Released just months after Cedric Bixler-Zavala and
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez' old band,
At the Drive-In, announced they would be getting back together, the pair's sixth studio album as
the Mars Volta finds them exploring the esoteric as they continue their journey ever further down the neo-prog rabbit hole.
Noctourniquet highlights the more intellectual, esoteric sound the band has championed over the years. Though much of the album soars creatively, more grounded songs like "Dyslexicon" and "Molochwalker" trend toward the more visceral, instinctual songwriting that made
At the Drive-In such a perfect convergence of raw emotion and technical ability. While the album may take some time for longtime fans to fully absorb, those more familiar moments should provide just enough of a foothold to help them on their journey toward understanding. ~ Gregory Heaney