The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium

Fast and furious, At the Drive-In caused a stir with time-shifting punk-rock numbers like “One Armed Scissor.” From the ashes of that El Paso, Tex. group arises two new bands: Sparta and this intriguing outfit, featuring afro’d frontmen Omar Rodiguez-Lopez and Cedric Blixer-Zavalas. The Mars Volta may be the hottest thing on the neo-prog rock scene, mixing Pink Floydisms like “Roulette dares (this is the haunt)” with Latin salsa and Black Flag-inspired blasts of high-octane emotion. A rockier Radiohead.