LATERALUS

What I love about Tool is not only the fact that they make music, but they make art. From the album cover, you can see that this is going to be a fascinating, intricate trip to new lands and spaces. The booklet in the inside shows you what this album is all about: retrospection, self-research, and with all the colors and the images in the booklet you even can "see" the music, feel this stupendous music.

So, all this combine with the deep, mysterious and abstract lyrics perfectly sung by Maynard and obviously the powerful, energetic, challenging, touching, sophisticated music that the band create, makes this album unique and definitely a masterpiece.

After saying this, let's check out the songs.

The Grudge: Great song, the classical sound of Tool. It reminds me sometimes when i hear 'stinkfist'. Maynard changes his tone of voice from soft-calmed to reach the powerful screaming tone at the end. The music is dominated by the bass with a perfect combination of the drums of Carey and the guitar of Adam. I think the winner here are the drums, and in general through the whole album, Denny Carey shows the influence and well executed work and what we will see next, the work with the numerology. 4.5 stars.

Eon Blue Apocalyspe: One thing that got better with respect to Ænima, are these "connecting songs" are so called "fillers". In Ænima, I think Tool wasted these spaces to create the mood to the next song, but here in Lateralus, there are no "fillers". These 'links' are perfectly combined and beautifully created to provide a wonderful bridge to the next song. And 'Eon blue' is a perfect transition to what it comes next. if ihad to rate this track, I would say 4 stars.

The Patient: We have a winner. And it is still the third song. This is where the things start to drag you down to this new wonderful spiral. The Patient is a beautiful prog song, starting with the calming, and tired voice of Maynard singing "a grown of tedium escapes." Accompanied by the soft sound of the guitar and calming drumming. 2 minutes after this whispering and reclaiming voices from Maynard, the music bursts out to a great combination once again of drums and guitar and bass, making the sound powerful. 3 minutes and a half once again the tempo changes going a little faster to return to the previous sound and 4:30 and a half the tempo changes and after this everything is changing, evolutions to a climax, loving the final singing of Maynard "still may. be patient" and returning to the calm expressing "gonna wait it out" Beautiful song. 5 stars. Mantra: Another bridge to lead you to the next song. Feels like someone breathing difficulty. Trippy i would say. 3.5 stars.

Schism: Another winner. Great song dominated by the bass, all over the song, making its hallmark. Once again, we have tempo changes and great drumming by Danny. I consider this song really progressive because of all the variety of sounds, going from the tribal sounds, and ambient spaces I find approximate in the minute 3:30 making it a emotional-joyful trip combined with the sad but deep lyrics of Maynard: "cold silence, has a tendency." ending with the powerful tribal drumming and "I know the pieces fit!..". 5 stars.

Parabol: Parabol suppose to be an intro to Parabola. And this is what I have been talking about. Parabol sets the mood for the spectacular parabola. This is a mellow song, very smooth and links you to the next song. So I think in reality Parabol-Parabola are just one song. Even both of them are totally different. Good intro. 4 stars.

Parabola: This is the antipode of Parabol. Here everything is flashy and heavy. And here the show in my opinion is taken by Adam. He showing us that he is a good guitar player and performs a little guitar solo in the middle of the song. But I cannot leave behind the clean performance of Justin on the bass; I really find him suitable and flowing through the song. Catchy, with a progressive atmosphere, Parabola is another great song combine with the energetic drumming of Carey and completed with the abstract lyrics of Maynard. 5 stars.

Ticks and Leeches: Another song (yes!, once again, but this is tremendous) incredibly executed by Danny Carey. I don't know if Carey felt touched by his tribal side, but hell that he was inspired! (And believe me, the best is yet to come!). His drumming is heavy and fast, tribal and deep. Even if the lyrics in this one are kind of lame (Supposed to be against music industry) the music is dominant and the bass provides a good rhythm in the background. Here you can hear the potent voice of Maynard, screaming out loud. Cool heavy rock song, with some elements of progression. 4 stars.

Lateralus: I don't know where to start here. Lateralus is an astonishing song. It is one of the most beautiful pieces of work I ever heard. This is like falling down to the rabbit hole. With a complicated signature, Maynard performs his lyrics in a Fibonnaci sequence, the guitar intro lets me know that something big is coming, and the way after that all the instruments comes together is amazing. Just the perfect sound. This is a spiritual travel to ourselves. The bridge and the chorus are totally full of joy and hope and becomes a tour de force as it goes further. It is impossible not to feel touched by the last paragraphs "come embrace my desire. to feel the rhythm. to feel connected." to finish with "ride the spiral to the end." Am I losing my objectivity? Maybe yes, but I love this song, and it touches my deepest nerves and once again, the trip is just the beginning. Totally a highlight. 5 stars.

Disposition: For me Disposition is an intro song to Reflection. After the energy displayed in Lateralus, you need to relax and calm down, speed down a little bit for what it come next, so I think this is why this album is so great and why Tool has become a giant band, very mature and definitively show us at the end, the work of a genius. Disposition manages perfectly the transition between Lateralus and Reflection. This song, very simple but at the same time deep and beautiful, with an atmospheric guitar and a steady bass line accompanied with some tribal drumming, demonstrates that Tool do plays very emotional songs with simple things. I cannot hear disposition without a tear coming out from my eye. Another highlight for me. 5 stars.

Reflection: this is the pinnacle. This is the song that shows Tool at best. I haven't heard another song more intricate and minimalist, deep and emotional, so strange but at the same time so beautiful. This is where the entire thing comes into the right place to create the best song. For me, definitively it's the best work performed by Tool by far. Great and deep bass line, wonderful-I mean wonderful- drumming, perfect singing and lyrics (you need to check out the lyrics of this three last song to see the connection) and for the final the guitar comes creating sounds and really psychedelic passages at the end. Moving and touching song. I feel overwhelmed after hearing this song. I feel insignificant but at the same time I can feel the glorious of living in this planet and comprehend the mysterious and beauty that surrounds us and I can feel the relation between the universe and us as human beings to become more "humans" and understand this trip we are in . 5 stars definitely.

Triad: the end of this epic suite (Disposition-Reflection-Triad supposed to be one song but for commercial reasons I guess, it decided to cut the piece into 3 tracks; even I like to include Lateralus for his connection with these songs, making a suite of aprox. 35 minutes!) and for the end, this great, really progressive song that let us know the level the band has acquired. Tremendous passages of power and the best way to close the album. The only thing is that I miss the vocals of Maynard. 5 stars.

Faaip de Ooiad: Enochian for "the voice of god" is supposed to be a prank of a radio station related with the area 51. Really don't find it place in here, even it is funny, but I usually push stop button after Triad. I enjoy better this track when ordering the songs in the Fibonacci Order. 3 stars.

So my final opinion is you should go to your local store and get this cd as quick as possible and rejoices with this masterpiece created by genius. Do not hesitate to get it, because you will no regret.

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