Is Octahedron a good place to start with The Mars Volta?

Yes, Octahedron is recommended as a starting point for new The Mars Volta listeners. A somber exploration of progressive rock, blending intricate melodies with emotionally charged themes and atmospheric soundscapes. Released in 2009, Octahedron is The Mars Volta's fifth studio album, following their ambitious double album, The Bedlam in Goliath. At this point in their career, the band was navigating significant lineup changes and shifting musical directions, marking a more introspective phase compared to their earlier works.

Who is Octahedron for?

Octahedron works well if you're into introspective journeys through sound, wave-like pacing with peaks and hauntingly emotional listening experience.

How many songs are on Octahedron?

Octahedron has 8 tracks, running approximately 50 minutes.

Octahedron

The Mars Volta · 2009

50 min · 8 tracks · progressive rock

A somber exploration of progressive rock, blending intricate melodies with emotionally charged themes and atmospheric soundscapes.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Since We’ve Been Wrong Start here — Opening with haunting vocals and intricate instrumentation, this track embodies the album's thematic focus on isolation and disillusionment while establishing a more melodic sound.
→
Teflon — This track features dynamic shifts between soft verses and explosive choruses, illustrating the band's adeptness at balancing vulnerability with intensity throughout the album.
→
Halo of Nembutals — With its dreamlike atmosphere and poignant lyrics, this song highlights the existential themes of the album while showcasing rich instrumental textures that define The Mars Volta's evolving sound.
→
Cotopaxi — Concisely packed into just over three minutes, this track presents an urgent energy that contrasts with other lengthier pieces on the album, demonstrating the band's versatility.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

Octahedron showcases a more melodic approach while maintaining The Mars Volta's distinctive sound, balancing complexity and accessibility.

What we noticed

The first track features a gradual build-up with layered instrumentation, creating a sense of anticipation before the vocals enter.
The album's final track ends with an extended instrumental section that fades out, leaving a lingering atmosphere.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

introspective journeys through sound
wave-like pacing with peaks
hauntingly emotional listening experience
for reflective solitude

Maybe skip if you

seeking instant gratification
prefer standalone tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — Marks a departure to a more subdued and melodic approach from their previous sound.
Career context: Released in 2009, Octahedron is The Mars Volta's fifth studio album, following their ambitious double album, The Bedlam in Goliath. At this point in their career, the band was navigating significant lineup changes and shifting musical directions, marking a more introspective phase compared to their earlier works.
Stylistic neighbors: At the Drive-In· Coheed and Cambria· The Dear Hunter

New to The Mars Volta? Find your way in →

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Since We’ve Been Wrong

The verse shifts to a stark admission of personal failure and longing, stripping down complexity for raw emotional honesty.

By foregoing metaphoric language in this moment, the writing exposes a vulnerability that runs counter to the band's typical abstract lyricism.