My favourite album of all time. Lateralus has some incredible haunting vocals and really intense proggy riffs with an experimental edge. Every single track on this album is excellent, particularly the tranistion between 'Parabol' and 'Parabola.' Vocals alternate between being incredibly loud and powerful to light and delicate. I have nothing bad to say about this album. It is best if you just let each track play after the other, paying attention to the subtle nuances of each note, while appreciating the album in its entirety. This remarkable piece of powerful fusion-conscious art transcends the intense anger that fuels it, creating such awesome and unique bitersweet sonic progression, with visceral and minimalistic textures, as well as elements of Far Eastern music. This is the band's Magnum Opus. For fans of A Perfect Circle, Radiohead, Pelican, Red, Nine Inch Nails, Porcupine Tree and even Led Zeppelin.
The album artwork is also excellent, impressive in that it simultaneously combines Christian Iconography, Far Eastern art and medical imagery, giving an all-over alien feel (For an example, see the accompanying image, which can be stripped away piece by piece in the book-sleeve.)
Summary: Incredible.
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