TOOL: LATERALUS

I studied the triangular indentation left on my finger tip, and as it began to fade, the onslaught began. The percussion thundered inside my chest while the guitars and vocals washed over my mind. Soon, I was lost. Somewhere between the layers of beautiful noise that emitted from my stereo, my grip on reality slipped, and I fell spiraling into the mystical Lateralus. 79 minutes later, I opened my eyes, pressed play, and again stepped willingly into the abyss. Tool has once again tapped the vein of primal emotion that renders your psyche raw and bleeding. After a five year wait since the release of Ænima, it is a welcome wound. The delicate melodies serve as the calm before the storm in the band’s latest opus. “Parabol” serenades you safely below yonder window, and just as sweeping melodic intricacies envelop you in warm comfort, “Parabola” creeps in that window to leave you shredded, dirty and feeling mathematically inept. Maynard James Keenan’s voice easily handles tortured sweetness and the psychotic rage of a lunatic. Danny Carey, Justin Chancellor and Adam Jones weave harmonic songs borne of classical architecture that melt into a heavy groove full of strange, wondrous beats with rising, falling and swirling rhythmic complexity. The 13-track album is far from radio-friendly with interwoven songs, half of which last over seven minutes long. In a world of cliched, condescending angst and lackluster talent, Tool has given hope to those tired of the play lists and TRL idiots. They have produced an uncompromising album that dares you to think and listen outside the crudely drawn lines of rock, and defies you to push the skip button. Lateralus is, in two words, fucking amazing.