page: 1
 title: TOOL:  Flush The Fashion
author: Tim Henderson

     Tool's second full-length, Aenima, has provided enough shock 
therapy to jolt us into the next century.  While dark shadows 
crisscross madly in the foreground, Aenima's ever-ensuing atmosphere 
of realism is in stark contrast to the comfortable, conservative 
mentality to which North America has succumbed.  The riveting beats 
and violent outbursts are forced, rather than gently applied, in 
an all-out attack against current song/record making.
     "We've been misqouted and perceived the wrong way for a long 
time," explains drummer Danny Carey from a brief New York stopover 
during the band's current North American tour.  "They make Tool seem 
like we're all about the horrors of life.  While there certainly is a 
disturbing side to what we do, it's just one aspect of it, not the 
entire story.  We're one of the few bands who hasn't had to play any 
lame fashion games.  We've always been able to put art first."
     Having collided in '91, Tool- which is rounded out by singer 
Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones and new bassist Justin 
Chancellor, who replaced Paul D'Amour in '95- has already seen 
plantinum success with their first full-length, 1993's Undertow.  
Three years later, two of which were spent in the South of France at 
the Renne LeChateau, Tool found themselves mixing a bizarre collage of 
riveting segues and punishing doses of meal far too intelligent to be 
tabbed alternative and certainly more threatening than death metal's 
Nordic corpse-paint.  
     "It's what the band does best," laughs Carey.  "It's like an 
amusement park, where you can jump in on any ride.  (It may) be brutal 
and rigorous and the demands great, but you'll walk away from it 
saying that (you) were treated well."
     With or without seatbelts, Aenima is not for the squemish.  The 
conceptual journey found within is fuelled by gruelling passion and 
thought-provoking social commentary.  Carey is just relieved Aenima 
has proven successful:  "It's been over 3 years since the success of 
'Sober' and everything after.  We've come a long way, and every show 
has been sold out for (the) Aenima (tour).  It's good to see people 
into heavy music again.  It gives us hope for the next record, which 
will not take as long."
Posted to t.d.n: 05/16/97 16:39:58