Undertow - Tool

Advantages: Progressive, Experimental. Maynard can sing
Disadvantages: It's not Aenima or Lateralus

The first full-length 1992 album from Los Angeles Progressive Metal band TOOL. They had previously released a very typical heavy metal EP called Opiate but this album started to see the more progressive, experimental stylings that would see this badn make the later masterpieces Aenima and Lateralus. Track One - Intolerance "You Lie, Cheat and Steal" The track starts with what sounds like a taut rope being struck, then the music rather enters rather ...
...bands, he doesn't resort to base shouting. The music and the vocals are so well entertwined it is a brilliant song. Carey's drums are on top form, he truly is one of the greatest drummers of our time. The lyrics are great and this is a very catchy great song to listen to. The guitar is brilliant I love the crisp distortion on the bridge. This album also has that very tightly strung bass guitar which always sounds rather tribal to me and rreminds ... Read review

Advantages: Something different
Disadvantages: Rather bleak

...I think it's fair to say before I start to review this CD that yes, I am one of the biggest Tool fans on the planet and that I am fully aware that not all their music appeals to everyone yet with every CD they release they take a different direction. 'Undertow', released in 1993 was Tools first full length album has a distinctly grunge sound to it. Although in my opinion it is not their greatest album still I find it superior to many other bands from the same time. The album kicks off with 'Intolerance' an upbeat song that combines addictive rifts with Maynard's harsh spitting lyrics. It seems like a biting song to a partner that is less than perfect but accepted all the same. This is followed by 'Prison Sex' a song that lyrically is similar to 'Stinkfist' (taken from the album 'Aenima'). This song is not particularly heavy... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Intelligent, thought-provoking, intense metal
Disadvantages: Hardly easy listening

...Tool have for a long time now been the band that every pretentious rock elitist just had to have in his/her record collection. The enigmatic, cryptic and abstract sounds of the band's music attracting in equal measures admiration and irritation. Undertow was the band's first full-length LP and was a great indication of how the band were likely to evolve over the following years. This was a band that 'didn't do' press interviews, didn't administer samplers for the DJs to promote, nor publicised their music in any real way. Tool found fame largely through word of mouth. The Band: Maynard James Keenan- Vocals Adam Jones- Guitar Paul d'Amour- Bass Guitar Danny Carey- Percussion Tool's music is lyrically and musically dark. On 'Undertow', vocalist Maynard James Keenan deals with such issues as prison rape and murder... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Complex, original, amazing rock music with a difference.
Disadvantages: Takes a while to fully appreciate. Not to everyone’s tastes. Grrrr those four silly tracks!

...There is a sure fire way to forget about the commercially manufactured abomination that is the charts and there is a way to forget about bandwagon hitchhikers that claim to be making ‘alternative’ music. The way to do this is to sit down with a Tool album in your stereo and listen to it with your ears... Aenima is the third album by Tool (following on from Opiate and Undertow). Like all their albums it is complex, sincere, difficult to categorise, and of course is amazing... Tool are defiantly anti-commercial. They do not release singles and they do not personally appear in their own videos (the videos are always really cool animations that have been worked on by a member of the band). The band like to remain fairly anonymous by avoiding personal talk in interviews and the vocalist (Maynard James Keenan) has a constantly... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful