10 Best Progressive Rock Bands Of All Time
8. The Mars Volta
The rock community at large was dealt a heavy blow in the early '00s when At the Drive In decided to call it quits. This post hardcore outfit had all the lightning in a bottle charisma that you would expect out of a great band, so why would they pick now to take a step away from each other? While you can tell that the band splintered, two of the masterminds had some other plans with the Mars Volta.
From their first record onward, every Mars Volta release has been a trip from start to finish, feeling like it's between the sounds of psychedelia, rock, and absolute insanity depending on where in the track you're listening to. Although Omar Rodriguez Lopez was already a guitar hero in the ATDI days, this is where he really flexes his chops, making layers of atmospheric noise in between some searing solo runs on albums like Deloused in the Comatorium or everything on the back half of Frances the Mute.
Combine that with the shrill voice of Cedric Bixler Zavala and you've got a band that puts together all the off the wall zaniness of someone like Frank Zappa, the atmospheric sounds of post rock, and just a little bit of rocket fuel to tie everything together with. For prog newcomers, this is probably not the best place to start, but once you've gotten used to everything, you're in for a damn gold mine once you get here.