Talking about Tool means talking about authenticity and originality, there simply isn’t any other band on planet Earth that comes close to their approach to art. Four exceptional personalities came together to create one of the most exquisite discographies in Rock and Metal. Without fear of being mistaken, we can assert that there’s no bad Tool album, and it’s challenging to debate which one is the best because each of their works exhibits an exceptionally high level of quality, worthy of the most discerning ears.
Today, we discuss “Ænima,” their second studio album and the first with English bassist Justin Chancellor, who would become a permanent member of the band. Released in 1995, recorded in Hollywood, California, and produced by the Canadian David Bottrill, known for his work with significant modern metal bands like Muse, Godsmack, Mudvayne, among many others.
For many critics and media outlets like Kerrang or Terrorizer, “Ænima” was considered the best Metal album in 1996.
What can we hear?
An original blend of Alternative Metal, thanks to Maynard James Keenan’s vocal melodies, and Progressive Metal, owing to the creative polyrhythms in each and every song. “Ænima” is an unpredictable album, surprising listeners with atmospheric, heavy, progressive, and even experimental passages. After the track “H,” each song features an instrumental introduction like “Useful Idiot,” “Message to Harry Manback,” among others, pieces that could even be considered avant-garde. Here lies the magic of listening to the entire album without interruption, as Tool takes us on a journey that delves into both the darkness and the enlightenment of their art, as seen on the album cover.
The virtuosity of Tool in “Ænima” lies in the power of their imagination, where through a potent groove, we encounter a range of themes with distinct force. It starts with “Stinkfist,” the most commercial, alternative, and frequently performed live song on the album. Then there’s “Forty Six & 2,” with an incredibly creative bass and drum performance, featuring a solo by Danny Carey. Another standout is “Hooker With a Penis,” a fearless, bold, fast, and furious track, the most rebellious on the album.
Each track carries a unique darkness, with excellent production that does it justice. The vocals are mostly dry, the drums deep (especially in the toms), bass emphasized in its picking, leaving space even for arpeggios, and guitars with a moderate distortion that explodes to fill the spectrum at its climax. The album’s production is designed to bathe this darkness atmospherically, with a well-judged use of reverb and delays in the mix.
Ænima, a sound that beckons for more
Anything but predictable, the auditory journey doesn’t stop, and it’s so good that the band indulges in creating extended instrumental bridges, as heard in “Pushit.” Playing with the dynamics of the album to keep captivating the listener’s ears, Tool does this without pretension or overindulgence, just the hearts of four virtuous minds letting themselves be carried away by the language of music to its most mathematical expression. This is evident, especially in their unexpected rhythms, like the intro of “Eulogy,” an excellent proposal of different time signatures that ultimately come together in pure progressive style.
In “Ænima,” we hear the band members more connected than ever, completely tied together, almost as if neurologically in perfect synchrony. To such an extent that they have the luxury of closing the album with “Third Eye,” a 13-minute song with a percussive groove that patiently transforms, supported by vocals, to explode and conclude this magnificent album. Despite its total duration of 77 minutes, it feels light to the ears.
Maynard James Keenan’s vocal performance is worth highlighting, with that characteristic, serious, bittersweet timbre that makes the album as dirty as in the peaks of “Third Eye” or as alternative as in “Stinkfist”.
The journey that 'Ænima' proposes
This text falls short in capturing the full range of emotions that Tool makes us feel with “Ænima.” It’s an album that must be listened to at least once in life with closed eyes, focusing our senses and thoughts solely on its music. An album that set the band on the path to their next masterpiece, “Lateralus,” which would arrive six years later.
When we think of Progressive Rock or Metal, we usually think of virtuosity, the complexity proposed by bands like Dream Theater, or the marvelous concepts of Pink Floyd. However, Tool is not always among the first options in our top of mind. They have a small discography, but it’s filled with innovation and quality. The complexity of Tool lies in their way of collectively feeling and expressing themselves as a band.
What are your thoughts on “Ænima”? Leave us your comments!
