Publication: Revolver
Date: April, 2001
Transcribed by
Mike (teenagegirls@hotmail.com)
Mike (teenagegirls@hotmail.com)
page: 20 title: Metal's masters of the moodswing return with their first... author: Mark Craig; Photography: Clay Patrick McBride Adam Jones is a little irked. "Everyone asks why it's taken us four years to record this album," says the lanky Tool guitarist. "But the truth is, we spent two years on the road after recording Aenima, then we did OZZfest, and then (vocalist) Maynard (Keenan) did A Perfect Circle. Really, we've been working on this new album for only a year, which seems pretty short to me." Long or short, the wait was worth it. Tool's third full-length release, Lateralus is a dark, emotional roller coaster of an album that expands on the band's now- familiar formula of jarring dynamic shifts and mood swings, multi- layered riffs, near-industrial percussion, and Keenan's impassioned vocals. Tracks like "The Grudge" and "Schism" start out mean and aggressive but become haunting and sublime as Tool takes advantage of the songs' considerable length - over seven minutes each - to range across musical landscapes far more scenic than the usual contemporary rock fare. "There are worlds within worlds in each song," says Jones. "We just jammed together until the music started to coalesce. With all four people putting their ideas into the mix, the music reached a fifth level beyond anyone's individual ideas." "We never had any preconceived notions about the songs," adds bassist Justin Chancellor. "Sometimes it felt obvious where we were going to go next, and sometimes we just tried to experiment with different directions to find what was most appropriate." "You feel those moments as you're writing, when the clouds are about to open up," says Jones. "At the end of the day, you really know it's right."
Posted to t.d.n: 04/08/01 16:08:10