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
Rank:	887

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   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Airiq Anest   Machines
Maynard James Keenan   Vocals
Danny Carey   Cymbals,Drums
Chris Haskett   Sledgehammer

Technical Credits

Henry Rollins   Guest Artist,Composer,Performer
Adam Jones   Artwork,Composer,Art Direction
Dean Karr   Photography
Richard Hawkins   Technician,Drum Technician
Scott Goldstein   Drum Technician
K. Lee Hammond   Creative Director
Maynard James Keenan   Composer
Matt Marshall   A&R
Bradley Cook   Assistant Engineer
Danny Carey   Composer
Ron Saint Germain   Mixing
Tool   Art Direction,Producer,Composer
Sylvia Massy   Engineer,Producer,Mixing
Chris Olivas   Assistant Engineer
Greg Dean   Engineer,Live Sound
Robert Fayer   Assistant Engineer
Paul d'Amour   Composer,Artwork