The Mars Volta rocks outside the box. Amputechture (Universal), the experimental L.A.-based group's latest album, is a rare dose of long-playing bilingual psychedelia. Speaking to Complex, free-thinking vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala opens up about organized religion, hallucinogenic drugs, and Latinos in the media.

What inspired Amputechture?
I saw a story about a girl, a nun who was supposedly possessed. Her congregation tied her to a cross outside while it was raining and stuffed her mouth with a sock. The next day she died. Salem is still alive and well, you know? A lot of religious, abduction, and life-and-death experiences are caused by over-active pineal glands secreting DMT, the natural hallucinogen in your body.

My friend claims he becomes an angel when on DMT.
A long time ago, I was arrested for taking too much LSD. I had a whole family outside of their house, and I was convincing them it was the end of the world.

"The Widow," from your Frances the Mute album, became a random pop hit. Do you think Amputechture has a song like that?
I think that "Asilos Magdalena" is a single, especially because Latinos are the majority in California. It could ultimately change the rules [of rock radio]. You won't have people going, "Change your name from RichieValenzuela to Richie Valens, let's Americanize you."

Yeah, but will white artists appropriate Latino culture to "spice it up"?
We already have Larry Clark taking care of that for us, don't we?