The story of the formation of The Mars Volta is one that is often overlooked. Formed from the smouldering ashes of the mighty At The Drive-In, one would think The Mars Volta were born with a lot to prove, both to a multitude of ATD-I fans, and also to a media fuelled battle for supremacy with Sparta, the other band risen from the dead ATD-I.

L'Via L'Viaquez is the second 'single' from the colossal musical outing, Frances The Mute, and truly is a song of two parts, two minds, a schizophrenia that is all too welcome. The first part is comprised of the most heavily fortified, bollocks-crunchingly heavy rhythm I have ever heard, like a thousand freight trains smashing into a forty-foot thick wall. This is placed in stark juxtaposition with the second part of the song, a down tempo, yet cringingly eerie cabaret section.

The iniquitous, wicked vocals of Cedric Bixler Zavala are the proverbial icing on the cake. One of the best singers in the world, delivering his vocal attack in Spanish, passionately, and devilishly. The Mars Volta are second to none in their design of mind-bendingly creative music.