The Mars Volta have broken their 10 year hiatus today with the release of their new single and short film, “Blacklight Shine.” Over the weekend, the band began teasing this release with coordinates to Grand Park in Los Angeles, hinting at some kind of “pop-up” for June 19th-21st. This came in the form of a cube you can enter and experience the new song with an audio-visual experience. Today, June 21st, the single is officially released along with the bands first tour since 2012.
“Blacklight Shine” highlights The Mars Volta’s fundamental strengths in their most accessible and Latin-rooted form. Vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala sings mostly in Spanish with his signature tones soaring over a mix of traditional drums and Caribbean bongos and percussions. Guitarist Omar Rodriguez-López presents a sunshine-laced psychedelic groove perfect for a release date on the summer solstice. When talking about the story of the song, Cedric says he is trying to shine a light on “a wave of rolling blackouts washing memories onto shore, a heartbeat that still remembers everything.” Watch the short film below, which takes place on a Caribbean beach and features a multi-generational dance sequence backed by driving percussions.
The announcement is also coming with a short tour; a New York show is happening at NYC’s Terminal 5 on September 29th. Presale starts this Wednesday, June 22nd with a full general sale on Friday, June 24th. See the official tour poster below and head to the band’s website for ticket links. The Mars Volta has not yet announced any details on what would be their seventh LP, but stay tuned for more announcements to come.
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