Lateralus
by Tool
  • Record Label: Volcano
  • Release Date: May 15, 2001
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 641 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 580 out of 641
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 641
  3. Negative: 58 out of 641

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Scraper
    Mar 4, 2015
    3
    I don't know why Tool is constantly breaking up their rhythms, in songs and along the album. As soon as something gets going it has to stop on a dime for a lonely note progression. The album is busted into pieces by tracks used entirely for noises and moans/wails. It's a trick played on the listener to not get too comfortable. It makes the diehard fanbase feel smart because they canI don't know why Tool is constantly breaking up their rhythms, in songs and along the album. As soon as something gets going it has to stop on a dime for a lonely note progression. The album is busted into pieces by tracks used entirely for noises and moans/wails. It's a trick played on the listener to not get too comfortable. It makes the diehard fanbase feel smart because they can stomach it. This band has the ability to outspeak the social conventions it's railing against which is what I'm hungry for, but Lateralus feels like a hideaway. Too sullen and unlistenable in spots to keep people from enjoying it too much.… Expand
  2. C.NileD.
    Oct 6, 2007
    0
    Good, now that I have your attention... This album is most definitely not a zero when it comes to scoring, but I cannot see this album being a perfect 10 on this scale. It is a decent album and I love the music, but it is not enough to be perfect.
  3. pablo4
    Oct 25, 2015
    3
    Generally a very repetitive and boring album. All songs sound similar. And there are way too much pointless intermissions between the songs trying to be dark and deep while actually achieving to be psuedo-spiritually annoying.
  4. John
    Nov 2, 2004
    1
    So, perhaps I have just never been "stoned out of my gourd" enough to appreciate this, but as it is, it feels extremely distanced, entirely unwelcoming. It's also the most atrociously overproduced, pretentious album in a long, long while. Tool hasn't released a decent album since Undertow.
  5. insanedrum
    Oct 7, 2004
    0
    Boring, slow, tuneless, unremarkable, lame, pretentious, behind the times, completely categorical. Tool proves that a lot of people have no idea what makes a good, creative, palatable band. As for them being metal, Hall and Oates are more metal than they are. That whiny lead singer can't get enough of himself and obviously has a messiah complex. They know they've got control of Boring, slow, tuneless, unremarkable, lame, pretentious, behind the times, completely categorical. Tool proves that a lot of people have no idea what makes a good, creative, palatable band. As for them being metal, Hall and Oates are more metal than they are. That whiny lead singer can't get enough of himself and obviously has a messiah complex. They know they've got control of Tool freaks' minds so they can make any lame nonsensical noises or lyrics and have them be revered to a quasi-religious degree. This shows the condition this country is in. It feels good to blend in with the congregation of Tool worshippers , doesn't it? Like religion, Tool's greatness is not to be questioned according to some posts. Like the TV preachers, Tool loves your money and is building up its own church. Don't be fooled by the anti-Christian stance, they have got their own religion with their own religious nuts who have been posting all over the internet. The music is bland and muddy, the drums uninteresting and plodding, the singer whining and self-righteous, the one-idea songs are moronic, and they are all lazy posers who have never learned to correctly play their instruments. It is a slap in the face that people will idolize Tool as the greatest band ever when there are thousands of better bands that deserve our attention and money. People are too lazy to find their own favorite group and do not like to search for interesting music. Better to fit in with all your Tool loving friends. For a real taste of metal, try Megadeth's new album. Forget Tool, they suck.… Expand
  6. SeamusS
    Oct 2, 2006
    3
    I can't comprehend how anyone can love this music.
  7. MarshallB.
    Jul 7, 2008
    1
    Painfully boring, meandering garbage.
  8. MichaelE.
    Aug 27, 2002
    2
    Almost as bad as their other albums, but not quite. Nice cover graphics.
  9. flea
    Sep 21, 2004
    1
    Well, there is much to be said about Tool. Many people think they are satanic worshipers, but that is false. Tool may be wierd but they are not satanists, the singer has faith in God, isn't that as far from satanism as it gets? Any ways now that that's cleared, I may defend them from outrageous accusations, but they are really overrated and not even really a good band. People Well, there is much to be said about Tool. Many people think they are satanic worshipers, but that is false. Tool may be wierd but they are not satanists, the singer has faith in God, isn't that as far from satanism as it gets? Any ways now that that's cleared, I may defend them from outrageous accusations, but they are really overrated and not even really a good band. People say the bassist is great when he uses a pick?! Come on, the real good bassists are Flea and, well I won't get into that. The giutarist is mediocre, the drummer is mediocre and the bassist completely sucks, making them a status of a below average band. People overpraise them when they really are not even very good mucisians. Good music comes from passion and actually knowing about your instrument. Not drummers that hit everything and bassists that use picks. Overall I hate Tool, and this album is just an example of how much they suck eggs.… Expand
  10. JoshuaT
    Sep 17, 2006
    0
    I'd have to agree with Miles as people see this more as art than music. Cause it's definetely not music. I don't know what it scores as art however since I'm rating it purely based as music.
  11. MilesH
    Sep 7, 2006
    0
    This bad proves people can like anything.
  12. JohnM.
    Nov 29, 2001
    3
    Tool has been getting consistently worse. Not since Undertow have they made a generally good album and since then, their albums have been plagued with such an uneven sound that now, with Lateralus, it is nearly impossible to listen to the album the whole way through - especially when you could care less about what the rest of the album sounds like. Patience and tolerance are key here, and Tool has been getting consistently worse. Not since Undertow have they made a generally good album and since then, their albums have been plagued with such an uneven sound that now, with Lateralus, it is nearly impossible to listen to the album the whole way through - especially when you could care less about what the rest of the album sounds like. Patience and tolerance are key here, and even that can't save you from the filler here. Plus, the majority of the songs from Lateralus sound like re-hashes of past Tool songs, with very few serving to inspire the listener to repeat the track. Also, like the Pitchfork review states, Tool opuses are not really opuses at all, but rather proof that Tool cares more for filling up a CD to its maximum than putting out listenable music. Should have been a five-song EP. Rating: 3/10… Expand
  13. [Anonymous]
    Nov 6, 2001
    0
    THIS BAND SUX! IT'S SATANIC!
  14. JossS.
    Dec 25, 2001
    3
    umm...tool isn't doin anything new here. listenable for maybe ten minutes or so. go listen to some post-rock if you want something similar but quality
  15. MarkZuckerberg
    Jul 6, 2023
    0
    Tool is the worst band since The Beatles. I hate Maynard and his weirdness. This album has the song Schism which has the worst music video ever! The video has Aliens having weird alien sex with eachother and is not for children. I love more mature songs like Nine Inch Nails Closer, I freaking love Trent Reznor I mean he did the soundtrack for the social network a film about me. But becauseTool is the worst band since The Beatles. I hate Maynard and his weirdness. This album has the song Schism which has the worst music video ever! The video has Aliens having weird alien sex with eachother and is not for children. I love more mature songs like Nine Inch Nails Closer, I freaking love Trent Reznor I mean he did the soundtrack for the social network a film about me. But because of Maynards Laziness and all the songs on this album sound the same Tool gets a 0/10 sorry Tool should’ve made songs that sound different… Expand

Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Best Album of 2001
1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2001
6
#6 Most Shared Album of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. Wall of Sound
    83
    A 79-minute sonic sojourn of hard rock delivered with an arty, fusion-conscious sensibility rooted most obviously from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Jane's Addiction.
    Read full review
  2. Q Magazine
    80
    Ultimately, it's Tool's experimental, borderline progressive, edge that proves most rewarding. [Aug 2001, p.141]
  3. Dot Music
    90
    It is dense, it is long, it is complicated. It is also a magnificent triumph of artistry over blind anger.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »