After Tool released Aenima in 1996 they entered into a drawn out legal battle with their former label which lasted nearly 2 years. After the legal wrangling had finished the band members decided to take some time off and it was at this juncture Maynard James Keenan joined up with Billy Howardel and Paz Lenchantin to form A Perfect Circle. Howardel was a guitar tech for bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails and Fishbone and it was while he was teching for Tool that Keenan listened to some of the songs Howardel had been writing with Lenchantin. Keenan was so impressed by what he heard he asked to be the singer on the project and although Howardel had originally wanted a woman for the vocals he accepted the offer and put a band together with himself on guitar, Lenchantin on bass and Keenan on vocals. Later Josh Freese (ex Vandals and Guns N' Roses member) was added on drums and Troy Van Leeuwen (ex-Failure and Enemy member) on guitar to round of the quintet of A Perfect Circle.
Howardel was the main songwriter for this album creating all the compositions himself but he had decided that the lyrics would be left to the vocalist which turned out to be Keenan. Keenan takes the opportunity of singing over APC's lush, more melodic music to display a different side of both his vocals and lyrics in which is less abrasive and more intimate and sympathetic, although he's still far from mellow.
Due to Keenan being a member the comparisons to Tool were inevitable although a little unfair as even though A Perfect Circle mix alternative metal and art rock like Tool they've created their own sound. They combine Howardel's stunning and sometimes beautiful compositions with Keenan's tortured aching vocals to create a more melodic and theatrical sound which is not as dark as a Tool. It is also clear from their music that Howardel's compositions were influenced by some of the bands he had worked with most notably NIN and Smashing Pumpkins.
While I think all the songs on the album are fantastic (even the oddity that is Over, a minimal yet eerily atmospheric final track) the 3 standout tracks were the singles. The first single to be released was Judith which is the nearest the album gets to Tool with the thundering guitars and Keenan's breathtaking call and response vocals. This was followed by The Hollow on which Howardel's guitar work doesn't focus on being driving force of the song but rather on setting the atmospheric mood by balancing power with a textured approach with mesmerising results that perfectly compliment the brooding vocals. The third single was 3 Libra's which is not only the best song on the album but also the most beautiful rock song in years. It start's with lush strings which lead into stunning almost hypnotic song that floats along while Keenan displays a sensitive side to his vocal abilities which is nothing short of a revelation.
I say these are the 3 standout tracks but with songs like Rose, Brena and Magdelena the rest of the album doesn't disappoint as these are on a par with the best rock has to offer and Mer Des Noms comfortably ranks amongst the great albums. Any fan of Smashing Pumpkins, Tool and Nine Inch Nails should definitely look into this album, as should anyone who appreciates beautiful music. I don't think I have ever used the word beautiful to describe a metal album before and I probably won't again but it perfectly describes Mer Des Noms.
The only word of warning is don't listen to this album expecting to hear Tool.
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looking for a way out; Perfect Circle appear intended to be Tool front man Maynard James Keenan's ticket to the big time. While Tool's uncompromising take on indust...
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