THE BEDLAM IN GOLIATH

So here is number four. After being dissapointed by what I felt was a slightly underwhelming attempt in Amputechture, I didn't have the highest of expectations for the next Mars Volta experience. Fortunately, they've stepped up their game again and deliver a near relentless barrage of mussic on The Bedlam in Goliath. Here's how the songs stack up:

1. Aberinkula - The wall of sound begins. Overall this is just an average song. Inevitably I find myself wanting to listen to the next song Metatron, aka Aberinkula with balls. (6/10)

2. Metatron - The wall of sound continues. Like the previous song this one features some hard bass playing and drum work, but it seems to be played with more passion and has a more diverse range in sound. (810)

3. Ilyena - Woah. This is different. There's some nice drum patterns and some groovy bass work to go along with some awesome singing. This is one of the highlights of the album. (9/10)

4. Wax Simulacra - Imagine getting a nice square punch to the face. You have just listend to Wax Simulacra. (8/10)

5. Goliath - On this album TMV seem to be digging deep pack into there post-hardcore roots. They then mixed them with some form of math rock/metal and conjured up this beast. Goliath must have been huge judging by this song. (9/10)

6. Tourniquet Man - Well, they can't all be winners. Actually this one is quite the opposite. This song should have been billed as THE MARS VOLTA FEATURING LIMP BIZKIT as that's exactly what it sounds like. This would have been what Durst's version of Behind Blue Eyes would have been if he had decided to toggle a few nobs. (2/10)

7. Cavalettas - Odd, my speakers keep fading out every 2 minutes. Well, between the spaces are some pretty neat ideas. We see the post-hardcore roots showing through again, much to our delight. (7/10)

8. Agadez - Beneath the wierd sounds and Voltaness there lies a pop song here. It's great. (7/10)

9. Askepios - A little off beat wierdness on this song. An interesting stop-go segment in the beginning gives way to nice bass led segement that contains some of those trademark volta lyrics that seem to engrain themselves in your barain. Quality. (8/10)

10. \m/Ouroborous\m/- So I'm listening to this prog band called The Mars Volta one day and all of a sudden this metal song comes on. It's not one of those wussy emo nu-metal songs, but this friggin' awesome phsycadelic journey. Oh wait, same band. Epic. (10/10)

11. Soothsayer - This is the one song I can' get my head around. It's good and fits the tone of the album, but its just strange. It features some rather 'mysterious violin playing in eastern scales. (rating pending/10)

12. Conjugal Burns - Well, this is nice. Words cannot describe this song other than that it's one of those songs that gives closure. Actually amazing is another good one. The new drummer Prigden really shines here. There's several fills that might make Danny Carey cry. (10/10)

So how does this album stack up against the others? Well, it's easily better than Amputechture, being much more coheisive and whatnot. Still, it lacks the album feel that was so prevelant on Frances and De- Loused. There's a lot of music obn here, though, the vast majority of wich is great.