De-Loused In The Comatorium
by The Mars Volta
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 346 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 313 out of 346
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 346
  3. Negative: 28 out of 346

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  1. AlnnD
    Nov 18, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Una verdadera obra maestra y uno de los mejores álbumes de la década de los 00 así como de los mejores album debut de la historia.… Expand
  2. JuanLuisGG14
    Mar 10, 2019
    10
    Crazy album full of ideas and a crazy mix between Latin rhythms and progressive rock... A cornerstone in modern prog imo. One of the finest achievements of music in this century
  3. FFJamie94
    Oct 27, 2016
    9
    After the break-up of At the Drive and a brief stint with De Facto, Omar and Cedric return with the follow up to their Tremulant EP. The Mars Volta hold nothing back as they unleash their creativity and skill while retaining their Post-Hardcore roots. While the album starts off very strong with an enjoyable album opener to their lead single, the album slows down in the middle for an epicAfter the break-up of At the Drive and a brief stint with De Facto, Omar and Cedric return with the follow up to their Tremulant EP. The Mars Volta hold nothing back as they unleash their creativity and skill while retaining their Post-Hardcore roots. While the album starts off very strong with an enjoyable album opener to their lead single, the album slows down in the middle for an epic and lengthy 12 minute long tack, complete with trippy sound effects and groovy bass. The song perfectly captures the essence of what the Mars Volta will become before hitting us with the last three tracks where the album pieces itself together.
    The hard hitting "This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed" unleashes the full emotion of the album’s protagonist while "Televators" (which remains the albums slowest and quietest song) gives the listener a layer of atmosphere which the album hasn’t yet given us.
    Finally, the album finishes off with the song "Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt" which feels like the only way to end such an album.
    If you’re into prog-rock or you want a more modern form of it, this is the album for you. Every song has something special to take with you and while the album isn’t as good as its follow up, I recommend you give this one a listen before you try “Frances The Mute”.    … Expand
  4. roland19
    Feb 15, 2014
    10
    Definitely the most powerful and deep of The Mars Volta's albums. Labelling this as progressive rock doesn't really do it justice. One of the greatest achievements of this album is that it manages to hit you with oceans of different sounds and noises but still provides catchy hooks and melodies. To really experience the album properly, you need to listen to it all the way through multiple times.
  5. quidnick
    Oct 22, 2013
    10
    It is no exaggeration, this album reinvented the progressive rock genre and brought it into the future. It's a sprawling, epic, fantastical hour of jazz, punk, and post-hardcore influences, (to name a few.) I was shocked to find this masterpiece absent from Rolling Stones' Top 100 albums of the 00's (in my opinion, it takes the gold!)
  6. MusicxxAddicted
    Apr 3, 2013
    10
    The debut album that most fans still consider to be their best. A re-invention of what prog-rock is and what it should sound like, The Mars Volta announce themselves softly, only to sprint out of the tall grass as a vicious tiger, clawing for your soul. The lyrics can be perceived as a stream of consciousness that is very dark and horrifying, but who dares to actually go deeper than justThe debut album that most fans still consider to be their best. A re-invention of what prog-rock is and what it should sound like, The Mars Volta announce themselves softly, only to sprint out of the tall grass as a vicious tiger, clawing for your soul. The lyrics can be perceived as a stream of consciousness that is very dark and horrifying, but who dares to actually go deeper than just scratching the surface will discover they translate into the suicide of a good friend failing, his comatose trip and the inevitable successful suicide.
    Flea as a stand-in bassist and John Frusciante as a guest musician only add up to the equation that this album is just epic.
    If you thought music is all the same these days, you must hear this album.    … Expand
  7. swash
    Dec 1, 2011
    0
    It makes me laugh and cry and the same time! It runs DEEP. And leaves plenty of room 4 imagination. Poetic, explosive masterpiece. Its been my favorie album and an album is my favorite art form. Explores the psyche of a human psycho based on a true story. Perfectly produced in a haunted house and u can feel that energy in it. It gets better every time, i actually thought it was averageIt makes me laugh and cry and the same time! It runs DEEP. And leaves plenty of room 4 imagination. Poetic, explosive masterpiece. Its been my favorie album and an album is my favorite art form. Explores the psyche of a human psycho based on a true story. Perfectly produced in a haunted house and u can feel that energy in it. It gets better every time, i actually thought it was average until like after 5 times cause its very deep musicality and lyrically. Although lyrics seem nonsense they r combined and made up. Each song is a different story under 1 concept. And even gutair and other intruments tell part of the story. ITs not perfect and that makes it better cause its imperfect purposely. A tranformation of an band at their peak. Vocals r frantic and hi yet emoitional. Guitar runs on many levels dissonant, spacy, and fierce. Bass and drums r best in da biznas. Flea and theodore kik a@@ Owens and ward fill in the space great. Specail appearance by frustrate wat else could u want. Rick Rubin? My Fav so far… Expand
  8. Itzkannious
    Nov 21, 2011
    9
    A damn near perfect album which only grows on you with repeated listens. Prog at it's greatest moments, creating an entire different blend of music sounding like nothing else on the market.
  9. j30
    Sep 4, 2011
    8
    Not quite the Piper at the Gates of Dawn Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez aspired to make, but musically explosive energy. It helps to have Flea and John Frusciante backing you up.
  10. toolintention
    Mar 22, 2011
    10
    Their Debut album is someting that only comes around once and a good long while! The blend of Latino/jazz riffs on top of what can only be described as poetic harmony on the drums, is something not heard very often in the realm of prog rock! These sounds are aided by the high pitched vocals of Cedric, that help tell the story of a friend who wakes up from acoma only to find his dream worldTheir Debut album is someting that only comes around once and a good long while! The blend of Latino/jazz riffs on top of what can only be described as poetic harmony on the drums, is something not heard very often in the realm of prog rock! These sounds are aided by the high pitched vocals of Cedric, that help tell the story of a friend who wakes up from acoma only to find his dream world stripped away and a sobering reality he had left behind, staring him right in the face! Very powerful, and a first listen, if you havent heard any other of the Mars Volta albums!… Expand
  11. Vampire25
    Nov 30, 2010
    10
    The Mars Volta's debut De-Loused In The Comatorium is an absolute treat to the ears. It balances progressive rock with post-hardcore and all of it just sounds so amazing. The songs make no sense, yet every word of it, I absolutely love. All In All, De-Loused is one of my favorite albums and it needs to be listened too. A+
  12. asad31
    Sep 10, 2010
    10
    One of the most amazing albums ever made. really beautiful and intense. I have listened to it probably 500 times and its still captivating. Its great to see what happens when you put together a group of truly skilled musicians who are constantly pushing the envelope.
  13. 25
    Nov 22, 2008
    10
    This album is the middle ground between ATDI and what Mars Volta would later become. It avoids Mars Volta's later excesses time and time again over its hour-long running time, breaking out of free jazz sections and ambient noise at just the right moments. Not an extraneous second here.
  14. PatM.
    Apr 3, 2008
    10
    It's the best album of all time. Seriously, it's up there with Led Zeppelin IV and OK Computer. From start (incredible, tension building intro) to finish (pulse pounding 8 minutes of ambient, yet intense musical perfection wrapped up with an invigorating outro) this album will keep you on the edge of your seat, with your mouth wrapped tightely around the end of a joint. Omar It's the best album of all time. Seriously, it's up there with Led Zeppelin IV and OK Computer. From start (incredible, tension building intro) to finish (pulse pounding 8 minutes of ambient, yet intense musical perfection wrapped up with an invigorating outro) this album will keep you on the edge of your seat, with your mouth wrapped tightely around the end of a joint. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez takes the talent of Jimmy Paige, and injects it with originality unlike anything you have ever heard, while fellow frontman and lead singer, Omar Bilxer-Zavala, vocalizes pain, anguish, and uncertainty in a way that will send chills up your spine for the duration of the album. Songs on the album such as "Roulette Dares", "Cicatriz ESP", "Televators", and "Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt" remind you why music was made. At The Drive-In breaking up is one of the best things that has ever happened to music in my opinion. I beg of you: BUY THIS CD.… Expand
  15. DanielB
    Feb 6, 2008
    10
    Fantastic; simply fantastic.
  16. MichaelW.
    Feb 1, 2008
    10
    Can't be compared to At the Drive-In for me either. This is light years ahead.
  17. BrandonT
    Nov 28, 2007
    10
    This is not an album that you can download from your shady neighborhood torrent site, and breeze through. Buy this album, Listen to the disc LOUDLY, (headphones or dolby surround for full effect) and immerse yourself in the fact that this was an album that is, from start to finish, so densely layered in sound and ambiance that it will last far longer than anything on MTV today.
  18. elmo.
    Aug 12, 2007
    10
    the most experimental album of the year utterly mind bending rick rubin seems to have made the songs focused without sacrifcing any of their free form schitzoid jazz.
  19. raxx
    Jul 28, 2007
    9
    Beautiful density - Heaviest thing I love - Wouldn't have loved it if I hadn't put it on an Interpol Antics mp3cd thats in constant rotation. Hard work pays off.
  20. Matt?A
    Jun 10, 2007
    9
    This album is pure tastiness. Me only gripe with it is the "nothing" sections, where all u can hear is the epic sounds of nothingness, u kno? I must say that Televators IS agony, in the most beautiful and amazing way possible. Albeit, Frances the Mute is a bit more of my style...this album is gangsta, tho! Like a 9.3/10, I'd say.
  21. DevinJ
    May 23, 2007
    9
    i am a big fan of at the drive-in aswell and i think that the mars volta is amazing, idk why everyone says that atdi is better by far, i think that the talent that is in this band is amazing. Cedric and omar are still crazy at what they do and can seirouslly change the future in the prog. rock world
  22. BigPaulP
    Apr 22, 2007
    5
    That one is just OK for me. It just can't be compared with At The Drive-In for me.
  23. joeym
    Mar 27, 2007
    10
    Jon Theodore is a god! Some of the most creative drumming I have ever heard. As far as creativity he ranks up there with Danny Carey and Mike Portnoy.
  24. KyleS
    Jan 25, 2007
    10
    Amazing. I have had this album playing in my car for weeks on end. I simply cannot get enough of it. A+
  25. robertg
    Jan 15, 2007
    10
    this is the best freaking album ever made!!!! and if you dont think so you just dont know music.
  26. BrianK
    Jan 2, 2007
    10
    One of the very best CDs in a long time. Just a great, great example of progressive, experimental rock. I love this album, and can't stop listening to it. Thanks to this CD I bought the other 2 TMV album in a span of a week! Pitchfork sucks, who ppays them to write bad reviews about the best bands out there!! Deloused is amazing!
  27. BSmith
    Jun 1, 2006
    10
    It's amazing how wrong critics can be about an album at it's time of release. Everyone is SO quick to praise Zoso or Moving Pictures, but I really wonder what people these days would think about them. De-Loused is what happens when you fuse elite musicians at EVERY instrument (vocals included) and make an unbelievable conception a reality. I can honestly say that this is It's amazing how wrong critics can be about an album at it's time of release. Everyone is SO quick to praise Zoso or Moving Pictures, but I really wonder what people these days would think about them. De-Loused is what happens when you fuse elite musicians at EVERY instrument (vocals included) and make an unbelievable conception a reality. I can honestly say that this is probably the best album I will ever listen to, and that I am still not tired of it, even after having purchased it two and a half years ago. Yes, it takes a while to get used to. Yes, the songs are long. GET OVER IT! This will change your idea of how much music can really impact you.… Expand
  28. JesseK
    May 16, 2006
    10
    This is album is the most solid piece of progressive rock I have heard in ages. I only hope they can follow it up with more albums like it. Frances didn't exactly do the trick for me :-(
  29. Yoel
    Apr 19, 2006
    10
    It's like a story. There's a temptation, then a problem, then a hero. cool
  30. ChristopherP
    Mar 25, 2006
    10
    A breath of fresh air to the saturated mediocre music industy! The music is beyond stimulating with emense debth and talent. A beautiful blend of influences from Blues, punk-rock, Jazz, psyc rock, and latin. Probably one of my favorite albums in years. They don't comprimise any of their talents, with that they continue to stretch into an entirely new genre. Feels like your on drugs A breath of fresh air to the saturated mediocre music industy! The music is beyond stimulating with emense debth and talent. A beautiful blend of influences from Blues, punk-rock, Jazz, psyc rock, and latin. Probably one of my favorite albums in years. They don't comprimise any of their talents, with that they continue to stretch into an entirely new genre. Feels like your on drugs when you see them live!!!… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

73
#73 Best Album of 2003
4
#4 Most Discussed Album of 2003
33
#33 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Stylus Magazine
    84
    A disjointed mess- brilliant songs gone so awry that I find myself no longer excited by the prospect of listening to the album through, but disappointed.
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  2. Launch.com
    80
    Recall[s] both Fugazi's punk slam and early Santana's psychedelic sheen.
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    70
    Contrary to nearly every other band in music today, the Mars Volta suffer from an abundance of ideas and concepts, not a lack thereof.
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