The Mars Volta have released their highly anticipated seventh studio album and first album in a decade today. The 14 tracks bravely challenge everything you thought you knew about The Mars Volta, delivering their most exciting, most accessible, and most sophisticated music yet.

For the new album the band enlisted original bassist Eva Gardner (Pink, Cher, Gwen Stefani), who helped write the band’s original material at their formation. Gardner’s bass plays a dominant role throughout the album both with her booming tone and intricate bass lines.

In a previous interview with Eva (Here) she spoke to us about her time working with Cedric and Omar when they first left At The Drive In and formed The Mars Volta.

The new album is guitarist/composer Omar Rodríguez-López and singer/lyricist Cedric Bixler-Zavala at their most mature, most concise, most focused – their sound and fury channeled to greatest effect. It marks a shift in sound, as the band explained, in talks with The New York Times and The Guardian. “I wanted to do something else,” says Bixler- Zavala to the Times. “For me, the most exciting new direction is something we haven’t done: to cut things down, to do our version of pop.”

“This is a heavy record. It’s therapy,” adds Bixler-Zavala. “I’m lucky enough to have someone like Omar in my life, to spearhead that and make it all happen. His patience and tenacity are so key to all this. I’m constantly in awe of how he does things.”

Digitally, the album is available in Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, and physically on CD and vinyl with Clouds Hill holding an exclusive, kinetic version of the vinyl, which can be ordered HERE. A special, gold foiled outer sleeve with embossed art is also available on LP, CD and cassette.

The Mars Volta are about to embark and perform their first live shows in a decade. Dates have been added to select cities due to overwhelming demand with many of the shows now sold out. Remaining tickets can be found HERE.

The Mars Volta Tour Dates

September 22 – The Factory in Deep Ellum – Dallas, TX
September 23 – The Factory in Deep Ellum – Dallas, TX – SOLD OUT
September 25 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA – SOLD OUT
September 27 – The Metropolitan Opera House – Philadelphia, PA
September 29 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY – SOLD OUT
September 30 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY – SOLD OUT
October 1 – MGM Music Hall at Fenway – Boston, MA
October 3 – The Anthem – Washington, DC
October 5 – Massey Hall – Toronto, ON
October 6 – Royal Oak Music Theatre – Detroit, MI – SOLD OUT
October 8 – Aragon Ballroom – Chicago, IL – SOLD OUT
October 9 – The Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI – ADDED SHOW
October 11 – The Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO – SOLD OUT
October 14 – Moore Theatre – Seattle, WA – SOLD OUT
October 15 – Moore Theatre – Seattle, WA – SOLD OUT
October 18 – The Warfield – San Francisco, CA – SOLD OUT
October 19 – The Warfield – San Francisco, CA
October 21 – Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA – SOLD OUT
October 22 – Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA – SOLD OUT
October 23 – Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA – SOLD OUT

For more on The Mars Volta: Click Here

Follow Eva Gardner: Here