DE-LOUSED IN THE COMATORIUM

I am saying that I am about at level 1 here. I'm not 100% sure I have heard any specific tracks from this album, but I know a few other Mars Volta tracks pretty well, so I kind of know what to expect as far as sound/style. This is their first full-length album and is a concept album. The story is about a friend of theirs who attempted suicide by taking rat poison but went into a coma instead. While in the coma, he apparently had all sorts of psychedelic visions that he remembered when he came out of the coma. He didn't like reality when he returned to it, and then was "successful" in his attempt to end his life. I know, right?. dark subject matter. It is supposed to have inspired an amazing album, however.

Track 1 - Son Et Lumiere

Sound effects fade in, and a keyboard rhythm emerges. Vocals join in with effects on them. The band joins in with some accents. Leading to the first full length track:

Track 2 - Inertiatic ESP

Fast tempo, and high-pitched vocals. High energy song, I like it. I like the tremolo-picked guitar part. Things change just after the 2-minute mark. A little jazz-fusiony for a moment. There are some dissonant guitar feedback parts, but it works. We end in a quick 3-4 time (that gets slower) and some unusual guitar sounds and effects. This leads to?

Track 3 - Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)

After some connecting sound effects, we have a very fast riff, joined by vocals. Then the tempo changes to a slower 6-8, and the music mellows out a bit. Then the dynamics increase. Loathe of Loud/Soft sections, then the fast riff returns. There are more time changes than I can type fast enough to keep up with! We have a bit of a chaotic instrumental break. The time and tempo changes keep it interesting. There is a very mellow instrumental break/guitar solo at around 5 and a half minutes into the song. Sound effects fade the song out and lead to?.

Track 4 - Tira Me A Las Aranas

The sound effects give way to an acoustic 12-String guitar that sounds slightly out of tune (but I think it's intentional, for effect) Some electric sounds join over the top, and sustained sounds lead to?

Track 5 - Drunkship of Lanterns

Very fast tempo with a complex meter, and guitar with delay effects. Vocals join in and there are some nice harmonies. Occasional accents from the band. The playing is very tight! I would call portions of this track "controlled chaos", but they hold it together nicely. The vocals may be an acquired taste for some, but I like it in the context of the song. Interesting sound-effects and guitar sounds take over at around the 4-minute mark. We have a guitar solo break at around 5 minutes. Sound effects take over again at around 6 minutes with a subtle bass rhythm keeping things together. Then different sound effects lead to?

Track 6 - Eriatarka

A short guitar/drum riff starts us off here, then the tempo slows to an arpeggiated guitar pattern, joined by vocals. We are in 6-8 and feeling kind of floaty. Big power chords lead to a fast complex rhythm and vocals. Sound effects briefly take over, then we are back to 6-8 with a short guitar break and another verse. Fast tempo kicks back in around 3:20. Again there are a number of tempo and time changes as well as "feel" changes that keep the track very interesting. Loving it! Once again, the track ends with sound effects that carry us to the next track?

Track 7 - Cicatriz ESP

At 12:29, this is easily the longest track by nearly 4 minutes over the next longest. An underlying driving rhythm propels the song forward with vocals on top. There are guitar flourishes over the top of everything. The music stops briefly then it sounds like a helicopter and then a fast tempo section. The music returns to the previous riff and another verse. The chorus explodes! An instrumental break follows. After that, the music chills out. Surprisingly, I am feeling a lot of Led Zeppelin influence on this track. The drumming is giving Bonzo vibes, and the guitar playing is kind of experimental-Page influenced style. And it feels like JPJ on the electric piano behind it all. After the instrumental break, we have a section that reminds me of a cross between the bowed-guitar of Dazed & Confused and the quieter part of By-Tor and the Snow Dog by Rush. This section is quite lengthy. Drums start bringing the rhythm section back at around 9:15. Now we have Santana vibes! We come back to the initial rhythm and another verse & explosive chorus. This is a great 21st century prog song!

Track 8 - This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed

We begin with sound effects here. Then a guitar with many effects starts a rhythm and the band kicks in with a very fast tempo again. The bass & drums keep things moving with guitar flourishes over the top of the vocals, then the full band comes back in. The pattern repeats itself following that. Lots of excitement on this track! The ending is a bit noisy with a looped drum sound, and abrupt finish.

Track 9 - Televators

This one starts out quite quietly with soft distant bird chirping and nature sounds. The song fades in with finger- style acoustic guitar and clean electric guitar accents, then a melodic vocal part. The opening verse is very peaceful, but then begins to build in intensity. A sustained guitar part leads us to the next verse. This one reminds me a bit of pre-Dark-Side Floyd. 6-8 time with bongo drums underneath, ending in, you guessed it, sound-effects.

Track 10 - Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt

A quick tempo starts us off here. It gets even quicker on the chorus. BTW, Cerpin Taxt is the subject of the concept album. At around the 3-minute mark everything stops except sustained keyboard sounds, (mellotron, perhaps?) Then a dissonant guitar pattern begins to take over. We get a very proggy instrumental break following that. Then the bass takes over with a solo. The band comes back in with a nice smooth groove. A cool guitar solo follows. Feeling a bit "jam band" here. Then the fast tempo kicks back in for another verse. A big exciting final coda hits next.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:

I have to say that this album exceeded my expectations! I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is definitely "experimental", but not to the point that there are no song structures. The music was constantly changing in interesting ways. I didn't feel like it was all blending together. On the downside, the sound effects might be a bit excessive between songs, but it doesn't take away from the overall experience too much. Not one of my all-time favorites, but very good, nonetheless. I give this a solid 4 out of 5 stars.