Top 10 The Mars Volta Songs

Photo: By Steve Collis from Melbourne, Australia (Mars Volta) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 The Mars Volta songs list steps out of the world of European Progressive Rock Bands and deep into the heart of Texas U.S.A. The second wave of Progressive Rock Bands that came out of the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s were dominated by bands on the western side of the Atlantic Ocean. Bands like Pendragon, Anathema, Galahad, Marillion, Magma and so many others helped fuel the continued interest in Progressive Rock music. Nonetheless, there were some bands from the U.S.A. like Dream Theater and Fates Warning that also contributed to the genres of Progressive Rock and it’s continued blending of the genres of progressive rock, progressive metal and alternative rock.

The Mars Volta was first formed in 2001 by musicians Omar Rodríguez-López & Cedric Bixler-Zavala. Both musicians had worked together in their former 1990’s group At The Drive In. There have been so many musicians that have performed and recorded with the group over the years but in the end the sound and direction of Mars Volta have been led by Omar Rodríguez-López & Cedric Bixler-Zavala.

The band’s first album was released in 2003 entitled De-Loused in the Comatorium. After the release of their debut album, the band issued their sophomore album, Frances the Mute in 2005, Amputechture in 2006, The Bedlam in Goliath in 2008, Octahedron in 2009, and the album Noctourniquet in 2012. The band has just recently released a couple of singles entitled “Blacklight Shine” and “Graveyard Love” from an upcoming album due out in 2022. It has been ten years since the band has released a new studio album. The group did release a box set that contained unreleased material in 2021,

Our Top 10 Mars Volta Songs list takes a look at some of the band’s highlights throughout the band’s marvelous career.

# 10 – Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)

We open our Top 10 Mars Volta songs list with a track from the band’s first album entitled De-Loused in the Comatorium. The band’s debut album was released in 2003. The song “Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of),” appeared as the third song on the CD. The song was composed by Omar Rodríguez-López.

# 9 – Viscera Eyes

In 2006, the band Mars Volta released the album Amputechture. The album sold extremely well for the band, especially for a time period in which music fans had begun to stop buying CDs. The song “Viscera Eyes,” was released as the only single from the album. It’s about as heavy as a single as you will ever hear, but that’s what’s so cool about it.

# 8 – Aegis

The song “Aegis,” was released on the album Noctourniquet in 2012. It was the band’s sixth album release. The group would not release another album for the next ten years. There is a great progressive rock feel to this one that seems to be inspired by bands like Yes and King Crimson. Although, there is that sinister Mars Volta sound that comes dripping through.

# 7 – Since We’ve Been Wrong

As we continue to cover all the band’s releases on our top 10 Mars Volta Songs list, we turn to the band’s fifth studio album Octahedron. The album was released in 2009. The song Since We’ve Been Wrong was the album’s opening track.

# 6 – Cygnus… Vismund Cygnus

We return again to the fantastic album Frances the Mute for our sixth selection on this Mars Volta songs list entitled “Cygnus… Vismund Cygnus.” This epic thirteen-minute track opened up the album. It starts out a little slow but explodes into a mad funk metal jam at about the minute mark. There is a bit of a System Of A Down feel to the song and arrangement.

# 5 – Goliath

The band’s fourth album The Bedlam in Goliath has been hailed by many critics as the band’s best album. The CD sold extremely well and garnished two singles. The great songs “Goliath,” was the second single released from the album.

# 4 – Inertiatic Esp

The song “Inertiatic Esp,” was released on the band’s debut album De-Loused in the Comatorium in 2003. The song “Inertiatic Esp,” was released as the first single from the album. The album’s cover art was designed by the legendary Storm Thorgerson who was responsible for so many great album covers by bands like Pink Floyd, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Al Stewart, Alan Parsons Project, Peter Gabriel, Genesis, and so many more.

# 3 – L’Via L’Viaquez

The song “L’Via L’Viaquez,” was released on the band’s sophomore album Frances The Mute. The CD was issued in 2005. This one opens up with a great guitar lick that leads into the band’s iconic vocals. The song also features the Red Hot Chili Peppers John Frusciante playing guitar solos on the track. John Frusciante tares it up on this tune.

# 2 – Cicatriz Esp

As we close in on the number one spot on our top 10 Mars Volta songs list we turn once again to the great De-Loused in the Comatorium album. The song “Cicatriz Esp,” was released as the seventh track on the album.

# 1 – The Widow

Coming in at number one on our Top 10 Mars Volta songs list is the extraordinary song “The Widow.” The great Mars Volta song was released on the band’s second album Frances the Mute. The song starts out with a haunting melody line song with a sparse arrangement until it explodes in desperation searching for an answer. There is a little bit of Led Zeppelin a little bit of Heart that sort of surrounds this amazing piece of music. The guitar work is ferocious, the vocals as passionate as it gets. A pure gem of a song.