Back when At The Drive-In was putting out records and going out on tours they were about the most exciting thing in rock ‘n’ roll. It almost felt like as they broke up rock took a turn toward nostalgia with bands like The Hives and the White Stripes kicking out throw back style jams, a staunch opposite to At The Drive-In’s progressive stance. Not to say that all those bands didn’t contribute something to the history of rock music. When the Mars Volta hit the scene it was an exciting moment. The forward thinking members of At The Drive-In push their boundaries to new levels. Now on its sixth full-length release, “Noctourniquet,” the band is pushing the limits of the concept record and the ideas of rock music to new levels. Through a series of aural landscapes the band tells the story similar to Solomon Grundy, the story of a child who lives his entire life in seven days. Actually band members have said the album follows the story close, though it is hard to tell on the initial listening. Each song serves a small portion of the characters life, with the wild swining moods moving throughout each track. It isn’t a linear story, at least it doesn’t appear to be. For fans of the band, this will be a very accessible record. Those not familiar with the band’s past efforts might feel a bit lost. The groups signature sounds is present through out. Angular guitars build up sharp melodic lines on top of textural keyboard elements and pound along accordingly. However, those who have been tracking the band, and its members, progression will notice the heavy influence Omar Rodriguez-Lopez solo work on this new record. Etheral and heady at moments, raw and frantic at others, its hard to say if this is the band’s new sound or just a brief fling with something before moving on to the next sound that tantalizes the groups’ artistic direction.  

The Mars Volta

Published by Warner Brothers Records