The Mars Volta has never been very good at playing by the rules. Perhaps that's why the group still fringes on the edge of the unknown.
"Amputechture" is The Mars Volta's third studio album since the group rose from the ashes of indie rock legends At the Drive-In four years ago.
Fans that were displeased with last year's erratic and overly experimental "Frances the Mute" might be glad to hear that this record is stylistically more akin to the band's debut, "De-Loused in the Crematorium."
This time around, Bixler and Rodriguez rejoin forces with former ATDI band mate, bassist Pablo Hinojos-Gonzales. Hinojos is part of the seven-piece, extended Mars Volta Group, which also includes Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante.
The band combines pulse-pounding rhythms with off-kilter progressions resembling an amphetamine-addled Led Zeppelin. There is a greater sense of unison between instruments when the guitar, vocals, keyboards and horns seem to fuse seamlessly into an indistinguishable wail.
From the jagged waltzing of "Meccamputechture" to the lamenting flamenco of "Asilos Magdalena," the band conveys a matured sense of pace and balance.
"Amputechture" starts and ends slow, so those seeking the same kind of instantaneous rock gratification found on "De-Loused" might want to skip ahead a few songs.
The first track, "Vicarious Atonement," is a drowsy and sweaty free-time piece. It patiently leads up to the dramatically embellished and nonsensical vocal refrain "Don't let these hands sharpen your eyes/ A rasp of tails."
This opener is followed by the 17-minute "Tetragrammaton," which, despite its moments, is about seven minutes too long. The non-diehard listeners will most likely grow impatient.
Opt instead for the powerful closing rock-outs in "Viscera Eyes." The kinetic propulsion of this track seems like it will continue long after it ends.
The dynamic trade-offs in "Day of the Baphomets" comes complete with howling vocal lines and explosive instrumentals that prove much more invigorating than the earlier half of the album.
The record contains some of The Mars Volta's strongest material. Though Bixler's piercing vocals may be an acquired taste, and indie fans will likely bash the production quality, "Amputechture" is a step in the right direction for a band that can no longer turn back.
