Tool, ‘lateralus’

After an exhaustive five-year litigation battle between the band and their label management, Tool offer up the latest chapter in their musical self-discovery in Lateralus. Make no mistake, this is a prog rock record, reminiscent of King Crimson and Meddle-era Pink Floyd, with a hint of Rush mutated with Tool's signature sonic assault on the ears. Lateralus demands close listening from the first piece onward, as it becomes quickly apparent that this is not going to be an album one can listen to and accept at face value. Complex rhythm changes, haunting vocals, and an onslaught of changes in dynamics make this an album other so-called metal groups could learn from. While some compositions seem out of place, others fit together seamlessly, such as the 23-minute song cycle serving as the climax and resolution of the album…

With almost 13 years and four months between releases – an interminable wait for their devoted legion of fans – enigmatic alt-metal band Tool finally returned at the end of summer 2019 with their long-awaited fifth album, Fear Inoculum. Clocking in at 80 minutes with just seven official tracks, this is less a straightforward rock record and more a mind-bending journey, borrowing a classical approach that trades traditional constructs heard on early radio staples like "Stinkfist" and "Sober" for something akin to movements within a symphony…

Rock Echoes introduces a collection of rock songs through the decades, performed and arranged by virtuoso Canadian harpist Kristan Toczko. Known as one of the most followed harpists globally, Toczko gained widespread acclaim through her performances on social media, amassing hundreds of millions of viewers. From the classic riffs of Guns N’ Roses to the intricate rhythms of Tool, each track on this album displays a vast range of rock music styles that translate seamlessly to harp. Carefully selected based on fan favourites as well as a few of her own beloved songs, each song has been infused with a classical flair. From emotive arpeggios to powerful riffs, Rock Echoes invites listeners to hear rock music as never before.

After 14 years of silence, alt-metal supergroup A Perfect Circle returned with Eat the Elephant. Previously active on 2004's antiwar eMOTIVe – when the U.S. was embroiled in a different state of social upheaval – they re-emerged in 2018 at another pivotal time with just as much to say. While much transpired in their absence, A Perfect Circle evolved, addressing government shifts, technological advances, and social deterioration in a manner befitting of frontman Maynard James Keenan, who delivers some of the most wickedly barbed lyrics of his career. Here, Keenan and co-founder Billy Howerdel are joined by a revamped lineup that includes James Iha, Matt McJunkins, and Jeff Friedl, as well as producer Dave Sardy (Oasis, LCD Soundsystem).

Breaking Orbit's debut album "The Time Traveller" is a captivating mix of eclectic soundscapes, driving polyrhythms, euphoric vocal melodies, tribal drum breakdowns and heavy grooves - taking the listener on an epic 60-minute journey. The band’s overall sound is heavy and chunky with the bass sitting unusually high in the mix, comparable somewhat to Tool’s Aenima and Lateralus. This foundation is complemented by the sort of lilting cleans and leads that Dead Letter Circus love to employ and held together with a strong focus on ambitious experimentation that fans of Karnivool’s Sound Awake will love. Capped off with a stunningly powerful vocal performance, the album boldly establishes a unique character built on intense feeling and a clarity of vision.

S.U.S.A.R is Polish band Indukti's debut album. Most of the compositions here are instrumentals in the six- to seven-minute range that build tension through repetition of increasingly loud and aggressive melodic themes. Mariusz Duda, vocalist of Riverside, guests on two tracks. Dark, moody, S.U.S.A.R. has a rich, full sound that contrasts heavy, almost metallish riffing against slowly-building spacy sections. Tool circa Lateralus is indeed a good comparison in this manner, but Indukti's sound is a bit warmer - always intense, but more mysterious than it is menacing.

After 14 years of silence, alt-metal supergroup A Perfect Circle returned with Eat the Elephant. Previously active on 2004's antiwar eMOTIVe – when the U.S. was embroiled in a different state of social upheaval – they re-emerged in 2018 at another pivotal time with just as much to say. While much transpired in their absence, A Perfect Circle evolved, addressing government shifts, technological advances, and social deterioration in a manner befitting of frontman Maynard James Keenan, who delivers some of the most wickedly barbed lyrics of his career. Here, Keenan and co-founder Billy Howerdel are joined by a revamped lineup that includes James Iha, Matt McJunkins, and Jeff Friedl, as well as producer Dave Sardy (Oasis, LCD Soundsystem).

After 14 years of silence, alt-metal supergroup A Perfect Circle returned with Eat the Elephant. Previously active on 2004's antiwar eMOTIVe – when the U.S. was embroiled in a different state of social upheaval – they re-emerged in 2018 at another pivotal time with just as much to say. While much transpired in their absence, A Perfect Circle evolved, addressing government shifts, technological advances, and social deterioration in a manner befitting of frontman Maynard James Keenan, who delivers some of the most wickedly barbed lyrics of his career. Here, Keenan and co-founder Billy Howerdel are joined by a revamped lineup that includes James Iha, Matt McJunkins, and Jeff Friedl, as well as producer Dave Sardy (Oasis, LCD Soundsystem).