Known for their energetic live shows and concept albums, The Mars Volta formed following the break-up of Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala's previous band, At the Drive-In. Seeking to experiment and expand their sound, Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala recruited Gardner, Isaiah "Ikey" Owens (keyboards), Jon Theodore (drums) and Jeremy Ward (sound manipulation) to form The Mars Volta. The band released their debut EP, Tremulant, in 2002, with Gardner leaving the band prior to recording their debut album, De-Loused in the Comatorium. She was replaced by Red Hot Chili Peppers bass guitarist Flea for the sessions. The Rick Rubin-produced album received widespread critical acclaim upon its release in 2003.
The band's second studio album, Frances the Mute (2005), was self-produced by Rodríguez-López and was the first to feature longterm members Juan Alderete (bass) and Marcel Rodríguez-López. The album debuted at #4 on the US Billboard 200 and became the band's biggest commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies in the US and achieving Gold certification from the RIAA. The band's third studio album, Amputechture, was released in 2006 and was the last album to feature Theodore. In 2008, the band released The Bedlam in Goliath, a concept album inspired by the band's turbulent experiences with a ouija-type talking board. The album's first single, "Wax Simulacra" was awarded a Grammy Award in 2009 for Best Hard Rock Performance. The band released its fifth album, Octahedron, in June 2009.
Following the release of their sixth album, Noctourniquet (2012), and a run of reunion shows with At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta entered a hiatus in September 2012. Rodríguez-López subsequently formed a new project, Bosnian Rainbows, and the band formally broke up after disagreements between Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala. The duo repaired their friendship and reunited in 2014 for a new project, Antemasque, and further At the Drive-In tours and recording sessions.
Reuniting in secret in 2019, Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala recorded a new studio album, The Mars Volta, with Gardner, Marcel Rodríguez-López and drummer Willy Rodriguez Quiñones. The band announced their reunion – after ten years of public inactivity – with an art installation called L'ytome Hodorxí Telesterion, in June 2022. For the band's live return, jazz pianist Leo Genovese and drummer Linda-Philomène Tsoungui were added to the line-up.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mars_Volta
Studio albums
De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003)
Frances the Mute (2005)
Amputechture (2006)
The Bedlam in Goliath (2008)
Octahedron (2009)
Noctourniquet (2012)
The Mars Volta (2022)
Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazon (2023)
Cicatriz E.S.P.
The Mars Volta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As it suggested beck and call
This face and heel
Will drag your halo through the mud
Ash of Pompeii
Erupting in a statues dust
Shrouded in veils
Because these handcuffs hurt to much
And when they drag the lake there is nothing left at all
Seutured contusion
Beyond the ant hills of the dawning of this plague
Said I've lost my way
Even if this cul de sac would pay
To reach inside a vault whatever be the cost
Sterling clear
Blackend ice
When they drag the lake there's nothing left at all
I've defected
Seutuerd contusion
Beyond the ant hills of the dawning of this plague
Said I've lost my way
Even if this cul de sac did pay
To reach inside a vault whatever be the cost
Sterling clear
Blackend ice
When they drag the lake there's nothing left at all
I've defected
Beyond the ant hills of the dawning of this plague
Said I've lost my way
Even if this cul de sac did pay
Beyond the ant hills of said I've lost my way
Even if you reach inside a vault whatever be the cost
Sterling clear
Blackend ice
When they drag the lake there's nothing left at all
This is my last insicion
The stitches have defected
Drag me a vessel
Coveting all you know see and hear
This is my last incision
The stitches have fallen off
Sterling clear blackened ice
And when they drag they lake there's nothing left at all
I've defected
The lyrics of "Cicatriz ESP part2" by The Mars Volta seem to be about feeling lost and abandoned. The song starts with the suggestion of a memory, a beckoning and calling that is now gone, leaving the singer feeling like they have lost their way. The image of the face and heel dragging a halo through the mud suggests a fall from grace, a loss of innocence or purity. The references to ancient Pompeii and its eruption further emphasize this idea of a catastrophic loss.
The singer then talks about being handcuffed and scalped, suggesting a loss of control and identity. They say that when they are dragged into the lake, there is nothing left at all, as if they have already been erased from existence. The repeated line "I've defected" could suggest a rejection of some kind of authority or structure, but it's not clear what that might be.
The rest of the lyrics continue in a similar vein, with the singer feeling lost and abandoned, even as they seem to be searching for something. The images of a cul de sac and a vault, as well as the mention of "coveting all you know see and hear," suggest a longing for something that may not even exist. The final stanza, with its reference to "my last incision," suggests a final cut or wound, as if the singer has given up on trying to find their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you recall it's name
Do you remember the name of the thing that holds power over you?
As it suggested beck and call
As it beckoned and called out to you, coaxing you closer to its grasp.
This face and heel
This dichotomy of good and evil, light and dark, that exists within all of us.
Will drag your halo through the mud
Will tarnish your reputation and moral standing.
Ash of Pompeii
Remnants of a once-great civilization destroyed in a volcanic eruption, serving as a metaphor for tragedy and loss.
Erupting in a statues dust
Violent destruction of something that was once solid and immovable.
Shrouded in veils
Hidden and obscured, perhaps from guilty actions or shameful deeds.
Because these handcuffs hurt to much
Admitting to the pain caused by personal restrictions and limitations, whether physical or emotional.
Scalping these ticketless applause
Rejecting insincere and unearned admiration or adoration.
And when they drag the lake there is nothing left at all
The aftermath of destruction and violence is often complete and irreversible.
Seutured contusion
A deep and painful wound that has been stitched closed.
Beyond the ant hills of the dawning of this plague
The reality of a dire situation that extends beyond the immediate effects and consequences.
Said I've lost my way
Acknowledgment of confusion and feeling lost in life.
Even if this cul de sac would pay
Even if a dead-end situation seemed financially beneficial, it wouldn't be worth the cost to one's well-being or happiness.
To reach inside a vault whatever be the cost
Desire to uncover the truth or secrets, regardless of the potential harm or danger.
Sterling clear
Pure and untarnished.
Blackend ice
An impure or darkened version of something once pristine.
I've defected
I have abandoned and rejected previous beliefs or allegiances.
This is my last insicion
A final attempt or action.
The stitches have defected
The previous attempts to mend or heal have failed.
Drag me a vessel
Pleading for someone or something to take control and guide them.
Coveting all you know see and hear
Desiring to possess and claim all knowledge and experiences.
The stitches have fallen off
The attempt to heal or mend has completely failed.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CEDRIC BIXLER, OMAR RODRIGUEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind