The story of the formation of The Mars Volta is one that is often
overlooked. Formed from the smouldering ashes of the mighty At The
Drive-In, one would think The Mars Volta were born with a lot to prove,
both to a multitude of ATD-I fans, and also to a media fuelled battle for
supremacy with Sparta, the other band risen from the dead ATD-I.
L'Via L'Viaquez is the second 'single' from the colossal musical outing,
Frances The Mute, and truly is a song of two parts, two minds, a
schizophrenia that is all too welcome. The first part is comprised of the
most heavily fortified, bollocks-crunchingly heavy rhythm I have ever heard,
like a thousand freight trains smashing into a forty-foot thick wall. This
is placed in stark juxtaposition with the second part of the song, a down
tempo, yet cringingly eerie cabaret section.
The iniquitous, wicked vocals of Cedric Bixler Zavala are the proverbial
icing on the cake. One of the best singers in the world, delivering his
vocal attack in Spanish, passionately, and devilishly. The Mars Volta are
second to none in their design of mind-bendingly creative music.
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