Publication: The Toronto Star
Date: December, 1996
Transcribed by
Edward Hsieh (edward@planeteer.com)
Edward Hsieh (edward@planeteer.com)
page: 1 title: L.A. quartet's brand of metallurgy strikes it hot author: Lenny Stoute This kind of Tool time would terrify Tim and Al. Sure, the TV twosome are into heavy metal and big pounding and bashing but bets are they would down tools and glee in the gave of the L.A.-based quartet's brand of metallurgy. The sold-out audience Tool pulled in Saturday at The Warehouse will probably grow up into middle-aged grease guys, but not yet. To say Tool is at the height of its powers with Aenima is begging the question, since they've only the Opiate EP and Undertow albums behind them. Instead, the point was made by the audience response. Usually, the unfamiliar material takes some time and considerable video exposure to set, for most new bands. Come the live show, the best response unfailingly is saved for the older, familiar tunes. Not so in this case; these punters came well versed in Tool's latest cookie, Aenima, and primed for frontman Maynard James Keenan's try at selling it in the flesh. As if aware of the album's immediate impact, early hit single "Sober" was speeded up a clip and beefed up all around. And sell the tunes Maynard did. Theatrical, charismatic and with a well-modulated vocal range, he quickly set the tone of rigorous enjoyment by way of a few barked greetings. Kind of like a drill sergeant's "have a good time or else". Stylewise, Keenan comes down somewhere between Eddie Vedder and Glenn Danzig, a very cool combination for the mainly boyz night out crowd. Exactly right for a band involved with reinventing prog metal for the new millenium. Much of that load falls on the shoulders of axeman Adam Jones, who tempered the swift riffing with soft and tension-filled modals. There was nothing to fear from the venue's notoriously debilitating acoustics, so overwhelming was the volume. Loud and clean, with an especially rich mix on the bass bins and drums.
Posted to t.d.n: 05/12/97 15:40:52