Well - We've just popped in our favourite new CD; The Bedlam in Goliath.
I plug in my headphones, put them on, and press PLAY.
My volume was cranked from last night's Bedouin Soundclash...
The track explodes, shouting "Have you seen the living?"
Ahh yes, the unsettling sound of a Mars Volta bomb going off inside your skull - the sound of 8 men, expressing themselves to the fullest; using their obscure variety of melody and chaos.
As the opening song, I was surprised that they went full steam straight from 0:01 into the album. In the past, each album has had at least a 45 second interlude/build-up before the
This track was one of the originals that were posted on their official website (with video). I really liked the song, but there’s something missing here. Cedric's voice - while impressive - is still far too whiney for my taste. I much preferred his original style that allowed him to express his range of sounds... this whole album is a little bit linear in terms of voice pitch and creativity. On the bright side of all that - the lyrics are incredibly powerful. The album was allegedly written about a cursed Ouija Board that Omar had purchased for Cedric in an authentic Egyptian marketplace.
After using the board and having some strange predictions come true, the evil from within the object started to overcome the band. Their SFX technician left the band and stole a large number of recording. Their hard drives crashed which caused them to lose a few days worth of recording. And Omar mentioned in an interview that there were many strange things associated to that Ouija Board. To make a long story short, they buried the Ouija Board and vowed never to speak of it again - until they wrote an album about it... (explain that one?)
I really like this first track, it's a hair raiser, exactly what I want my boss to hear when I'm walking into his office (like a wrestlers intro music). I want his hair to get blown back, his face to melt from its bones, and his heart rate to accelerate to match the drums. This would naturally cause massive heart failure, but yeah... that's so metal.
The first song is short - which is great. I've found that in the past, many people are unable to enjoy the music because they're easily turned off by the ever evolving beat. It's extremely difficult to jive with for extended periods (especially when you listen to top40). The new album format has 12 tracks, each one more exciting than the last. This new approach is almost certain to lure new listeners.
What the hell is an Aberinkula? From what I've gathered it's an ancient African drum with some religious significance. That's about as much as I can tell.
The chorus and overall theme of this song sounds like a divine or supernatural entity, trying to free itself from it's physical body.
"Have you seen the living?"
"Tired of their own shells."
The second half possibly speaks to the non-believers of the divine or supernatural spirits in our universe; being picked of their limbs, and condemned to a metaphorical well.
"All the non-believers"
"Torsos in the well"
This is just my take.... feel free to add insight.