Artist: TOOL
Album: LATERALUS (CD)

Release date: 2001
EAN/UPS: 828765364522
Media type: CD

In January 2001, Tool announced a new album, Systema Encephale, along with a 12-song tracklist containing titles such as "Riverchrist," "Numbereft," "Encephatalis," "Musick," and "Coeliacus". File-sharing networks such as Napster became flooded with bogus files bearing the titles' names. During that time, Tool members were outspokenly critical of file-sharing networks in general due to the negative impact on artists that are dependent on success in record sales to continue their career. Keenan had this to say during an interview with NY Rock in 2000:

"I think there are a lot of other industries out there that might deserve being destroyed. The ones who get hurt by MP3s are not so much companies or the business, but the artists, people who are trying to write songs."

Only one month later, the band revealed that the new album was actually titled Lateralus and that the name Systema Encephale and the tracklist had been a ruse. Lateralus took Tool a step further towards art-rock and progressive rock territory. Rolling Stone wrote in an attempt to summarize the album that "Drums, bass and guitars move in jarring cycles of hyperhowl and near-silent death march. … The prolonged running times of most of Lateralus' thirteen tracks are misleading; the entire album rolls and stomps with suitelike purpose." Joshua Klein of The A.V. Club in turn expressed his opinion that Lateralus, with its 79 minutes and relatively complex and long songs—topped by the ten-and-a-half minute music video for "Parabola"—posed a challenge to fans and music programming alike.

The album became a success the world over, reaching #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart in its debut week. Tool received their second Grammy Award for the best metal performance of 2001 for the song "Schism". During the band's acceptance speech, drummer Carey stated that he would like to thank his parents (for putting up with him) and Satan, and bassist Chancellor concluded: "I want to thank my dad for doing my mom."

TRACKLIST:

"The Grudge" – 8:36
"Eon Blue Apocalypse" – 1:04
"The Patient" – 7:13
"Mantra" – 1:12
"Schism" – 6:47
"Parabol" – 3:04
"Parabola" – 6:03
"Ticks & Leeches" – 8:10
"Lateralus" – 9:24
"Disposition" – 4:46
"Reflection" – 11:07
"Triad" – 8:47
"Faaip de Oiad" – 2:39

LINE-UP:

Maynard James Keenan - Vocals
Adam Jones - Guitar, art direction
Justin Chancellor - Bass
Danny Carey - Drums

David Bottrill - Producer, engineering, mixing
Vince De Franco - Neurocistance/ Engineer
Alex Grey - Illustrations
Statik (Collide) - Machines on "Triad"