LATERALUS

Here it is, the masterpiece of Progressive Metal. Its not verry often that a band does somthing origianal and progressive in prog-metal (most settle to be clones), its even less often that a band breaks into the mainstream, and yet thats exactly what Tool has done. Tool succeded in taking an underground progressive sound (dissonant and psychedellic polyrythm) and fused it with a mainstream sound (grundge and nu-metal) they even through in some world music influence just to piss people off.

However this is not one of those bands where you go "ooh, thats pretty" or "oh wow listen to that skill" rather its one of those bands where you go "what the hell is this" you listen to it again and still dont get it, after a few listens you finally go "oh" or you just never do. Its one that you will ither understand or not, and even if you understand it you might not like it, after all there is plenty to not like, the goods however outway the bads for me. I guess I just want to say that its one of those love it or hate it ones.

The Grudge: Starts of quiet then goes strait for the throught pummeling you with insane bass riffage and polyrythmic drums that hit you right in the chest, and knock the wind out of you. Not your conventional opener but effective all the same. this is definatelly a drumming song, and the amazing vocal work (not singing mind you) dosn't hurt a bit, Maynard is a freakin' beast. there is not one note of this song that dosn't fit the situation perfectly and when it slows down it goes into a psychedellic build up that sounds insanelly like Isis. This song shows the guitar insanity that only tool can achieve, be forwarned it is achieved with minimal guitar lines and pedals, not blistering solos. this song also has a scream that makes you imagine all the training it takes to get that kind of lung capacity. "LET GO!!!!!" (me headbanging manically) the song ends as abruptly as it started.

Eon Blue Apocolipse: Like the first breath after being strangled, however that first breath is taken in a fog of smoke (not the tobacco kind)

The Patient: Starts slow and trippy but slowely builds up and then.... stays slow, what? wheres the speed, the anger I was expecting more and then more of the same untill you hardly expect it anymore. Thats when it hits you, wow, few other songs can build this kind of tension. This song has a sort of occult feel and has strage dissonant melodies that seem to be for some ritual. This is one of those songs that just pull you in and dont let go, one of those where you can't seem to do anything but sit and listen. Even the quiet interlude is captivating. I cant emphasize enough how great the dissonant vocal melodies are on this song. This song ends with simple tribal drumming slowly fading out. verry interesting indeed.

Mantra: a pshychedellic puff of drone brilliance, if only it didn't have that popping in it.

Schism: my personal favorite. Great bass driven song with haunting vocals. "I know the pieces fit cuz I watched them tumble down, no fault, none to blame it doesn't mean I don't desire to point the finger, blame the other, watch the temple topple over, to bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication" my favourite line(s) from Tool, ooh so haunting. I find it interesting how Tool applies the consepts of minnimalism in this song, keeping it the same, yet somehow progressing through different pieces and moods. The interlude on this song is particularly haunting, with great talk box effects. This song also shows that Tool isn't afraid to use singing, after all they arn't a one trick pony like some would have you believe. No other song can be so bleak and yet so interesting.

Parabol: continues with the fast paced rocker followed by short psychedellic durdge format, except that its slightly longer and better done, the guitars and bass create an atmospheres worthy of Pink Floyd, but they go about it in a different way altogether. Oh yea by the way did I mention that is really just the firs part of

Parabola: This song stays with the main musical and lyrical themes of Parabol but converts into Tools heavy side. This song has a perfect groove suited for moshpits filled with extatic teens all over the world, definatelly a face smasher. Perfect heavy guitar, driving bass, and rocking drums. This song actually has a verry good classic sounding guitar riff. How can any one not love the almost funky section at 4:10ish. the song ends with lots of good droney feadbacking and a Parabol reprise.

Ticks and Leeches: a perfect reminder that Danney Carrey is the salvation of modern drummers, seriously drumwork like this dosn't come around all to often. Its just too bad the song can't be preformed live, I guess it's just too hard on the old vocal chords (parts of the vocals sound like they got a black metal vocalist) There isn't a bad part of this song, every second fills you up with cold hearted anger, even the slow durdge is angry. Yes!!! I love those fake endings!!! sorry, its one of my sick little musical fettishes. The real ending of the song is good too, and really shows off the drumm'n.

Lateralus: Ok, so apperantly this song has the golden ratio in it? I don't know if thats true or not but to be brutally honest who gives a flying F****, The song is good without needing a mathimatical formula to back it up. Ok, little off topic but I carved "black and white are all I see, in my infancy, red and yellow then came to be" on one of my desks at school, my teacher was pissed for a while and then decided that I should join the poetry club, I still havn't told her I didn't make it up. Mabe that wasn't as funny as I thought it was, but it still brings to mind the brilliant poetic lyrics that have been all but overlooked by prog fans, who unlike Tools alternative fallowing tend to only focous on the music. Speaking of wich, there is not a bad not in the song, every note creates a spiraling atmosphere that wraps you up in the cold to the touch Tool. Defanatelly the centerpiece of the album, and most certanly an epic of epic praportions.

Disposition: a hipnotic song with wads of reverb and ooey gooey delay, not to mention oddly misshapen noises. The Tabla on this song fits the mood perfecly and is really well played, not sloppy like it all to often is when played by simple rock musistians. This song captures the feelings of depression like so much classic liturature. This song really dosn't feel like only four minutes it feels like a lifetime, in a good way.

Reflection: Builds of the feelings of Disposition, but sounds a TON darker and more evil. This is could be a soundtrack to being chased through the woulds be demons. Whatever raga they played on that sitar was evil, after all this is no Beatles track, this is no Within You, Without You, this is Tool: a cold macanical beast that rumbles in a way that just so happens to sound good. Great eastern influences, and never sound new-age or silly like "indo-prog/raga rock" this is a serious song written by serious musitions being serious. The tabla on this song is some of the best outside of indian classical music. The vocals on this song are so un-melodic they sound squeaky but somehow it fits the song perfectly. This is probably the best example of what non metal tool sound like, their masterpiece of their softer yet still evil side. also to be noted: some of their most interesting guitar work. The song builds up to rock for a while, but not too long before it dies out. At 11minutes a perfect epic.

Triad: starts out with a repetitive simple guitar peice that continues to build tension through the song, the feedbacking here is only rivaled by The Melvins. At three minutes the song really gets going, showing its heavy side and forboding textures. This song is made to get your brains rattling, if you listen to it without banging your head your ither dead or old enough to be. The drumming on this song is great although relitivly subdued (for Carry that is). The song slowly dies out the way it started, a perfect ending, but wait whats this it must be...

Faaip de Oiad: Why????? Triad was a perfect ending, this is just silly, oh well it makes me laugh so i'll ignore it. It's simply some guy going on about extra dementional beings that are chasing him. Cool I guess.

Overall: 5 stars, the best prog-metal has to offer, Tool never gets stale like Opeth and has feeling unlike DT, and this is the best that Tool has to offer.