The PotTool1rank/position

TOOL – The Pot (Audio)

A song about drug culture in America.

It carries a strong message against the hypocrisy of police and government officials.

It was released as a single in 2006 by the American rock band Tool, and the track was nominated for a Grammy in 2008.

AEnimaTool2rank/position

TOOL – Ænema (Official Video)

Tool’s masterpiece “Ænima.” The soundscape unfolds like wandering into a complex labyrinth: the vocals start restrained and gradually intensify, and as the song alternates between ferocity and calm, it keeps sinking deeper into an abyss.

Eerily repeating phrases, suddenly blooming beautiful melodies, hypnotic refrains, murmurs and shouts—the whole world is dark art and an intricate puzzle.

Listen to it several times and let yourself get trapped in its depths, unable to return.

SchismTool3rank/position

TOOL – Schism (Official Video)

Tool is a rare band that, in the early 1990s at the height of alternative rock and grunge, played a singular, unclassifiable brand of heavy rock and also achieved major commercial success.

They’re known for having a relatively small discography, and it’s still fresh in our minds that they released Fear Inoculum in 2019, their first new album in 13 years.

Among the members with distinctive and highly sophisticated musicianship, bassist Justin Chancellor—who joined as the second bassist in 1995—stands out for his melodious, effect-heavy lines that often step outside the traditional role of a rhythm instrument.

It’s said that Justin’s contributions to the band are immense, and nothing showcases his playing style better than Schism.

Hear the bass line leading the song from the intro, and your whole notion of what the bass can be might change.

LateralusTool4rank/position

TOOL – Lateralus (Audio)

Tool, the American band that won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.

Their album Lateralus remains a masterpiece, celebrated as a monumental work of progressive metal.

The title track in particular is a pure feat of intellect, applying the Fibonacci sequence to both rhythm and lyrics.

The way its intricate, enigmatic rhythms unfold in a spiral feels less like music and more like a grand mathematical puzzle.

Despite its complexity, its beauty captivates many listeners.

Here is a one-of-a-kind musical experience that lets you forget the everyday and lose yourself in a labyrinth of sound.

Why not savor this meticulously crafted sonic blueprint with a good pair of headphones?

The GrudgeTool5rank/position

TOOL – The Grudge (Audio)

When discussing the modern progressive rock scene, you simply cannot overlook the American progressive metal band Tool.

With chugging guitar riffs, drums in a distinct, percussion-forward style, a weightless, floating bass, and the vocals of charismatic frontman Maynard James Keenan, their singular sound makes odd time signatures feel effortless and almost unnoticeable—there’s nothing else quite like it.

This track opens their 2001 album Lateralus and is a song whose eight-plus minutes pass by without you even noticing.

SoberTool6rank/position

TOOL – Sober (Official Video)

It might take quite a bit of courage to introduce a TOOL song as beginner-friendly, but with this early-career classic, many people should be able to give it a shot.

Its hallmark is the repeatedly appearing, heavy, undulating guitar riff, and just playing this simple phrase lets you savor the essence of metal.

The song wrestles with the painful theme of breaking free from dependency, and if you pay attention to the dynamics between the quiet and intense sections as you play, the urgency of its worldview really comes through.

Released as a single from the album Undertow in May 1993, it features a striking video that even won a Billboard Music Video Award.

I think it’s a perfect track for practicing how to create a heavy groove with a simple riff!