The Mars Volta's Omar and Cedric have compared their time in At The Drive-In to a “first sexual experience” or “the first time taking crack.”

Speaking to Gigwise at Mercury Records HQ in West London, Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala said they're pleased to have forged friendships once again with their ex At The Drive-In band mates, but iterated rumours of  a reunion are ill-founded.

Putting the record straight, front man Cedric said: ‘(The reunion rumours surfaced when) we took time to bury the hatchet with the other members. There had been a lot of shit talk, at least on my behalf, and I had stuff that I wanted to say. I wanted to be friends with the guys again.’

He continued: “(A reunion) couldn’t happen any time soon because we have so much Mars Volta material.”

Elucidating further, guitarist Omar added: “We’re smart enough to never say never as you don’t know how life is going to happen. It’s like your first girlfriend, you learned amazing things together, but do you really want to open that can of worms?”

Despite quashing ideas of a reunion (for now), Omar has nothing but fond memories for his At The Drive-In days: “The thing with At the Drive In was the excitement of the first time. Like the first girlfriend or sexual experience, you can never recreate that moment.

“You can have other amazing highs and learn all sort of things, but there is nothing like the first time when you don’t know what the fuck is going on. There’s nothing like the first time coming to Europe, nothing like the first time being on tour, or putting out a record. The first time smoking crack.”

Gigwise will bring you the full Mars Volta feature this coming Monday. To read our thoughts on their awesome new long-player 'Octahedron', click here