LATERALUS

Is Lateralus being worthy of a 5 star rating? I think it is most easily deserving. Would a prog-folk fan think this album is a masterpiece, probably not. But then again, Lateralus is a masterpiece of "prog-metal", not "prog-folk". Within the genre of prog-metal this album is one of the best recordings by exemplifying all the charactoristics of what make this genre special. Lateralus is heavy just as prog-metal should be. The music is also complex and intricate as progressive music should be. All this while never losing it's soul, like a great recording should be.

I'll be the first to admit the guitar and bass work are average for the prog-metal genre. It tends to be more percussive in nature. That fits the style of music rather well. What truly makes the instrumentality impressive on this album is the drumming of Danny Carey and the vocals of Maynard James Keenan. Danny Carey is an incredible drummer, one of the very few I hear in all of metal music that knows how to use his cymbals to add dimension and texture. He's leagues beyond drummers like Mike Pornoy in that the cymbals are an essential part of percussion and should be treated as such. In addition his poly-rhythmic drumming styles are breathtaking in their power and precision. His drumming is what propells the music, much different than other bands. Then there's MJK, a truly unique vocalist and lyricist. He sings with great power and emotion (often anger) and yet can sing with a delicate vulnerability when the music calls for it. His lyrics are crypic and deep, a cut above the rest of the genre.

As for the songs, they flow well together using little musical interludes to transition from one suite of compositions to the next. The transition from Parabol to Parabola creates an amazing song in that it goes from delicate beauty to precision power. Same goes for Disposition and Reflection. The title track Lateralus is an amazing journey with it's shifting time signatures based upon a mathematical principal. The only week song on the album is Ticks and Leaches which sounds like a throw back to the AEnima album. Otherwise every song on this album is a step up from the previous albums and are more progressive than ever. No wonder Robert Fripp likes this band and co-headlined a tour with them.