I’m always being told amazing things about The Mars Volta; however the first song I ever listened to was the 31 minute epic song Cassandra Gemini from their album Frances The Mute.  I found it difficult to sit through the whole song without getting bored, so I never really had much of a pleasure to listen to them again.  But a couple of months ago one of my friends declared their latest album as one of the best records he had ever heard.  He’s only ever steered me towards music that I’ve then grown to love, so I downloaded it and took a chance.

There isn’t really a genre to fit The Mars Volta into; their music is quite literally like something you would think had come from another planet.  With 9 members, each playing a different sound, they mass together with a unique sound.  But it’s not a sound for everyone, they don’t have a mainstream sound, and they’re not an easy listening band.  However if you want a good introduction in the band, then the best idea would be to listen to the first single off the album, Wax Simulacra, as it has a good balance of the sound, but with a slightly more approachable edge.  But there’s no denying that the album is impressive. Once you know the band’s sound and are familiar with it, there’s no turning back.  It you’re a fan of Coheed and Cambria, then it’ll probably be easier to merge into the sound of The Mars Volta.