This megathread will contain mentions and references of drug use and suicide.

The Mars Volta was an American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 2001 from members of At The Drive-in Cedric Bixer-Zavala and Omar Rodrígues-López.

Following critical success from the last At The Drive-In release Relationship of Command the duo grew bored and uncomfortable with the bands rising recognition and would focus on a dub-influenced project known as De Facto, which featured Blixer on Drums, Lopez on Bass, Isaiah "Ikey" Owens on Keyboards, and long time friend and collaborator Jeremy Ward on vocals and samples. In 2001 Eva Gardner joined De Facto on bass, and Blake Fleming on Drums for recording of their first Demo. Fleming would later be replaced by Jon Theodore in time for the recording of Tremulant. Gardner would leave the Mars Volta following the death of her father Kim Gardner.

The band would record for De-Loused in the Comatorium with producer Rick Ruben. At the time the band did not have a permanent bassist, and recorded with Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers. They would later have a permanent bassist in Juan Alderete of Racer X.

De-loused in the Comatorium came out June 24, 2003, to incredible commericial and critical success. The album is a concept album telling the story of Cerpin Taxt, who entered into a week long Coma after overdosing on morphine and rat poison. It's based on a story and the life of a longtime friend of Bixer-Zavala, El Paso, Texas poet and artist Julio Venegas, who had been in a years long coma after overdosing and after finally recovering commited suicide. Bixer-Zavala had previously written about his friend in the At The Drive-In song 'Embroglio'.

While touring to support the record, founding member Jeremy Ward was found dead of a drug overdose. This led to the duo quitting opiods themselves. The single for Inertiatic ESP was dedicated to his memory.

It was said in early interviews that the duo wanted to go to a direction remicent of Pink Flyod after the release of Relationship of Command, while the rest of the band wanted to continue along the same direction. The album features wash of post rock soundscapes and a strong latin jazz influence. Continuing the influence of Pink Floyd, the covers of the debut LP was designed by Storm Thorgerson, who had made the iconic Dark Side of the Moon cover. The band's said in interviews the Jellyfish man to be the real cover for De-loused in the Comatorium.

Initially the band would claim to be from Los Angeles, but by the end of their time as The Mars Volta, they would return to El Paso, as with At The Drive-In.

The Mars Volta would break up in 2013, but the duo would work again as Antmasque in 2014, Omar would release solo material, and At The Drive-In would reform for reunion shows and a comeback album in 2015 before resuming hiatus in 2018. Bixer has said a comeback for The Mars Volta is coming in 2019.

-- Stream De-Loused in The Comatorium Here

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from yesterday's question. Everyone :rat-salute: comrades @Grownbravy, @FunkyStuff, @SteamedHamberder, @buh, and @context.

Arbor day

On Arbor Day, young comrades of the fourth grade started early and planted 5 trees before the sixth-graders came. But they planted them on the side assigned to the sixth grade. The fourth-graders had to cross the street and start over, so the sixth-graders finished first. To pay their debt, they crossed the street and planted 5 trees. They planted 5 more trees, and all the work was finished.

Were the sixth-graders ahead by 5 or 10 trees?

Have a great day like usual and remeber to dm @Wmill the answer.

I have listened to this album front to back for the last three days, if you cant get down to Drunkship of Lanterns, then you cant get down.