Power Tool

They have released four “multi-platinum” albums, won three Grammy Awards, and have a fondness for outrageously fancy packaging. Their music has been variously described as Art Rock, Progressive Metal and even Experimental. The quartet formed in 1990 and have just released a new album called Fear Innoculum, which the band’s website tells us “features a 4” HD rechargeable screen with exclusive video footage, charging cable, 2 watt speaker, a 36-page booklet and a digital download card”. The band is, of course, Tool. So while we are eagerly awaiting the new album on vinyl, why not revisit the powerful and jaggedly inventive Lateralus?

 

Lateralus was the album before last, released in 2001. (The one in between was 10,000 Days in 2006. They don’t rush things, these lads.) Some consider it a masterpiece of creative heavy rock, others a somewhat overblown opus. What is unarguable is that this is a huge, multi-faceted monster of an album that generously repays repeated listens. Which is certainly an investment, because at almost eighty minutes there is an awful lot to take in.

 

Opening with a blast of metal power, Lateralus seems to have a bit of everything. Some quiet interludes mark transitions between storms of apocalyptic rock while there are also acoustic driven moments (“Disposition” has acoustic guitars and nice electronics).

 

Metal fans will enjoy the suffocating force while prog fans will enjoy hints of Red-era King Crimson in the extended workouts.

 

One of the features of Tool’s work is their association with visionary artist Alex Grey. Grey first caught the attention of rock audiences when Kurt Cobain requested use of his painting “Pregnant Female” for the cover of In Utero. He also provided artwork for a Beastie Boys album.

 

Adam Jones, guitarist and founder of Tool, contacted Grey about linking his art to their music for Lateralus. 

 

Grey: “He described his concept of the dissectional art for the Lateralus album. He asked me to conceptualize a stage setting using my work (that would) travel with the band on a 90 city tour of stadiums throughout the world. It was astonishing the exposure my work received through our interaction for the past two albums” *

 

Although the veneers of imagery found in the CD edition of Lateralus are not possible in the double LP format, the vinyl is superbly decorated with Alex Grey images. The compounding of layers with dense detail reflects the music of Tool with remarkable accuracy. Overall, the vinyl package is a potent reminder of the link between music and album art and makes for a mysterious and transporting experience.

 

One can only wonder what they’ll come up with for the vinyl version of Fear Inoculum.

 

* Quote from an interview at the Alex Grey website. Extracted 22/10/2019.

* Feature photo includes an image from “Net of Being” by Alex Grey [2012, Inner Traditions; Rochester, USA]. It is included under fair use provisions for review purposes.

 

Bruce Jenkins © 2019