LATERALUS

There's not really much I can say about this album. From the contrasting dark and light moments of "The Grudge" to the static of "Faaip", this album is so unbelievable. "The Patient" is hauntingly beautiful, "Schism" is hypnotic. "Parabol(a)" is a perfect example of Tool's theme of balance. Starting with an almost empty intro ("Parabol") and building to "Parabola", Tool shows their brilliant knowledge of how to take a theme and develop it almost beyond recognition, creating an epic masterpiece that can be called nothing other than "prog". This innate complexity is what leads many to not call it prog. It doesn't sound forced. There's little evidence of strain in the memorable, almost catchy, riffs.

From "Parabol(a)", Tool moves on to "Ticks and Leeches", their most aggressive song on the album. But even here Tool throws in a brilliant soft section in the middle, keeping the album moving along.

And then comes "Lateralus". Oh god, "Lateralus". No words can describe the beauty that is this track. From the slow, tribal intro to the most massive outro the world has ever seen, this track delivers the goods. I have never once listened to this track without tears coming to my eyes, and I've been listening to this album a lot, even now that it's been 4 and a half years since I purcahsed it in 2001. The brilliant portrayal of the human situation: balance of struggle and beauty, moments of light and dark, all necessary to truly realize and enjoy life. This is a holy experience, breathing and living here. And we must stand strong. "With my feet upon the ground I lose myself between the sounds and open wide to suck it in, I feel it move across my skin. I'm reaching up and reaching out; I'm reaching for the random or whatever will bewilder me... whatever will bewilder me. And following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been. We'll ride this spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been. Spiral out, keep going. Spiral out, keep going. Spiral out, keep going....

Spiral out, keep going."

From that quintessential track we move to the sparse yet beautiful landscape known as "Disposition". The bass-playing-guitar leads into Maynard's mantra. The music and vocals compliment eachother perfectly, leading into "Reflection". Movement Two of what has become known as "D/R/T", "Reflection" is an odd track, yet something about it draws you into its simple complexity and experimentation. This track is "Welcome to the Machine" meets Dali. It is yet another climaz of the album, yet it brings its emotion through much different ways, reminding the listener of the moments of sublime beauty found in "Third Eye" from the band's previous release, despite the two albums being entirely different works. "Reflection" then transitions into "Triad", a mantric instrumental that manages to close the album leaving the listener craving more...

and there is more, found in "Faaip de Oiad". A disturbingly odd clip about Area 51 played over static, this one can shock you pretty bad. But it serves the purpose of making the listener instantly want to hear this masterpiece all over again very well.

With the band's next album coming out in the next few months, one can only wonder where they can go from here. Each album has been so startlingly different from the last that I don't even dare predict what they'll do, but I sure do hope that they can follow this breathtaking, wonderful, and downright awe-inspiring album well.