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Albums reviewed:
1996 – AEnima (3+)

Tool went as far as playing with King Crimson in a sort of progressive music revival. They do inspire themselves from some aspect of prog rock, but not necessarily the good ones. The themes are cryptic, like it was often the case for prog rock acts, and the music is syncopated too... But to me, the rest of 'AEnima' is a huge mind numb. The concepts and lyrics ARE cool, that is when you have the strong intention of finding out about them... Because, let me tell you this, the production, the singer's voice and everything surrounding the singing, will make it very hard to pay any attention to what's being said. That is sad, because again, the themes are sort of cyberpunkish; genetics, bad reasons to use drugs and artificiality in every day life are examples of subjects. For instance, Message To Harry Manback is basically a speech sample discussing some of the above themes, it is set to a nice repeating piano line, and I understand what's going on, and even though it's just a gimmick, it's still one of the best moments on the album, most likely because it is not set to frigid drums and guitars. Hell, the last time my brain was numbed so bad by an album was... I don't know... I don't want to say this, but the constant buzzing-and-chugging guitar tones, the fat 6-7 or 8 strings bass guitar sounds, the usual drum rolls of metal (apart from the syncopation...) totally freeze my brain cells. While early in the album, particularly on Eulogy, I see what can be considered innovative about Tool, it is not long before I feel like I'm listening to a random "pseudo-rebel " alternative rock radio of the USA. And no, they won't make the numbing 30-40 minutes long... NO! They have to use the whole damn CD, that is, it lasts for 77 minutes of suffocating frigid metalish syncopation and.... uuuugh. Frankly, this is supposed to be one of the band's classics, and I don't want to spend one more cent on them. I'll see if there are other means to review the rest of the catalogue, maybe 'AEnima' is the wrong introduction, I don't know. In the end, maybe this general heavy-cold-metal-prog sound was not done for me. But then, I mean, I get why the title track is good! It has a great thing going on, even if it basically has the same stylistics. I don't think I need to point out again that the constant mind-numbing is the cause of my annoyance with Tool.

Simon Lac, February 21st 2006