burns masterfully. It's like switching back and forth between dreams and nightmares. Inertiatic ESP and Roulette Dares are some of my favorite songs in this style.

A bit pretentious, but they do have the musicality to back up their claims.

I was gonna say it’s alright because some of the instrumentation was impressive but I actively did not enjoy any moment of listening. You could tell they were in the studio like “this is mint” and it’s just pure buns. Was waiting for the album to end then all the end tracks were like 8 minutes. Made my walk to college stressful and I like a lot of high octane music but this was just stressful in an annoying way.

I did listen to this perhaps in about march or maybe April and like I did think that it was a. good album a bit mental I think it had good sonics in my headphones rather maximalist perhaps a bit busy but it did it pretty well. yup. don't particularly want to relisten to it but it certainly wasn't a poor quality album. yuuuup. God apparently this was from May 2024. that can't be true. I probably listened to it after that. I can distinctly remember where I was when I listened to this. so theres no way it was a year and ten months ago. theres no way I was 19. I probably returned to this page at some point in the meantime and didn't reactivate the page.

Firstly, I can’t tell you how uncomfortable this album cover makes me, secondly, I am so so surprised I don’t hate this album given the genre is extremely not my thing. The melodies though? They’re really good and even though there’s hardcore fast asf drums over most of it (which is rlly not my thing), I could still appreciate certain songs! This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed was my favorite.

I really wanted to like this record, but I simply don't. It drags on for far too long, and the lyrics are nonsensical bordering pretentions.

This album is so beautifully weird and I loved it. The vocals are insanely strong, what a presence the lead singer has, it's ridiculous. The guitar and drums are also top-notch and a treat to listen to. It's really cool to see the influence this album/artist has had on modern tracks, you can find it sprinkled across the album. 4/5.

They're doing some cool stuff on this album but it makes me so anxious. I don't need more anxiety in my life, I need less...

If Pink Floyd songs were performed by edgy teens. 5/5

The only Mars Volta album I was familiar with prior to this was Francis the Mute, and that album was just a little too avant-garde for me to really get into. This, on the other hand, is a lot more At The Drive-In, and I'm here for it. It's definitely the type of album that can't be fully appreciated on one listen, but I know from experience that I will probably like this very much after repeated listenings. The Mars Volta has been redeemed! Maybe Francis the Mute deserves another spin.

Too many disparate musical ideas on top of each other. Give me At The Drive In instead.

3/5 - Word Salad: The Musical. The modern prog rock here is alright, but the lyrics are like actual output of and infinite monkey theorem experiment.

Suenan bien rockers pero demasiado complejo pa my body

This was very odd, some parts were engaging but still not for me.

Didn’t take long to determine this was not for me. I have heard worse.

Fun record. I’m not sure how I missed them before.

This is what this list is for!! An introduction to some great music, loved this one

I know I should like this, but I just can't. I mean it's fine. But it feels so incredibly extra. I just want to rock.

This rocks I like the lead singer’s voice Really nice pockets on here this goes hard

not bad 4

The histrionic singing and the drummer being in a constant state of soloing are not really my thing. This is the same reason I'm not into Yes or Rush. I do get the quality here though for people that are into prog rock.

Trying a bit too hard with this album, appreciate the arrangement and the band are super tight but feels like its lacking any soul.....

Not really my type of music but if it was it would be quite a cracking album! Reminded me a bit of Rush. 3 for the bands talent

This really took it time with me, had listened a while back and dispute loving loads of the post-hardcore that it went on to influence I just didn’t get it, but as times gone on the vocals have clicked and with that the rest of the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, blissful chaos

iwie geil

Interesting music. Not bad.

This could have been so good, like a strong 4, there were some great songs on here, that unfortunately were being played over by less great songs leaving me like .. What is happening?

Ugh

Klarar inte riktigt av dem.

listened to this a while ago some songs are really cool but only a few the vocals kinda dont fit this sometimes imo

I enjoyed it plenty. It was some nice prog rock. I don't have much else to say about it.

3/5 It was so nice honestly, but the gibberish turned me off from it a bit.

Not my cup of tea at all,

good

My favourite out of everything I have listened so far.

Not for me

4/5. I somehow only today put the pieces together that the Mars Volta shares a band member with at the Drive In. For a debut album, this thing is firing on all cylinders, it is a non-stop barrage of constantly shifting prog rock. I do prefer Frances the Mute, but this one is still great (and more accessible, Frances songs are even longer and even proggier.) I really love how the short intro Son Et Lumière builds up tension which releases right when Inertiatic ESP starts and the album keeps up the pace of that first burst of sound for essentially the whole album.

Honestly enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Surprised it came out in 2003. Could get into this and vibe to it while listening. Like a 3.5

Honestly it was a struggle for me to finish this one. Seems to me like music you listen to when you want to be an elitist and lord your superior intelligence over others who listen to that "formulaic pop music drivel". Math/prog rock. I see you but aint necessarily for me.

This one wasn't really my vibe.

I went down by 0.2 points from my rating in the 2003 dive, butstill firmly in the 4½ star range. I love the prog elements of this album. In a way they remind me if a more frantic version of Muse especially from *Origin of Cemetery* to *Back Holes and Revelations* which is my favorite era of Muse. (9.2) ★★★★½

Not my prefered style of prog, but it has its moments. 3.5 stars

I'm just not a fan of this sound. It's not super annoying, but I just don't get any enjoyment out of listening to this. They're good musicians and all, but the songs don't do it for me. 2 stars.

How do you say de-lousy? How do you say de-hideous? Oh la la la la-la-la-la-la. How do you say de-massive gush of yelpy, annoying emo metal prog spooge? 1.5 stars for Deluged in the Mars Volta Cummatorium.

Finally a 2000’s album I genuinely enjoyed This one sounded real good, thought it was just the right length for a prog album. I haven’t listened to a ton of post 2000s prog but I do think the cleaner sound adds a ton to the immersiveness. Vocals aren’t necessary the clearest so didn’t really catch a whole lot of lyrics, but I love the sound. There’s a couple of rough parts that I really didn’t like, the weird technological garbage in the middle of the final song hurt. The albums an hour long and there’s maybe a cumulative 1 minute that actively sucks which isn’t the end of the world but does need to get brought up. Going to need a couple more of these to reverse my judgement of the 1001 committee sucking at picking 2000’s albums though

This is if prog rock, emo, and anime OPs had a baby lmaoooo lucky for them, i'm a slut for all three I think though that this slightly lags behind other groups with a similar sound (thank you scientist, closure in moscow) because of a lack of variety. This style of music is all about a wall of sound, tons of instruments and key changes and syncopation. But the key is that you need that variety in composition. You need a ballad or a slower, simpler song somewhere in there or else all that energy gets to be draining. still really good. I'll definitely give it a listen again

"No es lo mio" as they say in Spanish... Do they actually say that? Can't be sure, but it means "not my thing" and the band members are out of El Paso, so I figured why not? Prog Rock is the Not My Thing part, but I can appreciate musicianship. Couldn't focus on the lyrics, I think some in English and some in Spanish. But apparently their live shows are something to see, which I could easily believe. So while the genre ain't my jam, talent comes through. Probably closer to 2 1/2 stars, but 3 for these guys.

Kind of emo. I did find moments in the songs that I genuinely liked, but then I listened to the vocals and immediately hated it. I don't know about this album, I don't want to say I liked it and I don't really dislike it.

As much as I love prog's first wave in the 70's, I’ve always struggled with the genre once the influence of metal crept in, it just sounds like noise. Deloused in the Comatorium is a prog album through and through with an indecipherable concept, fantasy narrative, and instrumental wizardry. The problem? For me, it has all of prog's inherent snobbery without any tongue in cheek humor. A glance at the album’s lyrics shows the problem "Last night I heard lepers flinch like birth defects, its musk was fecal in origin as the words dribbled off of its chin." If it weren’t for the band’s explanations or Wikipedia, there’s absolutely no hope of understanding story. To the album’s credit, there's absolutely no possible argument against the solid musicianship here. The guitar playing alternates between lead parts or soundscapes in "Eriatarka". The drumming throughout, and particularly in "Drunkship of Lanterns", is fantastic. The singer has an impressive vocal range, with a solid belt. The problem is that it's all style and little substance. The most melodic we get is in the standout tracks "Eritarka" and "Elevators".The album just feels like dissolving into ambient nothingness. The ending, "Ambuletz", feels insulting to anyone who has sat through this for one hour with genuine excitement, it doesn't provide satisfying closure. It’s a real effort to make it through the whole album, and I’m not sure I’ll be doing it again any time soon. Did I need to hear this before I die? Probably not

My thoughts went something like this: "They're obviously talented, and I dig the music. The instruments sound good when playing separately. The drumming is tight, singing good, but why is it such an ear straining, noisy mess when they're playing together?" Producer: Rick Rubin "Ah."

I loved the first few songs and then it went downhill from there.

rock music

yeah no

It starts and the just goes until it doesn't

Incredibly Nostalgia Driven Rating, but this album meant so much to me in high school, first prog rock adjacent record that me and all my friends loved and listened to over and over and deepened my love for At the Drive In. Such a crazy chaotic and bizzare record but so much energy and cool sound landscapes.

Wow, what an album. First of all, the album are is ridiculous, the name of the album is incredible and then the music is good. THEN it's a concept album that tells a story. I listened to the album 3 times before realizing it's a concept album........which I only learned from the wikipedia. This is kind of why I prefer EDM and psychedelic music: because there's no way for me to ever know wtf they are singing about without the lyrics. Maybe that's part of the journey. But to quote the great Cordale Jones, "I didn't come here to play no school." I have some weird extremely vague recollection of this band, seeing their name somewhere. Maybe because of their bassist Eva Gardner? Anyway, what a great album. I think this album very much needs a visual experience to accompany whatever the heck is happening in the concept part. I've seen it explained, but it's such a wild ride that I don't think you can get there without putting in a ton of extra work. So that's where the pretentiousness comes from, which I actually don't really mind at all in this case because the music is great by itself. I like Roulette Dares most I think but the album itself is just strong and I can see why it was so well received

You don’t have to convince me. This has been one of my favorite albums since it released when I was in high school. It’d be tough to find a better debut album from any band in the 2000s. Jon Theodore’s drumming, Cedric’s falsetto, Omar’s brilliant composition, bizarre and mysterious songe writing, and his guitar prowess make The Mars Volta a special group. There’s nothing really like them. I’m glad this record made this list.

Very hectic and at times self indulgent. Technically very proficient but not something I would not listen to very often.

My knowledge of this band and its associated bands is very limited. I remember At the Drive-In being very popular in the music circles I tended to read, but I checked out Relationship of Command and didn't really like it. Then when Pearl Jam announced that part of their Riot Act tour would be opened by Sparta, I checked them out and it similarly didn't do anything for me. So I never even bothered to check out the Mars Volta. This music is interesting, but I don't love the vocals (too high-pitched, maybe?) and the lyrics are gibberish. I found a website with the novella they are based on and the context didn't really change my opinion that it's gibberish. "Cerpin taxt stood high above the wobbling miscarriage of oncoming traffic"? Sure thing, man.

Not my favorite. Teetering at a 2.5 but I’ll round up because it reminds me of My Chemical Romance.

Good record never left me bored, but nothing that sweeped me off my feet. But I can picture liking it more as time goes on

Yes! I'll always listen to this album.

Thought this was a woman singing at first.

Weird and dramatic. I usually hate long, instrumental noodling, but this was so compelling. My mind is blown. So glad this sometimes tedious project brought this into my life!

No thanks!

??? das prog rock albu it kijische rtime? c

The title is the best thing about this album. 2 stars or D+.

just so mid

Pink Floyd för 2000-talet. Jävligt spännande och välspelat. Diggar! Stark fyra!

loved the drums, loved the bass, the instumentation in this album slaps. the only problem is i don't want to listen to this album anymore. once was enough. that does not slap.

Ok, there is a place and time for this. I did not hate it; kinda like it. Three stars

not on with this at all

A lot going on here. Probably deserves a better listen than I gave it

Great! Just great!

Another name I've known for a long time, but I can't believe I passed on it for so long. When I researched the album yesterday and saw the prog tag in the genre, I knew I had made a mistake. The music is chaotic and complex, just the way I like it. The vocals will take some getting used to, but I'm sure I'll be going back to the well with these guys!

Ooo this is my type of rock. So thick and dense and constantly moving. All of the changes just help add on to the intensity, building up to bigger and bigger moments. I love the speed at which we’re going, not quite slamming on the pedal, but definitely leaning on it. Fast enough to create strong energy, but just slow enough for you to feel all of the developments. It’s not just about the quality of firepower that the album brings but also how wisely it’s used. Faves: Inertiatic Esp, Take The Veil Cerpin Text, Televators, Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of), This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed, Eriatarka

Two moments stand out to me with this album. The first was heading to London after high school exams to see The Mars Volta play at the Electric Ballroom (check out the YouTube video if you haven’t already). As a fan of At the Drive-In who was too young to see them before they broke up, this was an album I clung to. I was taken by as how unapologetically maximal it was. While so much guitar music was leaning minimal and cool, this record was sweaty, surreal, and overwhelming. It demanded attention…and rewarded it. The concept (coma, ghosts, transformation) feels genuinely lived-in rather than gimmicky. It’s messy. It’s indulgent. After I went to university I kept coming back to this album; watching it on windows media player’s visualization tool under the influence only drew me deeper into the world they had sculpted, and now I will always pause to listen to the album when I encounter it. Thanks for sending this one to me today.

Good sounds

Virkelig lækkert at høre den igen

Den her vækker nogen minder! Tror faktisk det er min yndlings Mars Volta i 2026, det er den rette mængde jammy (selv hvis peaks på Frances the Mute er bedre).

Everything is pretty cool on this record!

It's over the top modern prog but the playing and style is pretty great. This is a good debut and has a lot of nonsense lyrics a teenager leans into too hard, but it's a good showcase of the evolution of genres. Strong 3, weak 4.

The instrumentation and compositions work for me. Sounds good for 2003. The vocals and lyrical content not so much. Especially liked the instrumental stretch of Cicatriz ESP.

A top 20 album of mine. Love it.

Anime rock is how i see this. But truly this was so good, i saw them open for deftones last year and was really bored. Im glad this proved me wrong in some capacity. Gonna play this next time i defeat a dragon or something 8/10

This sounded like a mashup of so many bands. The mains I could pick out was MCR and Queen. Fascinating listen

This album is fantastic. Dynamic and exciting with great musicianship. The backstory is interesting and it doesn’t matter that none of it makes much sense because the music triumphs. And I’m not usually one for prog rock. Saw them live touring this album, worst dressed crowd ever lol.

3.5 rounded down. I like this type of music, it feels like middle school, but this album didn’t stand out.

90s music is so moody. Not a fan.

EIIII que maneiro esse!!! prog bom demais!!!

Haven't listened to it enough yet but pretty fun, different rock for sure?

I've given Mars Volta a few tries over the years and they just don't grab me. In the moment, I like it a lot. When it's done I forget that it existed. This album had a lot of good noise nuances but really all the songs just ran together for me.

Alright alt rock. Not quite for me, but I think I can understand the appeal. Except for the 12 minute song that utilized water dripping noise halfway through, as if people left mid recording, mic left on captured a drip and some ambiance, then band came back and just picked up where they left off

10/10 album for me. No skips.

I started listening to this album when it first came out and I genuinely couldn't understand a single word the guy said but I loved it anyway. I assumed it was in another language. I forgot about this album for years but it turns out that I now know - due to the beauty of Spotify lyrics - it is actually in English. Rocks either way

Weird one. If someone told me this was their favourite album I’d totally get it. But it’s really not for me. Get why it’s on the list though.

Not my thing. Unique. interesting. technically brilliant. Completely deserving of being on the list. Just not for me personally. Scoring on the basis that I found it interesting to listen to and am glad I’ve heard it. Even though I probably won’t come back.

Reminds me of opeth and dream theater in parts. Sometimes it spent too long in places and I drifted away from it.

The quick shifts in style, timing and urgent screams probably aren’t for me on balance. It deliberately loses coherence and creates a feeling of unease. This maximalist approach deliberately puts you in the mindset of a person struggling [in this instance from substance abuse]. There is a very real humanity to this album, and my overwhelming feeling is to feel sorrow for its subject. Raw and experimental

Started out with this album thinking high 3 trending 4, but ended up a high 2. It's just too much to digest.

I’ve had a weird journey with this record. I’ve listened to it twice, four months apart. The first time I loved the instrumentals but couldn’t get on board with the dramatic, world ending vocals, which sounded very cheesy to my ears. On my second listen however it was like I was listening to a completely different vocalist. He’s still a strong flavour but seems more in keeping with the band somehow. Maybe someone has meddled with the masters or maybe tastes change with continued exposure. Either way, what I definitely like is the chaotic, unpredictable post-hardcore elements and how they regularly, fluidly fold into ambient passages. Vocally, depending on the day, I find it far more or less challenging but there are points that now I’m acclimated I “get” and bits that I don’t.

I’m caving to The Mars Volta, it’s a hell of a lot to digest in one sitting but I actually think they know what they’re up to and I trust them, this is a record that will now be in heavy rotation with me for a long time Context: I’ve been meaning to listen to this album for years, it has been instrumental in shaping bands, festivals, damn near entire scenes that mean a lot to me It’s going in at a low 5 but could grow from there even as I spend more time with it. It’s bonkers, wild, and chaotic, it’s also beautiful in parts and has its own logic that I can groove into whilst the band skilfully take me on a hell of a ride. This list is also severely lacking by way of genuinely ‘heavy’ music, and this inclusion is doing some heavy lifting 1/3 of the way through the list

Prog rock wank.

Confused by my reaction to this album. I like the voices but not so much the seemingly nonsensical lyrics. I love the instrumentation overall, the harsh to soft transitions make the songs interesting; good use of guitars and drums, but too much use of synth..... Some of the electro pop is too too too much. Best line "Its musk was fecal in origin" I don't need to listen to this again, but it is an interesting experiment is whatever they were trying to prove. ⭐⭐⭐

I'm not into prog rock, but a college friend introduced me to Coheed and Cambria back in the aughts. This sounds a lot like them. It's weird, but it does rock. I dislike the cover and title, though...

3.5 stars

I just learned about this group a few months ago after watching one of those "Drumeo" YouTube videos. I'm aware that no band(with the exception of Gerta Van Fleet) wants to be compare to another band, but I'm cueing in on some Coheed and Cambria vibes, and I think that rules. Some of the songs caused me excessive agida, though.

This ruled. I had never pulled the trigger on listening to Mars Volta and I am bummed I waited so long.

Sometimes just trying shit sounds awesome. This was pretty sick

This was a tough listen. Started off thinking I might like it after the first song, but everything after that had me begging for mercy. Narrowly avoided a one star rating as I had to skip the last three tracks for the sake of my sanity.

Man I love progressive rock. First time hearing about this band, so so cool. Amazing work, both as an experimental prog rock project and as a musical experience. I've also caught a hint of j-rock in this. It was so dramatic it could have been a soundtrack for a niche teenage emo movie or an edgy anime opening. P.S. just read the context of this album and it's creation and it all makes sense now

yuck

unexpectedly really enjoyed 3.5/5

Progressive, my hoop!

45min of Mosh pit antics - Skunk Anansie meets Ash. Some scifi themes.

didnt listen to fully… ill listen to half ill give the other half a listen eventually but ive seen these guys in concert and know they aren’t particularly my jam so im unfairly going to judge them off of that, im sure they have some banger and i understand why system has them open for everything but honestly just seems like a weaker soad to me

Muse-core!

own

Da ist es, mein liebstes Album aller Zeiten! Nach der Auflösung von ATDI dauerte es nicht lang, bis die beiden Köpfe Omar Rodriguez-Lopez und Cedric Bixler-Zavala sich zu einer neuen Energie zusammentaten. Die Energie und Intensität der Vorgängerband mischten sie dabei mit einem deutlichen höheren Progeinschlag, Ambientmomenten und unfassbaren Grooves. Unterstützt bei diesem Vorhaben werden sie von Jon Theodore an den Drums, der sich extrem gekonnt durch die Songs prügelt und sich in den passenden Momenten auch gekonnt zurücklehnt, von Flea, der mit seinen Bassgrooves auch eine Menge Melodie hineinbringt und natürlich vom Keyboarder Ikey Owens, der den wilden Sound erst vervollständigt. Sowieso: Was für ein Sound! Omar schreddert sich durch die Songs, die Gitarren sind hauptsächlich Textur, wohingegen Cedric und Ikey dafür sorgen, dass ein Song einprägsamer ist als der andere. Was für Refrains! Was für Melodien! Was für eine Energie! An das düstere Konzept rund um den Tod von Julio Venegas denke ich mittlerweile ehrlich gesagt nicht mehr so oft, das verleiht dem Album aber noch eine weitere Ebene, die auch mithilfe des zugehörigen Buches erkundet werden kann. Klassiker!

Unexpected win here. There's a thousand ideas crammed into this album. No idea (and no care either) what the lyrics are about but love the guitar work and drums are rad man.

De-Loused in the Comatorium is an album that comes at you at full speed and never really eases off. It is frantic, maximalist, and deliberately overwhelming, packed with complex rhythms, sudden shifts, and a sense of barely controlled chaos. At its best, that intensity is exciting and impressive. At its worst, it feels exhausting, like being trapped in someone else’s fever dream without a clear way out. There is no denying the musicianship. The playing is sharp, inventive, and fearless, and the band clearly thrives on pushing ideas to their limits. But for me, the album often feels more focused on momentum than meaning. Songs stretch and contort, constantly escalating without giving much space to breathe or reflect, and after a while the constant barrage starts to blur together rather than build. What initially feels thrilling can turn into sensory overload. By the end, De-Loused in the Comatorium leaves me respecting the ambition more than enjoying the journey. There are moments of real power and imagination, but they are buried in a density that makes repeat listens feel like work rather than reward.

A really solid record, I think it has a really cool sound that nothing else that I’ve heard really has. It’s feels really off and abrasive, but in a really engaging and fun way. It’s just a feat of production more than anything I think. Favorites: Son et Lumiere, This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed, Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt

Weird and not for me, but it's not annoying to listen.

Not awful but I didn’t love it. Fast guitars and vocals that reminded me of a lite version of muse.

Before: This is one of my bf's favorite albums of all time and I never actually sat down and listened to it (outside of Cicatriz), so I was excited to see this on here. He and I have a lot of musical overlap but also a lot of differences. AFAIK The Mars Volta is proggy which isn't my usual thing so I'm looking forward to see what I actually think of it. During/after: This is really cool! He has always mentioned that The Mars Volta uses Latin influences and I definitely see it, especially on Tira Me a Las Aranas - which makes sense because of its title, lol. The prog is a little much for me and I don't love the high pitched (but talented!) vocals so far but we'll stick it out. As it continued and I got used to the vocals and the progressiveness, I got more into it. Cicatriz is crazyyy and I love it. It's so experimental sounding and for a 12-minute song, I found myself consistently intrigued and not bored and waiting for it to be over. It has water drop sound effects and some often harsh and unique synths that just make it interesting to listen to. This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed was probably one of my least favorites. It just didn't interest me or generally sound as good to my ears as the tracks before it but it wasn't bad. Televators was a SICK transition though, it sounded so different from the song before it and was a lot less chaotic. It felt like a palette cleanser. There's no doubt that The Mars Volta has some CRAZY talent. They showcase it amazingly in this record. Besides that, it's just interesting and experimental. I'm giving this a 5 because of the talent and uniqueness. Apologies to Taylor for not listening sooner. 5/5. Standouts: Drunkship of Lanterns Eriatarka Cicatriz Esp

A bit more emo than I was expecting but I liked it didn't love it 3.5*

quand même les emos peuvent s'asseoir à côté des geeks à la cantine, il ne peut pas y avoir de bataille de nourriture.

Very good album, didn’t think a prog album would be that good in the 2000s but I stand corrected. Each song flows really well into each other, instruments were on point. Again if you’re not a prog fan you will not be a fan of this album

Achei bem similar com At the drive in, só que mais alternas. Vi que tem o mesmo vocalista e guitarrista.

New to me, but very similar in style to Tool. I like it.

would have rather listened to Relationship of Command but here we are. last two tracks were my favorites. 3.5 shout out to my freshman year situationship's dorm roommate who picked the other side in the At The Drive-In divorce and was a sticker-carrying member of the Sparta street team. i'm sure if i spent enough time in the art buildings on campus, even 24 year later, i could find one of those stickers.

is this prog rock? it might be prog rock. and not just because of the proggy trope of a concept album. is this.... good prog rock? my worldview has been shaken.

did we not make enough proggy rock with hootin and hollerin back in the 70s

Sounded fine, everything went on too long.

Pretty dull

Mistenke at da kan bli litt slitsomt i lengden, men enn så lenge va da bra

Nice

3.0

Deloused absolutely rocked my shit when I first heard it.

On paper I should like this album more, but it has never clicked with me. There are definitely some interesting moments but something about the overall mix doesn’t vibe with me.

helped me solidify how I want to think about ratings during this project

Weird and kinda experimental but still managed to have melodies to bop your head along too. I kinda sighed it.

Not my favorite iteration of this genre

This is just Rush for people born after 1990

A loud, melodic rock record with some wailing vocals. For me, somewhere between Metallica and Led Zeppelin? Some great song titles as well. Overall, enjoyed it Highlights: "Son Et Lumiere" and "Eriatarka"

Only heard their name in passing, can't remember whether in a positive or negative context. This is perfectly fine upbeat pop-rock, I probably would've been really into this if I heard it at age 14 but I never had an emo rock phase.

Weird. But not terrible.

I have to admit that this genre is really not my thing. I gave it a listen but it didn’t change my mind. I’m glad it connects with others though.

Two good songs. I am going to be generous

More interesting than most rock, but I didn't feel like it

Kickin' down the studio door and screaming "LET'S GET NUTS", this one helluva frantic ride. Sprinting, crashing, pivoting on a dime: beautiful for a second, then bursting into flame, but still plenty of hooks that linger, and space provided to catch your breath. The guitars are sharp and restless, vocals aren't my favorite style - but compliment the chaos quite well. Exciting from start to finish!

I was nervous to listen, but happy to report I was pleasantly surprised. I saw a several reviews complaining specifically about the vocals and the "noise" of it all, but I found the album to be pretty compelling! Do I know what the songs are about lyrically? No. Did some of the tracks get a little too "noisy"? Yes. Would I seek it out to listen again? I'm not sure, but for the most part I really enjoyed the ride.

I remember this album went under the radar at first when I came out and I thought why? It’s so different to anything out at the time and the music is very varied, the lyrics are wild and the whole album structure is insane but I really liked and still do to this day

Another one of those "critic's choice" records that they make "important" because it's artsy rock that critics tend to pick. It's not my wheelhouse and nothing I enjoy at all.

I greatly appreciate the Mars Volta. Deloused is my favorite Volta record. But this record still seems out of reach to me, and I've listened to it since it came out.

Jolie découverte je l’ai ajouté à ma bibliothèque

Nytt band for meg. Blanding av prog-rock og post-hardcore. Episk musikk med godt driv og intense refreng. Kan minne litt om My Chemical Romance, spesielt i måten vokalisten matcher den desperate energien som Gerard Way utstråler. Virkelig en positiv overraskelse. Top 3: Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of), Inertiatic Esp, Drunkship of Lanterns

Nope

I've never really considered myself a prog rock fan, but this was pretty damn good. Really loved the upbeat vibe and the Latin influence sprinkled in made it feel special and unique in comparison to other prog rock albums. The vocals were impressive albeit sometimes a bit too much. I do think that a couple songs fell into the trap of sounding a bit samey, which is funny because I didn't really even absorb most of the lyrics in the songs. This aside, this freaking rocked, and I really enjoyed it.

I had listened to this album before based on recommendations on Reddit. It is strange in a good way.

fun! very 2000s but definitely not slop!

It's weird. Here is an album, and more broadly, a band, that I appreciate but have never quite connected with. A blast from the past, I suppose, it's good but with fresh ears it often feels enigmatic and drawn out for the sake of it while lacking the substance that it needs and deserves. Really, for me personally, is recognizing the eventual metamorphosis of the Mars Volta from the chaotic ATDI live performances. I don't know, maybe this band needs a little deep dive from me but I think it might overwhelm me.

I didn't think I'd like this, but I did.

Lead singer had a compelling voice and was reminiscent of Freddie Mercury on occasion. The recording is a whole is not something I would listen to again. Too noisy for me

“Son et Lumiere” was great! Eriatarka also very good.

Powerful, good rock

7(sin acabar)

Wasnt what I expected, interesting sound. 3.8/5

Heard of the band, never heard anything of them, but this kicks ass. Propulsive, spacy, guitar and drum-driven rock (seriously, the drums on this kick butt) with some zappity-pow effects thrown in for extra flavor. It's a sci-fi concept album about something something something I don't really care, I can barely understand what the singer is saying anyway, but his voice soars above the mayhem quite nicely. Only thing keeping it from five stars is a lack of variety among the tracks, but what's there is really great, so I'm not complaining.

This is so buns 💔

Did not like it, something with the rhythm of the guitar and bass.

Ah, the Mars Volta. They’re insane, but I love this band. I will admit, I haven’t listened to them in a while. I burn hot with the Mars Volta and then I have to put them down for a while. The Mars Volta are essentially two constant band members, founders Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala. Rodríguez-López is a guitarist and producer, and according to Wikipedia, he provides the direction for the band. Whereas Bixler-Zavala is the singer and writes the lyrics. The lyrics….hmmm…To me, they’re nonsensical. I’m sure they mean something to Bixler-Zavala, but to me, they're really just words put together to make sounds. I guess you’d call the Mars Volta, and for the record, it may just be Mars Volta with no the, anyway, they’re progressive rock. But, they’re more than that. They’re punk, they’re metal, they’re jazz, they’re noise rock, they’re just unlike anything you’ve heard. And to be fair, some of you, perhaps all of you, might hate what you hear. As for me, I think they’re geniuses, and I can find something in every song that sends shivers up and down my spine. Each song on the album is like a journey, and unlike some bands, you’re just not sure where the music is going to take you. Track 3, Roulette Dares, is brilliant. It mixes soft and hard in a way that when the soft parts come in, your heartbeat decelerates and when the hard rock comes in, it accelerates the heart. It's like your getting a high-intensity workout through your earholes. I’ll admit Bixler-Zavala’s singing can be an acquired taste. When I first heard Geddy Lee, I hated his voice, but as I aged, I learned to love it. Bixler-Zavala may have an even higher range than Geddy. Track 5, Drunkship of Lanterns, has bongos playing a nice uptempo Latin beat, and Bixler-Zavala sings about whatever, then we get to the middle sectio,n which is pure Steve Vai type guitar wankery. The guitar sounds like its backwards, but it isn’t backwards. Then later it all breaks down and sounds like you’ve been jettisoned to space to float around before Rodriguea-Lopez lays some heavy Santanta-like riffs on you. Damn, I love this song. The song ends in what sounds like you're listening to a rave with your ear up to the door, and the music is being made by dinosaurs. It’s weird. And that’s just one track! Oh, did I mention Rick Rubin produced the album? Oh, did I also mention that the band’s bassist left before the recording of the album, and Flea, of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, played bass on the album? Does anyof that interest you? I’m getting more fired up as this thing album goes on. I’ve missed this album. It's not bringing back memories of where I was or what I was doing when I first heard this album, but those emotions I felt are flooding back. Track 6, Eriatarka, while it starts softly, it rises into a fast punk chorus, if any of these songs actually have choruses. I can’t write as I listen. I don’t want to try to form thoughts. Just. Want. To. Listen. Track 7, Cicatriz Esp, is Pink Floydian, like Echoes from the album Meddle. The song is great, starts out banging, then around the 4 minute mark, everything slows down and gets softer, and it again feels like you/re just floating in space….for five minutes, literally, the song is over 12 minutes long. Then the solo starts and goes on, and on, and on. Maybe my favorite track on the album. Just prog rock brilliance. This album is a masterpiece as far as I’m concerned. I love it, and God bless the 1,001 Must Listen list for shaking me from my long slumber on this album and this band. I think if you’re a prog rock fan, you’ll love this album. Even if you aren’t and don’t even know what prog rock is, give this album a listen. It might open your eyes to something you never knew was out there.

I liked it! Very emo prog.

while i was listening to this i was making a face and my brother asked whether i was constipated and i said nearly.

Ugh this was just weird. But it did have potential... which was not used... I liked some of the instrumentals, there was good use of guitar and drums. What I did not like were the vocals- not only were the lyrics so bad, the voice effects made them so much worse and to top it all off there was way too much screeching and screaming. Also the song and album names were really odd for no apparent reason. I think these guys think they were being edgy but all they achieved was being weird.

I think someone's trying to desensitise me to long songs and it might actually be working because I really enjoyed this and for once was completely unphased by a 12 minute song. Reading up on the backstory to this album, I was a bit disappointed to not be able to pick up on the 'horrifying adventures' through the 'subconscious dream world' in the lyrics but I feel like the 'adventureness' can definitely be felt through the way tension is built up and down instrumentally and almost cinematically.

Made a stressful day much more stressful - what is going on?

this album is what overstimulation feels like to me and i had to listen to it when i was in peak overstimulation please never again, i beg i feel like my skin is being ripped off, my ears grenaded and my soul smashed to tiny pieces.

This is apparently about a man in a coma hallucinating who decides to kill himself. This makes me feel like that man. I hate this.

"Hey, you wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world?" >puts on Deloused in the Comatorium by the Mars Volts<

Tanto bello cazzo

Love it

I feel prog rock is a genre that leaves little room for good or bad. Either you output something generic and you get something bland or you output something that sounds good and works. It doesn't really have a "meh" ratio for me. I saw this and figured it would be either dislike or meh, but I liked it. Yes prog rock is pretty polished possibly pretentious, but aren't we all. Just ask half of us to show your album collection. Or ask me how frustrating I find it critics never add instrumental albums on greatest albums lists. Then I'll sound really pretentious and pissed off.

Man this album is fire! The only negative about this album is the vocals , it's not upto the mark for me.

It was good, i think i would listen to it once in a while

good actually, not what i expected I like the music but the vocals were kind of hard to understand and the songs were a little too long for me kinda sounded like sod? album cover is crazy favorites: roulette dares Eriatarka 4.1 stars 8/10

muy dark, un sonido q no me interesa

Favorite Songs: Cicatriz Esp, Inertiatic Esp Least Favorite Song: Televators Cool music, but I unfortunately don’t like the guy’s voice.

just finished the 4th song, still not vibing with the album

actually really enjoyed, felt very emo rock and had some fun tracks

This album is the incarnation of drinkings a lot of energy drinks and then being hunted by the paralysis demons because you didn't go to sleep Fav songs - Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of), Televators 4/5

Experimental noise, not a fan

31. alright, better than expected

Super out there, in terms of both the lyrics and concept itself. It's admittedly a tad strange to be listening to prog rock that was recorded after the millennium, but this isn't really the psychedelia sound that one would expect. This is more of a modern rock sound, with all sorts of influences ranging from punk rock, blues, and Latin. I mean, the lead singer himself sounds like he could front My Chemical Romance. Interesting listen, if not a little pretentious.

Histrionic and meretricious. When 14 year old emo boys hear this, they will think it’s epic and grandiose, but in reality it is pretentious, pointless and annoying.

not my thing

Lots of mixed feelings. This is very juvenile and of its time, like I definitely feel like a Hot Topic "music is my life" tween when I listen to this, but I'm not gonna pretend it doesn't have its moments. I do like At The Drive-In and I can hear the link there between this and that but this sucks more in like a really fake pretentious way that reminds me of Muse or something. I'm not mad at it but I don't ever wanna listen to it in full again.

Wow

Couldn’t do it

Well, this only means I will officially declare this list bullshit if Relationship of Command is omitted.

Still maintain that if they’d shave like 20 minutes of unnecessary sound effects off, and this’d be a pretty excellent album. Also, is this makes the list and Relationship of Command doesn’t, I will riot in the streets.

I have heard of The Mars Volta before but did not know any of their music and probably get them confused with Jared Leto's band. The Mars Volta sounds like if Muse focused a lot more on becoming experts of their instruments, went complete prog-rock and wrote fairly incomprehensible lyrics. There are really 8 songs on this album, as two of the songs are very brief. These 8 songs are not brief with one track coming in at over 12 minutes and three other songs exceeded 7 minutes. So, this is true prog-rock for the modern age. I do not know if I would make it a point to listen to this one again and as far as prog-rock goes I think I prefer King Crimson, but it is nice to have a modern(ish) prog-rock album in this book. Inertiatic Erp Drunkenship of Lanterns This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed Televators

Never did it for me

I hate this so much lol. Emo with no nostalgia for me, so I’m forced to confront what it actually is. Also funny how much I love post rock and hate prog rock.

Appreciate the energy of the record and some of the jams! There is better rock music out there for sure.

These guys can really play their instruments and there are interesting moments but I think it's by sheer luck. This just sound like random riffs to me and nothing truly memorable.

None of this cohered lyrically for me but it captured an anguished vibe well enough that I could connect to it anyway. Never had any idea where it was going on any of their extended riffs, worked best in Eriatarka and Veil Cerpin

Heard of The Mars Volta, but i guess I've never heard them? Anyway, this slaps from beginning to end. Great complimentary everything going on.

Theoretically this is prog rock, and there’s certainly a lot going on with machine gun drum fills, a bit of guitar noodling and a bizarre concept album through line about someone in a coma after taking an overdose of rat poison and morphine. As you do. There are strong echos of early 70s King Crimson here with a bit of Led Zeppelin thrown in for good measure. It feels like the sort of album you have to listen to with the lyrics open in another tab and a wikipedia page to look up the references whilst taking notes because there’ll probably be a test at the end. Far too many notes for my taste!

Not reallu my thang but this isn't bad ata all.

This might be my favorite prog rock album I've heard so far. Not usually a big fan of the genre just because lengthy songs are tough and don't lend themselves to listening more frequently, but! This album is really cool! It is maybe a bit on the long side, but... Very high 4. One of those possible 5s in the future.

A lot of modern prog rock falls into the unfortunate pattern of just being mindless Genesis worship or the like, with no understanding of the craft that went into those older prog rock songs, often just using wacky time signatures or playing 20-minute suites because that's what you do in prog. The Mars Volta do not have that problem. Defiantly original, The Mars Volta formed from the ashes of post-hardcore darlings At the Drive-In. Vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala and guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López wanted to explore their Latin roots, as well as incorporate influence from their years in punk bands, and the searing prog rock and fiery jazz fusion they enjoyed. The result was a stunning tour de force of a band. Hypnotic Latin grooves, cryptic yet still emotional storytelling and lyricism focusing around the grief they felt for friends lost, and sheer unadulterated musical chaos are their calling cards on this album, and they deliver on all these promises and more. An astounding debut album that they still somehow managed to top with their sophomore effort, Frances the Mute, just two years later.

I flirted with giving this a 3 for a while because I probably won’t add any songs off this to my regular listening but ya know what? It was cool as hell.

Everything about this album seemed incredible on paper, but after two listens I still can't quite hook onto it. I definitely enjoy a lot of it -- the percussion is relentless, the guitar riffs otherworldly, the bass... is Flea, and the longform proggy cuts are a real treat -- so unfortunately my main blockage here is the singing, which has a very emo-leaning delivery that I don't quite hate, but imo clashes with everything else going on. Standouts: Drunkship of Lanterns • Cicatriz Esp • Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt

Great album but does not earn the length, in my opinion. I feel like they don't have quite enough ideas, so while I spend the entire first half buying it, I'm a little worn out by the end. Very promising for their other material and their singer has a gorgeous voice.

Never ever heard of this And no wonder. This is good but it’s maybe the least pop thing so far. Lots of long songs and very intense/hardcore rock. It’s good, not always quite my thing but good

Compared to Muse by many, I can see it. Nice prog album, innovative sound, strong variety in this album. Maybe too prog-gy to be 5* for me.

Powerful

A band I’ve known by name for a long time but never listened to. Mt interest had been peaked in more recent years knowing that QOTSA drummer Jon Theodore is alumni. And I had a good time with this, I think it needs more listens but I’m keen to hear more.

Was peak in the naughties. I'm a bit old for this dang ruckus these days.

I wish I could listen to this again for the first time, but it always slaps.

Album #998 When I got into Coheed and Cambria, this is one of the bands that was suggested as similar that I might enjoy. I never did get around to listening to them until now. I definitely hear the similarities. I prefer the more poppy prog metal of C&C. That just strikes the perfect balance for my taste. This band leans more heavily into the prog, which can sometimes get tiring when you just want the music to relax and get into a nice groove. The singer sounds like a basic pop-punk lead singer; not that unique. But still, there is a lot to enjoy here, and I wouldn't mind giving it another shot. As far as the lyrics go, I couldn't really understand much besides the word "exoskeleton." A low 4/5 I think.

Singer is talented but sings nonsense and sounds a bit emo. That out of the way, the instrumentation is pretty damn good and this is an interesting evolution of prog rock.

😟 The soundtrack to anime porn

Maybe one of my top 10 albums of all time. This needs to be talked about a lot more than it is. Just perfect.

Pretty good rock album for its period. To be fair that’s damning with faint praise since it was a bad time for American rock and Mars Volta made an album that survived all that and is still quite good. It’s not At The Drive In, however.

Suck it! Stuart.

This album rips so hard.

Really good, I enjoyed it. Not really my style, but kept me interested throughout.

Noisy .. not really my style

A bit intense to listen to (esp on headphones) but the concept and music is coherently unique! The lyrics are wild though. Tracks to Track: Ineriartic Esp

Could be good for a hard run but probably wouldn’t seek it out. Pretty hardcore emo(?) which didn’t speak to me

Terrible

Crap and pretentious

Second half of album is great.

This felt like something written by someone with extreme ADHD. It was overstimulating. Most of the time it was interesting, but it was a lot to listen to. Not something I will return to.

Stressed melancholia, hated it

Great

It was alright. I appreciate the cool blend of styles but not for me. Even then there are still some cool elements to the songs. Rating: 2.3

This on the verge of tears singing style reminds me a lot of the music I listen to, but at the same time I can't name a specific band, so maybe I don't listen to it that much Good music

Way better than expected

This should be better and more interesting than it is. The album feels over produced and polished with only moments of resonance. It feels kind of like a film that critics mistake confusion for art.

Wut is that album cover?! This is so weird and I don’t know what I hate the most and what I like the most. This album with a bunch of long ass songs and 1 hr! It’s a lot! Also all there other album covers are so much nicer, Frances the mute is like a beautiful reinterpretation of a Rene Magritte painting, it’s just this one I absolutely hate!

Better than a lot of the other 2000s prog rock but still not amazing

A great discovery, very interesting rock music, listened to it twice, and added it to my library.

i thought this was the coolest thing ever when i was 15

Good musicians and a voice you either love or hate. It's very progressive as in there are not a lot of hooks so it's an exhausting listen. Not my cup of tea.

Prog rock perfection. THe vocals on this are incredible, along with the basswork. Really great switches all the way throughout, every song feels new and refreshing. However, the main highlight of this which makes it absolute cinema is the drumming. Holy shit is he killing it. The jazzy drumming is absolutely awesome and it fits so well with this sound. Not only is it mechanically impressive, its tasteful and not overplayed so that it sounds like it's distracting the listener away from the other elements of the song. And as a final touch, this is mixed incredibly well, which you can really appreaciate in those climactic drops where you can hear each and every component crisp and clear. This is a work of art

maybe not my cup of tea. yet. i still really enjoy it (for short periods of time) prolly gonna give this a 3.5 cuz i really do see myself enjoying this in the future

Absolutely definitive post-hardcore album in every way. The guitar riffs are like nothing else, and the vocals are there to back it up too. Every moment feels necessary, original, and even the songs that go on for over 10 minutes are packed with some of the best rock performances of the century.

I remembered liking this more when I first heard them. They do some fun musical stuff, but they're a lot more whining than I can deal with.

Dream Theater if they were Pierce the Veiling tf ouuttt!! So good. Epic. Very loud and fast but the instrumentals were hooking and groovy to the point that I could stay invested (like DT). I couldn't stay focused bc my head is broken rn so I wasn't as into it as I would've liked BUT from my far-away perspective it was good! Not sure if it's my personal taste but it's definitely similar. Reminds me of industrial and progressive rock. Flames. Maybe a 3.5-4/5.

First listen and I liked this better than I thought I would. It doesn’t seem to be overly pretentious despite the title and the cover. There are couple of bits that distinguish it from other rock band around at the time, but I played it twice though and both times it blended so far into the background I didn’t notice it had stopped playing.

My initial thoughts of this album reminded me of when I described having a newborn child it's a special type of Hell sprinkled with fairy dust. This was shed with tiny bits of genius. Fortunately that screaming, shitting, meat bag turned into a cool cat that I enjoy being it. Alas, the album didn't improve, it actually got worse and I'm glad it's over.

God I love The Mars Volta. Been following them for a while, seen 'em live, they're chaos incarnate. They are an experience and you just need to surrender and go along for the ride. Deloused and Bedlam in Goliath are my favorite Volta albums, so this listen is a pure victory lap with an old friend. The frantic Latin twisted guitar and drum beats, the nonsense (yet still somehow enthralling and absorbing) lyrics, and the fun vibe of this album just make it a pure jam. To me The Mars Volta always used lyrics as a vehicle for a catchy melody. Don't think about the words too much and you'll have a much better time picking up themes and buzzwords that inspire ideas more than any single coherent whole. Enjoy all the sounds as an entire unit. Thr album morphs and has a life of it's own offering a slightly different experience every time you listen. It's pretty unique and something I love about this band. Standouts are "Inertiatic Esp," "Drunkship Of Lanterns," and "Televators" but every song is great and worth a listen. It's 5s all the way down.

Mad bonkers crazy

When I first heard this album I did not like it. I'm not a Post-Hardcore person and this album shares a lot of that genre's aesthetic. However, because I was in my college prog phase I decided to give it another try and am I glad I did! For some reason, the hooks just sunk into my memory and I started loving all the melodies and intricacies. Then I went on a Mars Volta binge and became a huge fan just in time for the release of 2012's Noctourniquet. I know there's a plot in here somewhere, and reading about it, it actually sounds quite interesting. But honestly I couldn't tell you what the hell is going on just by listening to the songs, even while reading along to the words. Key tracks: Inertiatic ESP Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of) Drunkship of Lanterns This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed Televators Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt

Funky, somewhat sinister, enjoyable.

For me personally, just a little too much going on. Cool sound but just too much artsy, trying to be more than it is. Wouldn't likely find myself listening to it again.

Yeah idk what this was. Not for me that's for sure. 2/10

This album was ok. Not a huge mars Volta fan. I like the noise aspect of it, but not something I really have gotten into in the past.