LATERALUS

Undoubtly the best prog album to be realsed so far this century. This is the highlight of prog metal and tool at it's finest. Thier unique sound is cleraly drawn from inspirations like Pink Floyd and Metallica. The sound production reaches the levals of classics like "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Brain Salad Sugery"

The lyrics and vocals are amazing, filled with anger and meaning "Lateralus" is an essential piece. Essentially, you have the same sort of lyrics as in "Dream Theater" though a bit darker, but far better vocals behind them. There are no real highlights as there are far to many excellent sections

By time it is over, you won't think that 76 minutes have gone by

The Grudge: An excellent song with a cool bass and lyrics. The scream is one of the best I've heard (nearly a minute long, no breaths). This will instantly draw you into the sound and feel of Lateralus

Eon Blue Apocalypse: A nice instrumental bridge, continues the dark sound of the album

The Patient: A bit more mellow than the opening track, but still a good tune. Works to further drag you into the album

Mantra: another bridge, but short so as not to let your attention slip away

Schism: The most awesome song ever in the past five years and my favorite from tool. The bass opener is amazing and catchy (as many of thiers are). The lyrics are great and the distorted guitar riff is adds to feel of the album. great message to the song. "Schism" apparently won the "best metal preformance" at the grammys the year it was released

Parabol/Parabola: Two songs that are essntially one track. The dark, mellow first track is an excellent tune that explodes into the even better, heavier "Parabola"

"Ticks and Leeches": A great song to play when you're mad, the screaming lyrice and heavy riffs are built on the rising tempo of the previous two tracks. Great song

"Lateralus": An incredibly addicting bass riff to open the album followed by the best vocals to come from the band. Has a weird feel to it, like you're falling down a mineshaft

Dispostion/Reflection/Triad: The 23 minute epic is divided up into more manageble pieces. Dispostion contains awesome drumming, very hypnotic and dreamlike piece. Reflection is by far the best movement with a creepy instrumental section and soft lyrics. Triad closes the movement as a cool instrumental with some heavy guitar riffing

Faaip De Oiad: After the haunting epic that cam before the album closes with a strange track that's not really a song. Some heavy drumming bookends a static radio message about aliens. A nice end to a very dark album

While not being "true" prog rock, i's the finest example of prog-metal (though some may argue there is no such genre) and is essential for those who want to collect contemporary prog music instead of just the classic symphonic prog

Like it or not, this is what prog music has evolved into. I mean, think about, isn't progressve music characterized by change? If it is, then expect the forms of progressive music to change as well.

This album is essential for those who want to see the full extend of prog on music