DE-LOUSED IN THE COMATORIUM

If you're looking for unique and a top class prog rock album, De-Loused in Comatorium comes in the forefront of that list. It is the best work The Mars Volta have ever put out. The genius mind of Omar Rodrigues Lopez is in full flow here. He must be one of the best prog rock guitarists of 2000s. To combine acidic, retro, complex, melodic music at the same time must require some unique talent which TMV have plenty in tandem. Everything from guitar bass, drums and the synthesizers are so uniquely blended together that most bands do not even come close to what TMV are able to put across in a single song let alone the whole album. How are they able to make such a cohesive music out of all the combinations that I mentioned above is a question that always amuses me. The music is hypnotic at times.

The album starts with a really tense and sharp intro 'Son et Lumiere' and continues to 'Iniertiatic ESP' and like the name suggests the song gets stronger as it progresses. Starting with a very intense melody, the song builds into something really great during its middle parts. If only you listen to the riffs that Omar plays in the song along with excellent drumming, the uniqueness of this album must be crystal clear to your ears. 'Roulette Dares (The Haunt of)' follows which is one of the best TMV songs ever. From starting riff it feels like a real classic. The verses and chorus are at their melodic best and the chorus part where Cedric Bixler-Zaval yells "Exoskeleton junction at the railroad delayed" remains in your head forever once you hear the song. The instrumental part after the chorus with intense drumming of different kind and a long guitar solo is even better and the song flows in the same vein throughout with a superb ending. This is a song which represents Mars Volta on top of their game. An interlude follows in the name of 'Tira Me a las Aranas'. Then another magnificent song follows in 'Drunkship of Lanterns' which starts with a percussion domination. Their Mexican origin in brilliant incorporated in this song with Mexican style percussion and guitar. The song is also brilliant because of the unique atmosphere it leaves on the listener. In the next song 'Eriatarka' they showcase their way of starting with a very slow melody and building it into an intense hard rock part to slow parts back and forth again and again. The tempo and time signature changes in this song are something really to behold and for me this song is one of the best example of use of synthesizer in TMV's music. The next song 'Cicatriz'is again a descent song that almost starts off with almost hip-hop style beat but soon leaves TMV stamp on it with constant tempo changes, awesome background guitar lead and awesome drumming. The middle section of the song is full show-off of their synthesizer skill but it was one moment in the album where I was put off. The song makes up for that in later section with a melodic over the top solo and an awesome ending. Another great song follws in 'This Apparatus Must be Unearthed' which again consists of all the goods that TMV can deliver. The one song that surprised me the most 'Televators' then comes next which is a full ballad. This song again showcases the musicianship and songwriting skills that are on show with the use of banjo as percussion and is a slap on the face of those who complain TMV being less melodic, more annoying and all that. The final song 'Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt' is a fitting end to the album which again is more than a descent song.

So this is a pure gem of modern progressive rock music and if you are also a fan of unique prog rock albums like me, this is a must have with The Mars Volta at their freaking best.

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