365 Days of Metal: Learn To Swim, I'll See You Down in Arizona Bay

Day 62

Tool -  Ænima

Band Origin: Los Angeles, California, USA

Genre: Alternative Metal / Progressive

Label: Zoo Entertainment

Running Time: 77 minutes

Release Date: September 17, 1996

Best Part: Aenema - the Grammy award winning performance heavily inspired by Bill Hicks' set about the collapse of the San Andreas fault remains one of their best tracks.

Favorite Tracks: Pushit, Aenema, 46 & 2, Eulogy, Jimmy, H., and Stinkfist

Grade: 5

Side Note: Adam Jones not only is one of my favorite guitarists, he is also responsible for the amazing album artwork and imagery that Tool uses.

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Ænima in 20ish words or less:

Tool's sophomore album reinstates why they're the thinking mans band - and why their art rock meets progressive metal style is one of the best around.

The Band:

Keenan, Jones, Chancellor and Carey - anyone with any relative amount of knowledge of alternative, progressive metal and rock should instantly recognize those four names. And if they don't recognize the names, then they should at least know the name they're associated with. Formed in 1990, Tool has not only created some of the more memorable music of its genre, and for its generation, but has also grown to become one of the larger mainstream successes of the 90's and the new millennium. Coming to success during a time when metal was waning from the spotlight, alternative styles such as grunge were at the their peak and more uncommon genres were gaining popularity, Tool managed to keep the torch burning. Since the release of their debut Undertow, Tool has released four successful full-length albums and has sold over 13.5 million records. With their heavy use of visual art, mind bending lyricism and intricately laid out, progressive compositions, Tool continues to set the standard with each new release.

Tool's other releases include: Undertow (1993), Lateralus (2001), and 10,000 Days (2006)

Jay's Take on Ænima:

People can debate all they want about which Tool album is their best, arguments can be given for each of them. Undertow for example not only helped push Tool into the early spotlight but served as a reminder that metal was nowhere near dead in the mainstream. But Ænima remains their most successful record to date and really helped push the boundaries of the group before the creation of Lateralus, which strode further down the line of 'art rock'. Ænima has a long list of accomplishments that could speak for its merit, having been listed as one of the most influential records of all time, earning a grammy award for the track Ænema and having gone triple platinum with nearly 3.5 million records sold - but stats and awards are for magazines. Ænima was inspired by the deceased comedian Bill Hicks who the band credits as being on the same path as them. Samples of his work are included in the record on the track Third Eye, and references to his stand-up notably in the title track. Tool imagined the album through the ideal of the Third Eye, with the goal for the album to help open up the third eye of the listened and help them along the same path. The complex and changing time signatures fused into the ominously heavy but driven guitar work of Adam Jones and the up front bass work of Justin Chancellor (and original bassist Paul D'Amour, who left during production) help shape the feel of the record. Danny Carey has always fascinated with his drum work which is technical and complex, and truly comes to life on Tool's records. And of course the linchpin of the band itself, Mayndard James Keenan brings his signature clean vocal style and lyricism to each and every track, with hauntingly clear deliveries and mind bending prose.

Tool has been reported as working on their next album for the better part of the last year. All I can say is I can't wait, it's been over five years since the release of 10,000 Days and while the band has been individually busy with side projects, everyone really just wants some new Tool to wrap their heads around.

Sample of the Day:

- J