Undertow

by Tool

Overview

Just as grunge was reaching its boiling point and radio-friendly punk-pop loomed on the horizon, Tool released Undertow, which firmly reinforced metal's prominence as a musical style -- but, for once, it had something worthwhile to say. At the forefront of Tool's commercial explosion were striking, haunting visuals that complemented the album's nihilistic yet wistful mood. Drawing equal inspiration from Black Sabbath, alternative theories of science, and Eastern religions, Tool's abrasive sonic assault begins from the opening notes and continues through the final moments of the last composition, an open mockery of organized religion and its incapacity for original thought. With its technical brilliance, musical complexities, and aggressive overtones, Undertow not only paved the way for several bands to break through to the mainstream adolescent mall-rage demographic, it also proved that metal could be simultaneously intelligent, emotional, and brutal.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/17/1996
Label:	Volcano
UPC:	0614223105215
catalogNumber:	31052
Rank:	377

Tracks

1. Intolerance
2. Prison Sex
3. Sober
4. Bottom
5. Crawl Away
6. Swamp Song
7. Undertow
8. 4°
9. Flood
10. Disgustipated

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tool   Primary Artist
Henry Rollins   Vocals,Background Vocals,Track Performer
Airiq Anest   Machines
Danny Carey   Cymbals,Drums
Chris Haskett   Sledgehammer
Maynard James Keenan   Vocals

Technical Credits

Tool   Producer,Art Direction
Paul d'Amour   Artwork
Adam Jones   Artwork,Art Direction
Sylvia Massy   Producer,Engineer
Andy Schoneberg   Contributor
Dave Stern   Contributor
Richard Hawkins   Drum Technician
Scott Goldstein   Drum Technician
Greg Dean   Engineer,Live Sound