ÆNIMA

Tool´s Aenima would bring them one step closer to their Art-rock status while keeping their alternative and hard elements. The result is heavy and sophisticated without sounding anything like the rest of the Metal or Prog scene of that time. As a matter of fact, to say that Tool is a Metal band is not exactly right, as they don't fall in the same category of Metal as bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest or even the prog bands like Dream Theater, Fates Warning and oh so many more. While the majority of this bands tend to be fast, Tool is often slow, dense and atmospheric, which puts them aside from those other bands. Yet, the music is so heavy at times (most of the times) that to put them in the Metal category is understandable; in fact Tool would be one of the most influential acts for latter metal bands.

Aenima is also the album that would put them where they are now when it comes to sales and fame, winning even a Grammy (which the band didn't go to pick up any ways...). Tool was no longer the best kept secret of the underground music fan base; Tool had stepped in in the mainstream culture. Now, all this seems like a big contradiction, how can a band that pushes the envelop become mainstream? Well...go figure! Maybe it was the videos in MTV, maybe it was that breeze of fresh air after grunge got really predictable, maybe it was cause Tool had something to say, in the exact moment, in the exact time, or maybe it was cause Aenima is one hell of an album... or maybe it was all that. It doesn't matter that much now, the thing is Aenima was a revolutionary album for it´s time, and stands today as one of the best of not only their career but also from the ´90 ...and let's be fair, all time.

The album starts with "Stinkfist", a great opener with Adam Jones typical riffs and Maynard Keenan´s excellent lyrics and calm, yet disturbing vocals. The next track might very well be the best of the album; I´m talking about "Eulogy", a long song with some of Keenan´s best lyrical work to date (the lyrics might talk about something different for every one, but I see them as being a critic to those religious preachers that talk to talk, but don't walk to walk)...excellent. Other stand out songs are the incredible "Forty six & 2" with that hypnotic bass riff, the angry "Hooker with a penis", which might not be the best representative of the band's new Art´rock status...but this song is great for me, and every time Keenan screams "Fuuuck you buddy" I can't help but scream with him. "Aenema" (which for a reason I don´t know yet is not written like the album tittle "Aenima"...) is another great track, with Jones opening riff and Danny Carey´s great drumming (as always) and Keenan singing about a bid storm that will wash away the street's of Los Angeles city and advises the people form that city ot...learn to swim. Other tracks like "H", "Jimmy", "Pushit" and the epic "Third eye" are all very good too, with the last two being maybe among their best, but for some reason I'm not particularly found of them... still they are great songs. Sadly, not everything about this album is perfect. There are too many tracks like "A message to Harry Manback" and "Die Eier von Satan" which aren´t songs, that get old and boring after a few listening.

It´s not the bands masterpiece, the next album, the mighty Lateralus would be it, but it´s a great album and a big forward in the right direction.