Tool – Undertow

Review

Jump into TOOL's sonic masterpiece with "Undertow," a tour de force that slams into the '90s scene with fists of fury and complexity. It confidently breaks away from the grunge sensation dominating the era and dives face-first into the murky waters of alternative and progressive metal. Forget about mainstream pop punk; here, TOOL swirls technical brilliance with mind-bending arrangements worthy of King Crimson's nod. It's a wild ride, no seatbelts allowed! As raw and powerful as a mosh pit at its height, "Undertow" shakes up your head with deliciously brutal and nuanced overtones.

Opening with the undeniable "Intolerance," which punches you square in the intellect, the album doesn't let up with tracks like "Prison Sex" and the legendary "Sober." These are not just tunes but seismic shifts in alternative rock, where emotional lyrics hug razor-sharp guitars. Check out "Bottom," where Henry Rollins struts in and stirs things up, and you've got a cocktail of irresistible experimentation. Lyrically, Maynard James Keenan channels deep, tumultuous themes like pain and abuse, leaving a lasting impact that trails beneath your skin. Recorded with wild, left-field methods—shotgun-blasted piano anyone?—at Sound City and Grandmaster Recorders, "Undertow" stands as a marvel of unorthodox production, setting the stage for TOOL's enduring legacy in the rock realm. - Sydney