ÆNIMA

The second album by Tool marks the change of Paul D´amour on bass by the Englishman Justín Chancellor, and with it also a more consistent proposal in the band's musical structure. In this second installment, the sound takes on a depth and darkness clearly represented in Keenan's lyrics and Jones' guitar, whose distinctive riffs have been maintained throughout his subsequent discography, and are those that accompany them until his recent Fear Inoculum. .

Tool's unique style is defined from the Aenima, and leads us through diverse topics as deep as controversial (the presence and role of Jesus on earth in Eulogy, the evolution of the primitive human and his next stage in Forty Six & 2, the constantly being at the limit of doing something that should not be done and falling for it in Pushit, the criticism of the way in which society is structured and the need for a profound change starting with the purification of the soul in Aenema, among others).

In the musical aspect, the album maintains a very high level, where we can clearly highlight Anema, which during the more than 6 minutes long they take us through a slide of emotions from the hand of the masterful Jones and Carey's excellent drums, going from calm to chaotic tempos without ever losing composure. In my opinion it is probably one of the top songs of the group of all time. At a similar level we can highlight Forty Six & 2, where again Jones's guitars, this time combining a clean and distorted sound, and Carey's drums, give us another anthology song. Unmissable within the most representative themes of the band. Stinkfist follows in their footsteps, like a fundamental piece of the album.

Both Pushit, H, Eulogy, Jimmy and Hooker with a Penis also show us the high level of the group but without detracting from them, I consider that they are a slight step below the previous songs.

Useful idiot, Ions, Cesaro Summability and Message to Harry Manback, beyond some dramatic sounds and the disturbing message on the answering machine, are the additions that Tool usually incorporates in his recordings but that in my opinion do not add much value to the album.

A special consideration for Third Eye, the final song on the album. The spectacular almost 14 minutes of the most progressive song and we could say dark and reflective, become an exploration of the human psyche based on what is considered the third eye.

A fundamental album to understand much of the appeal and why they have a large legion of fans. An album that combines unique music outside the standard and lyrics that accompany it to the height.