:: Lateralus

Tool

Tool had incurred some unpleasantness in recent years with record company/management problems, and saw the band members go off to do other mini-projects. In fact, lead singer Maynard J Keenan instigated one of 2000’s better albums with “Mer De Noms” by A Perfect Circle. We thought that this might have been the impetus to a really top notch Tool album. What were we to get? In almost seventy-nine minutes of blistering action, Tool takes us on a frenetic journey of varying proportions: moody, dark soundscapes and heavy. It is certainly close to the quality of the great “Aenima” album. Whether one can read much actual progress since then is debatable, mainly because that album is a hard act to follow. But Maynard’s vocals soar powerfully and Danny Carey’s drumming stand as notable achievements whatever one may say about the band’s progression. An eastern influenced-sound in “Reflection” is a standout while other songs seem to intertwine (eg “Parabol” is a melodic track that works into “Parabola”, a harsher track) into its own mysterious journey. Someone experiencing Tool for the first time will undoubtedly be impressed. Existing fans will like more of what they’ve heard before, yet they may wonder about the next step. It’s a worthy listen though.