Known for their energetic live shows and concept albums, The Mars Volta formed following the break-up of RodrΓguez-LΓ³pez and Bixler-Zavala's previous band, At the Drive-In. Seeking to experiment and expand their sound, RodrΓguez-LΓ³pez 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 RodrΓguez-LΓ³pez and was the first to feature longterm members Juan Alderete (bass) and Marcel RodrΓguez-LΓ³pez. 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. RodrΓguez-LΓ³pez subsequently formed a new project, Bosnian Rainbows, and the band formally broke up after disagreements between RodrΓguez-LΓ³pez 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, RodrΓguez-LΓ³pez and Bixler-Zavala recorded a new studio album, The Mars Volta, with Gardner, Marcel RodrΓguez-LΓ³pez and drummer Willy Rodriguez QuiΓ±ones. The band announced their reunion β after ten years of public inactivity β with an art installation called L'ytome HodorxΓ Telesterion, in June 2022. For the band's live return, jazz pianist Leo Genovese and drummer Linda-PhilomΓ¨ne 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)
Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio (2025)
Vermicide
The Mars Volta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are sacrosanct
A taunting of ravens to you
My swarms have fit the holster
My faith burnt every house
Like no other manger
I am emptier with doubt
Bare them
Sevens
Three to a pall
Marks the
Venom
Lush and terminal
Bare them
Sevens
Three to a pall
Marks the
Venom
Lush and terminal
When I became your larvae
You fed me from your plates
Now my slouch is nervous
Sinking by the face
Wrinkled by this gravel
Skinless trace of time
Wear your cobwebs proudly
In your cheap and brittle sight
My glands emit this carnage
These pews bend back your knees
That uniform it wears you
When the ultimatum pleads
Bare them
Sevens
Three to a pall
Marks the
Venom
Lush and terminal
Bare them
Sevens
Three to a pall
Marks the
Venom
Lush and terminal
That cesspool it becomes you
Just north of the eyebrows
Squat the hole for a pucker
When the rations go blonde
The salted stitch is patient
Waiting to engulf
There is plasma from this hoax
Pretending to be us
Embalming all the fluids
I must, I must
I prefer to burn them
I must, I must
Embalming all the fluids
I must, I must
I prefer to burn them
I must, I must
Bare them
Sevens
Three to a pall
Marks the
Venom
Lush and terminal
Bare them
Sevens
Three to a pall
Marks the
Venom
Lush and terminal
The Mars Volta's "Vermicide" is a complex and haunting song that explores themes of doubt, faith, and manipulation. The song's lyrics are full of enigmatic imagery and metaphorical language, making it difficult to parse their meaning. However, a close analysis reveals a narrative that is both ominous and thought-provoking.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is part of a group that is deemed "sacrosanct" and is opposed by an opposing force represented by a "taunting of ravens." The singer seems to have lost faith in his or her cause, stating, "My faith burnt every house / Like no other manger / I am emptier with doubt." This loss of faith is represented as a kind of spiritual emptiness, indicating that the singer's beliefs have been shaken to the core.
The song's later verses focus on themes of manipulation and control. The singer describes becoming a "larvae" who is fed by someone else, but who then develops a "nervous" and "wrinkled" slouch as a result. This suggests that the singer's sense of identity and agency has been eroded by their dependence on another person. The final verses suggest that the person who has been doing the manipulating is now being consumed by their own lies and falsehoods, as represented by an "embalming" of fluids that must be burned to prevent their further spread.
Overall, "Vermicide" is a complex and disturbing song that raises important questions about faith, manipulation, and the power dynamics of relationships. While its lyrics are resistant to straightforward interpretation, they offer a rich and thought-provoking meditation on the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
There with them is error
Error is present among those people
We are sacrosanct
We are holy and inviolable
A taunting of ravens to you
Ravens mock and ridicule you
My swarms have fit the holster
My armies are ready for war
My faith burnt every house
I destroyed everything with conviction
Like no other manger
In a unique way, I was born in difficult circumstances
I am emptier with doubt
My doubts have left me feeling hollow
Bare them
Expose them
Sevens
Groups of seven
Three to a pall
Three in each funeral procession
Marks the
Symbolizes
Venom
Poison
Lush and terminal
Deadly and flourishing
When I became your larvae
When I was under your protection
You fed me from your plates
You provided for me
Now my slouch is nervous
Now I am anxious and insecure
Sinking by the face
My expressions reveal my inner turmoil
Wrinkled by this gravel
Worn down by the struggles of life
Skinless trace of time
A record of the passage of time
Wear your cobwebs proudly
Be proud of your aging and decay
In your cheap and brittle sight
In the way you see yourself, as fragile and inexpensive
My glands emit this carnage
I exude violence and destruction
These pews bend back your knees
You bow down in prayer
That uniform it wears you
Your conformity has consumed you
When the ultimatum pleads
When the final demand is made
That cesspool it becomes you
You are contaminated and corrupted
Just north of the eyebrows
Near the forehead
Squat the hole for a pucker
Prepare for an impending disaster
When the rations go blonde
When resources are scarce and insufficient
The salted stitch is patient
The painful healing process takes time
Waiting to engulf
About to consume
There is plasma from this hoax
A devious scheme that only spills blood
Pretending to be us
Impersonating us
Embalming all the fluids
Preparing the dead for preservation
I must, I must
I have to
I prefer to burn it
I would rather destroy it by fire
Lyrics Β© MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Cedric Bixler, Omar Rodriguez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind