Prog-rock legends and Grammy winning band The Mars Volta announced their highly anticipated return with a mysterious cube dubbed L’ytome Hodorxí Telesterion in Downtown LA in June 2022. Inside the cube, the Mars Volta unveiled new music for the first time in a decade with an audiovisual art installation. Fans could listen to the band’s new single, ‘Blacklight Shine’, before it was officially released. Despite a four-hour queue, it didn’t stop over 800 fans from enjoying the experience.

The Volta Cube experience was then given global scale using the real world, metaverse, and AR. On the website voltacube.com, fans have been guided to over 200 locations, so-called ‘hotspots’, around the world where they can go on a virtual scavenger hunt to find hidden clues and Easter eggs about the new album as well as to witness the Volta Cube portal appear. Upon entering these portals, fans are transported into an audiovisual extravaganza that celebrates the return of their favourite band.

Due to its popularity among Mars Volta fans, the virtual experience was expanded multiple times. During the album release week mid-September, the website was made accessible at selected record stores across the US. Fans could virtually enter the AR Volta Cube, listen to the full album, enter competitions, and get their hands on exclusive merchandise, all while waiting in line to get the Mars Volta’s new self-titled album.

The Mars Volta Experience introduced a new era of the band to dedicated fans who have been waiting a decade for the duo’s return, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the band’s world and experience their music in a special and more intimate way. The virtual scavenger hunt across the globe has created excitement and a collaborative spirit, showing how powerful the bond between artist and fan can be.