10 Best Progressive Rock Albums Of The 2000s
5. The Mars Volta - De-Loused In The Comatorium
El Paso's number one prog rock outfit lit up the music world throughout the noughties with their artsy yet viciously hardcore style.
'De-Loused in the Comatorium' kicked the group off with a bang. It's easily amongst the most ambitious debut albums in prog history. The hour-long concept rocker tells the unfortunate tale of Cerpin Taxt, a man left deathly ill and comatose by a bizarre morphine/rat poison drug cocktail. It's the brain child of lead singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala, whose versatile vocals give the energy of the ensuing mayhem a big boost.
Like so many prog greats before them, The Mars Volta blend a diverse and global range of musical styles and ideas to create their own signature sound.
At the time of release, their first LP was heralded for its imaginative mix of jazz, Latin music and hectic, volatile guitar riffs. The maddened guitar playing comes from group leader Omar Rodriguez-Lopez who throws caution to the wind throughout.
Most impressive of all here is Jon Theodore's blistering drums that keep the often maddened tracks chugging along. Between the complicated, heady lyrics and hybrid audio delights on offer, this is a modern classic that requires several listens to fully appreciate.