LATERALUS

Tool is definitely one of the most creative bands I have heard, and I would say this is there best work; Lateralus.

Every song in this album has its own feel to it, each one has amazing performances by all four musicians, and they all interlock into an extremely hopeful, and inspiring message. Many people have reviewed this, and many people have said what this album is. To me this album is just about truth. Plain truth in all its forms. There is too much in this album to type out into one little review.

The Grudge is simply about the psychology of someone with a grudge, while using metaphors. This song is heavy, and has some amazing drumming (as do most Tool songs). Danny sets such a rhythm, the drums sound like a ball, and the song ends up feeling like a ball just bouncing until it reaches its minimum vertex, and then an amazing climax bursts upon you with Maynard giving a mighty scream for a whole 25 seconds.

The Patient is a song that is very beautiful and calm, and seem a bit angsty at first, but then theres an explosion and the true meaning of the song is let loose. A song about trust, and belief, and just being patient for the end to come, and fulfill our beliefs.

Schism is a complicated song with many shifts, and an awesome bassline. The song can be interpreted in many ways, but to me its about how people don't truly communicate with each other, and this has separated us, leaving us unable to achieve or true potential.

Parabol/Parabola. A song about how no matter what we believe, in the end we get to our peak, and we reach our goal. Parabol is quite, soft, and atmospheric, but it then builds into Parabola which is very riffy, and is quite a unique Tool riff. The song doesn't have a huge climax like the rest, and ends with a little soft instrumentals.

Ticks and Leeches. The heaviest Tool song, with some, frankly, insane drumming. This song is similar to The Grudge in the way that it is mainly focused on the loud vocals, and powerful drumming. The Riffs are a little repetitive, and play a bit in the background. There is a quite ambient part in the center of the song to act as a break before the very intense outro. I'd say this song is just about anger towards those that live off of others and not for themselves.

Lateralus ties some of the themes together into the album being about truth, reaching our true potential, and being open minded. This song uses the Fibonacci Sequence, and this creates some nice vocal moments for Maynard. Another awesome outro.

Reflection is an 11 minute epic, and is the highlight of the album, and is also my favorite song. This song is about the human ego, information, and how they relate. All information is from someone else, and we are just reflectors. This song is beautiful, and has some very nice drumming, and vocals, again.

The interluding tracks, and ambient tracks, are all very nice, and make the album flow nicely.

Favorite piece of art thus far, and it has affected me in so many ways. Some might not like the lowness of Maynards vocals, and possibly see this music as angsty, but it is actually very positive, and hopeful. Adams guitar playing is a little bit minimalistic, and at time Justins bass playing takes higher priority, but they both have a unique sound, that is crucial in making Tool one of the most creative bands out there. This album has a kind of formula to it which is to have the drumming, and vocals be the most heard, and at the end of the song have a heavy, powerful, and unique outro, or climax. Tool does this very well, I feel it is what makes Tool quite spectacular, and it makes every song feel like it is worth listening to.

This is my first of an album, and I am young, but I doubt I will ever not think this is a masterpiece. I don't know a whole lot about music, or the technicalities of it, but I do know that this album is fantastic.

Thank you for reading.

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