ÆNIMA

If you know anything about me on the forums, it's probably that I love Yes, Post rock, and Tool! Being the die hard Tool fan that I am, it must sound pretty lame that I just got this album about a month and a half ago, well the wai was worth ending the as-of- now Tool discography with this bold album. I have no idea what people were supposed to think back in the mid nineties when they first heard Aenima, a vulgar, blasphemous album, contrary to the grudge/ thrash metal scene that had been dominating for about five years thanks to Pantera and Nirvana. Before I discuss more history I should probably give you my review of the album.

The opener, Stinkfist, is a great song, almost catchy to the point of a radio signal, complete with your Adam Jones simple drop D riff, intense drumming, and very deep lyrics. The song really picks up near the end when Maynard is absolutely belting his words while the band is messing between stops and pummeling go's. The next song Eulogy is very controversial, starting with nothing but percussion, then slowly building to another simple riff. Afterwords, Maynard sings about someone having a lot of nothing to say, further in the song you realize that it's most likely Jesus Christ that he is bashing mercifully. I've never agreed with God bashing, given my Religious standards, but I once heard a fellow progger say that this song was actually meant to bash the creator of Scientology, I have no idea really. The music itself is great, absolutely mind blowing, sounds exactly like Lateralus, except the bad language, but that just adds to the song if you were to ask me. H. is a highly emotional song, and seemingly doesn't seem to touch other Tool lovers as myself. Starting with a much different kind of riff, that almost sounds like a REALLY distorted bass, the song doesn't really build til the very end, cause it's all about the lyrics. Honestly I have no idea what the song is about, but everything is sung so passionately, and at the climax Maynard alone sings "I DONT MIND", and just knocks me off my feet. Forty six and 2 is a song that clicks with time, starting with another different kind of riff, but soon changes to the arch typical Tool sound, with a groovy bass line and probably Carey's best drum performance on the album, topping all this off with lyrics about a shadow... Message to Harry manback, filler, filler about some guy sending some voice message about how much he hates some other guy cause of his American tendencies, lots of language. Lets keep the vulgarity train going with the greatly titled Hooker with a penis! A fast and musically dull song (besides the awesome bass line), all about You being the f*cking man, and about me being the f*cking man. Really, there is not a lot to say about that song. Intermission, filler. Jimmy is a mellower song, filled with chilled lyrics and chilled guitar, it kind of reminds me of H., but hasn't really clicked with me yet, so I wont give this song any kind of harsh judgement. I honestly skip the next rack, die eir von satan, creepy, in a different language, has satan in the title, not my favorite format for songs. Pushit is a different story, another emotional song, with a long time to progress through it's slow build. After a short climax the song go's into a very low point where only vocals and very quiet bass and drums are keeping the song afloat, and of course the song picks up, and an intense jam session leads the song into the ninth minuete then ends. *** FILLER TRACK***. The song Aenima, easily the most brutal, all about how Maynard say's he's tired of all this bullsh*t thats going around, and really wouldnt mind having the apocolypse come. Awesome opening riff, awesome vulgar lyrics, and intense basslines, even with a relatively soft part, previously unknown to Tool music. *** FILLER TRACK***. The longest track on the album, third eye is fast, slow, and everything in between, really it's kind of hard for me to concentrate on this song too long. Overall, good music and good lyrics in the song, just cant elaborate too well.

Well, getting through the album in it's entirety is an incredibly hard task considering how long it is ( a flaw that Tool cant seem to shake), and with just the sheer intensity and challenge that the music provides. Besides lacking a certain evenness in both a category's of music and lyrics, the album is a solid 4 stars.

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