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. ~ Rob Theakston

Product Details

Release Date:	09/17/1996
Label:	Zoo/Volcano Records / Bmg / Volcano Records / Zoo Entertainment
UPC:	0614223105215

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

Technical Credits

Paul d'Amour   Artwork,Composer
Sylvia Massy   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Chris Olivas   Assistant Engineer
Maynard James Keenan   Composer
Matt Marshall   A&R
Bradley Cook   Assistant Engineer
Greg Dean   Engineer,Live Sound
Robert Fayer   Assistant Engineer
Tool   Composer,Producer,Art Direction
Ron Saint Germain   Mixing
Danny Carey   Composer
Henry Rollins   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