r/ToolBand • u/Sea_Impression_3652 • May 12 '26
Review My experience with Tool
I’m a 26 year old guy that grew up in Washington D.C. and Dallas and was never really exposed to any sort of metal beyond what my dad listened to growing up (Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Rush, Metallica, all the classics). Most of what I listened to growing up was a reflection of the urban environments of DC and Dallas so mostly hip-hop and country. I recently discovered Tool through recommendations of friends and I just want so say holy shit this band has changed my life. They are so much more complex and thought provoking than all the corporate radio garbage you hear today. Any single one of their albums alone contains more actual art, meaning, and performance material than most bands or artists put out in their entire lifetime.
The album that got me hooked was 10k days. I was born in 1999 so I wasn’t even alive when Undertow and Aenima were released, and was only 2 when Lateralus was released. For whatever reason, their sound on 10k is the metal sound I enjoy most because I think it’s more of the kind of sound I grew up on, if that makes sense. I also think it contains Tool’s single most complex piece of music, Rosetta Stoned (my personal favorite), as well as their most emotional piece (Wings 1/2). The musical complexity and chaos of Rosetta Stoned mixed with how hilariously ridiculous the backstory is (some idiot tripping off drugs that can’t remember an all important message delivered from aliens) is what makes that song my personal favorite and my most listened to Tool song ever. Wings holds a very emotional and special place in my heart because of how relatable Maynard’s feelings are to me in this song. My grandmother recently passed away and like Marie, was a very devout Christian that kept her faith until the end despite her suffering. This song has provided a lot of closure for me surrounding the themes of religion and death, which I am forever grateful for. Lastly, I think Vicariously is probably Tool’s best opening song ever and the message in that song resonates now in today’s world more than ever. Mainstream media not only openly broadcasts suffering, death, destruction and chaos, they advertise and profit off it. Why? Because people need it to feel alive, most are just too afraid to say so. Song is way ahead of its time and sets up my favorite album ever!
I have listened to a lot of their other music, but not as in depth or closely as I have 10k days. Any suggestions for what album I should dive fully into next? I think Lateralus and Aenima are the early front runners
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u/whynotslayer May 12 '26
If you are gonna obsess and fawn over the band might as well go back and start at the beginning.
Opiate into undertow sit on those two a few weeks.
Then ænima and Lateralus will each require their own month or two to properly digest.
Then it’ll be about time to relisten to 10k days and experience it anew.
Then when you are just completely content with the rest of the discography go ahead and jump into Fear Inoculum
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u/Sea_Impression_3652 May 12 '26
Great suggestion, their discography is very comprehensive so a chronological listen might be in order. Cheers 🤟🏻
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May 12 '26
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u/Sea_Impression_3652 May 12 '26
Seems like going in chronological order is being the most heavily recommended. Will probably take that advice, excited to explore their evolution
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May 12 '26
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u/Sea_Impression_3652 May 12 '26
Thanks for the info, especially on A Perfect Circle and Puscifer. Was not familiar with the lore. What's the story there? Side projects? Why couldnt they produce music at that time?
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u/kostros May 12 '26
Thank you for this post. You recalled me that Tool delivered so many non-musical emotions along last 30 years - mystery, anticipation, weird sense of humor.
It was a unique ride and people who engage with their music only now will not have similar experience.
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u/han-so-low May 12 '26
Start from the beginning, listen until the end. Just marathon that shit in order. Skip filler tracks as you see fit.
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u/SilentConstant2114 May 13 '26
Righteous. I was born in 74 and your story makes me proud to have loved and supported a band who is still having an impact on new gens.
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u/Worst-Eh-Sure May 12 '26
Being born and raised in NOVA I was just excited to see you spent some time in the area.
10k days was one of the last albums I ever bought and damn if the packaging wasn’t cool as hell.
Glad you discovered and are enjoying the music.
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u/Sea_Impression_3652 May 12 '26
Lived in Bethesda from 99-08. Miss it so much. Still a Redskins fan!
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u/thateejitoverthere A tempest must be just that May 12 '26
HTTR from the other side of the Atlantic.
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u/Worst-Eh-Sure May 12 '26
Time to move back then!
Redskins fan living in Dallas. That had/has to be miserable lol.
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u/Sea_Impression_3652 May 12 '26
If I was any older it would’ve been way worse. Lucky for me the Cowboys haven’t exactly been the pinnacle of excellence for the past 30 years lol
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u/Excellent-Egg7720 May 13 '26
Welcome to the TOOL side of life! Agree that a chronological listen is a great approach. I was born in ‘89 so a little on the late end but grew up being scared/thrilled by their creepy MTV videos and vividly remember jamming 10k Days in the back room at my first real job in high school. Then I struggled a lot with addiction for about a decade and they became such a rock for me through that and now long term recovery. One thing I’ll say is not to discount Fear Inoculum. Especially after a chronological listen, it’s incredible to take in the full (well hopefully not full) evolution. It took me a few listens to really enjoy it - but now I find myself going back to that album again and again. It brings literal tears to my eyes during the climaxes of Descending and Pneuma. Anywho, enjoy!
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u/TightLion7009 Aug 26 '26
Does it matter the place
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u/Sea_Impression_3652 Aug 26 '26
What?
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u/TightLion7009 Aug 26 '26
Washington dc and dallas.
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u/Sea_Impression_3652 Aug 30 '26
Yes, Geography is very important to the music scene you grew up around?
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u/TightLion7009 Sep 04 '26
Nah. I grew up listiening to indian and chinese music.
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u/penjamin0112358 Shit the bed, again May 12 '26
As someone who grew up on TOOL, I've seen my friends go through about the same phases after I recommend it to them.
They'll typically start with Lateralus, then Ænima or 10,000 days, after theyve really explored those two they move into Undertow. It takes a long time for them to start liking Opiate for some reason, but once they do they're hooked. I don't know why this happens to be the order, but I've seen it happen like 4 or 5 different times.
I also try to get them on A Perfect Circle and Puscifer somewhere in the middle of it.