Any album that begins sounding like a cross between Klaus Schulze and Funkadelic's Eddie Hazel's wailing guitar on Maggot Brain is setting the bar high for itself. Rest assured, though, Amputechture, The Mars Volta's third studio album, does not disappoint. Granted, it may take a few listens to fully appreciate all of the album's intricacies to their fullest, but Amputectechure is a close second behind MV's 2003 massive debut De-Loused in the Comatorium. Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez unite again with the writing credits split for lyrics and vocal melodies/music. Whilst previous MV releases have centered around a theme or narrative, Amputechture is a mix of (seemingly) unrelated ideas. Bixler-Zavala has described the inspirations as diverse, ranging from the US immigration marches to news stories of possessed nuns and that the album is "..a commentary about the fear of God instead of the love of God..". Musically, the album is up to MV's high standard and calls upon The Mars Volta's group of musicians to strain every sinew of their body in pulling off the complicated rhythms, diverse styles and dynamics one has come to expect from these virtuosos. John Frusciante (RHCP guitarist) again features on all tracks bar one and adds his own distinctive sound to the album (and gains much cred in doing so).Drummer Jon Theodore has unfortunately since left the group but his excellent syncopated heavy style contributes massively to the back end of the music. Viscera Eyes has been touted as the single to come from the album, and it is the standout track. Clocking in at 9:23, the killer riff picks you up by the throat and continually throws you against the proverbial wall. The album as a whole is a mix of heavy rocking prog, funk, salsa and latin with an increased use of ambient sounds - Amputechture creates an up, down, left and sideways workout over the full 75 minutes.
