Release date set for Mars Volta's Octahedron, shows announced

Afro-licious prog-rockers The Mars Volta have set the release date for their fifth studio album, Octahedron. The follow up to last year's Bedlam In Goliath, Octahedron will be released on June 22 through Mercury Records. Expect, big, big things.

As well as all that, they're penned in to play two very special London gigs to promote the album in July. The first date is at The ICA on June 18, returning a month later on July 13 for a special outdoor show at Somerset House, something which is sure to be a summer treat for fans of the American jazz-funk-rock-prog fusionists.

Says DiS of last year's Bedlam:

In some ways The Mars Volta are the perfect example of how a band can be successful and still boundary pushing and, it should be said, their shtick is amazing. Buried Ouija boards? Tormented giants from other dimensions? Nervous breakdowns? Ghosts in the machine? This is the stuff of rock legend and it’s made for a brilliant album and, just like The A-Team, this time they did it with no casualties.

If it's anywhere near as good as Bedlam then they're onto a winner.

Here's a little - well, long - live taster of 'Goliath' from Bedlam In Goliath to whet your appetite ahead of the album and shows.