The Mars Volta – The Bedlam In Goliath

Label: Universal Records
Cat No.: 1758443 (Special Edition Released 2008)
Format: CD Album, Special Edition, Super Jewel Box
Matrix/Stampers: 4 Universal Logos 1758443 01
Mastered by: Howie Weinberg, Sleeve Design: Jeff Jordan

Nobody can prepare you for the sonic assault that is your initiation to The Mars Volta. Often misunderstood or dismissed as self-indulgent, they are indeed a Marmite band. However, it pays not to jump to conclusions, as the intricacy and structured complexity of their work become more rewarding with each repeated listen. The Bedlam in Goliath is their fourth studio album and earns its place on our seminal albums list, joining their preceding releases, which we will feature in due course.

There is a lot to sink your teeth into. The version used here is the special edition CD release, which includes an excellent and unique cover of Pink Floyd’s Barrett-penned Arnold Layne B-side Candy and a Currant Bun. With a runtime exceeding 75 minutes, this is an album that demands the right time and place to fully appreciate its chaotic brilliance.

I’m not a big fan of genres or definitive labels for bands. That’s perhaps just as well, because The Mars Volta defy categorization. Elements of progressive rock, jazz fusion, punk, and Latin influences swirl together in their signature frenetic style, making them a truly singular act.

The story behind The Bedlam in Goliath is almost as remarkable as the music itself. During a tour in Jerusalem, guitarist and composer Omar Rodríguez-López purchased a peculiar Ouija board, which the band dubbed The Soothsayer. It was initially intended as a gift for vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, but as they began using it, the board seemingly started to dictate strange and unsettling stories. Soon after, the band found themselves plagued by misfortunes—studio failures, lost recordings, equipment breakdowns, and even personal injuries. The eerie experiences culminated in Rodríguez-López burying the board in an undisclosed location, vowing never to reveal where it lay. The album’s thematic weight, laced with religious symbolism and Middle Eastern mysticism, reflects these bizarre encounters.

It’s difficult to dissect The Bedlam in Goliath into standalone tracks, as it truly needs to be experienced as a whole. However, the sequence from Metatron through to Goliath is particularly sublime, only topped by the relentless intensity of Cavalettas—partially structured in 11/8 time—leading into Agadez and Askepios.

Track 11, Soothsayer, directly references the Ouija board that haunted the band. It incorporates field recordings captured by Rodríguez-López during the band’s travels, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the album’s unsettling aura. The album concludes with Conjugal Burns, a searing finale that leaves a lasting impression.

Legend has it that The Bedlam in Goliath served as an exorcism of sorts, purging the band of the board’s influence. Some vinyl editions of the record feature a reimagined version of The Soothsayer as part of the gatefold artwork—a striking testament to its lingering presence in the album’s mythology.

Powerful stuff, and definitely worth the effort to immerse yourself in.

4.5 out of 5.0 stars4.5