“Black then white are all I see…” then Lateralus came to be. Many fans and critics alike call this their Kid A. Tool is always moving forward like a shark in deep blue waters; constantly on the hunt for a challenge. In May 2001, they put out a 79-minute opus pushing further and deeper into the trenches, exploring more complicated instrumental arrangements, lyrical themes, and song length. If Aenima was the spaceship they built that blasted them into outer space then Lateralus is the home they built. It was dispatches from Saturn from here on out. 

“Schism,” the lead single, earned the band their second Grammy award for best metal performance. The song addresses the band’s inner turmoil: “I know the pieces fit 'cause I watched them tumble downNo fault, none to blame, it doesn't mean I don't desire / To point the finger, blame the other, watch the temple topple over / To bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication”

The title track, “Lateralus,” is the definitive Tool song. A nine-minute-24-second ride through dazzling drum and tribal bass work that guide you through the spiral. The song’s arrangement uses the Fibonacci sequence both instrumentally and lyrically resulting in a Golden Ratio roller coaster for your soul. No metal song has ever felt so complete. What they accomplish in almost 10 minutes most musicians wish they could do in an entire album. And it’s not as easy as telling someone to sit down, listen and have your mind blown. This song and album needs context. You need to experience what’s around it, namely right before it to fully grasp where Tool came from and the limitless possibilities lie ahead.

Key Tracks: "Lateralus," "The Patient"

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