Don’t Tread On Me resonates sound and energy the 311 way. Despite the brooding attitude of the grunge movement and the angst of the rap-rock movement, 311 has always stayed true to their own approach and their underlying message of unity and positivity. Because of their unique sound (mixing rock, hip-hop, reggae & funk), and because they have …
Arguably their finest album, this follow-up to Opiate showcases Tool at their best, assisted by clean, crisp production, without the muddiness of Aenima. Edgy guitar riffs are complemented by spitting, heavy bass, especially on “Sober” and “Crawl Away”. Lyrically, Tool are at their vitriolic best, targeting religious hypocrisy (“Intolerance,” “Sober”; always a popular theme), the loss of innocence …
As the title of Tool’s 1992 debut implies, they’re none too impressed by religion, though other targets–fear (“Cold and Ugly”), hypocritical moralizing (“Jerk-Off”), nonconformity (“Hush”)–get their time in the spotlight as well. Opiate is a collection of heavy, aggressive, cynical music (though the tail end of the title track sounds more like acid rock), packaged in songs noticeably …
Everything about Tool’s fourth album (2001) is an experience, starting with the packaging, which consists of liner credits printed on a translucent plastic sleeve over the CD and a booklet that layers anatomical representations atop one another–the first page pictures musculature and blood vessels; the next, bones; the third, internal organs; and so on. It’s worth describing the …
With its heavy-duty distortion, weighty rhythms, and cynical lyrics, Tool is a heavy metal band for the ’90s. Rather like Metallica circa …And Justice for All, the sound is focused heavily on texture, with vocals and guitars layered one atop the other, and heart-pounding drums underlying everything. There’s not a whole lot of variety on Tool’s second full-length …
Arguably their finest album, this follow-up to Opiate showcases Tool at their best, assisted by clean, crisp production, without the muddiness of Aenima. Edgy guitar riffs are complemented by spitting, heavy bass, especially on “Sober” and “Crawl Away”. Lyrically, Tool are at their vitriolic best, targeting religious hypocrisy (“Intolerance,” “Sober”; always a popular theme), the loss of innocence …