They sound like they weren't influenced by anything in 13 years or even tried to push the boundaries. It's just Tool sounding like Tool, except Maynard sounds much weaker on this than any other album. They're like a jet running on the same fuel...for 13 years. Lots of recycled stuff in here. Danny Carey is the best drummer in the world. And fuck Maynard and this band anyways
It's fine if you're not into the record, but the production is fantastic (pretty much a unanimous opinion elsewhere) and they at least tried some new stuff on Culling Voices. Also, the comment on the last page about Maynard not being very good as a vocalist is patently absurd, external considerations aside. I usually don't like Barresi-produced music, either, but this is a stunning exception to his generally muddy catalog. Also, Invincible is IMO a perfect culmination of the (admittedly narrow) territory they've been exploring since Lateralus. It brings in a grooviness and melodic quality that makes stuff like the Lateralus title track or The Patient seem sterile by comparison.
Does it sound like literally everything else they ever did that wasn’t that great when I was 14 in high school and wondering why my friends were obsessed with Schism?
There were a couple of parts I liked on “Invincible” and “7empest.” But for the most part, it comes off as one of those “Wierd Al” parodies where its more of a cover of a band’s style than a particular song. I feel like besides the interludes, it’s the same stuff they’ve been doing since the ‘90s, just more drawn out and I’m just kind over that at this point.
I have zero interest in even attempting to give this a listen. There's so much other great new music out there that why would I even want to devot an hour to a rapist. I don't mean that to shame people that want to listen to it, I just, idk.
I mean, I’ll listen to it since that band had an impact on me growing up and the last time they put out an album, I was 18 and now I’m 31. I’m curious, I want to hear this thing that took 13 years to put out. If that makes me a horrible person, oh well, guess I’m not infallible. Oh damn
You're not a horrible person. I go through so many similar feelings with Kanye, pinegrove, brand new, etc etc etc. I was at my cousin's wedding tonight and I'm super drunk and emotional. This sort of thing is tough for us all to reconcile with, I totally get it.
I really like the album to be honest. "Pneuma", "Invincible", "Chocolate Chip Trip", and "7empest" are the highlights. I don't think any less of any of you who don't want to listen to this because of Maynard. That is a very fair stance considering his actions.
Well now I feel bad myself, I got crazy defensive there and I’m sorry. This shit is hard for me, I grew up listening to the local modern rock radio and Tool got played a lot on it. Schism, and Justin too to be honest, was a big reason I picked up playing bass. That band was a part of my life and it is hard to accept that in a way. I had no idea about the allegations until right around when their music got steaming and it left me pretty upset, I’m still upset about it honestly.
It’s a mediocre, chill album. Definitely not what I would have expected after a decade plus from these musicians. It honestly sounds like one long song with a couple interludes breaking it up. I’m not a musician but to me it sounds like the same guitar and bass tones (I think I’m using the right terminology?) in every song. Also, they fell in love with that tribal sounding drum.
I don’t like Tool. I usually make fun of the stereotypical tool fan. But this album has really, really surprised me. 7empest is a jam
I don’t see how anyone could say the production is bad. The guitar tones are outstanding. Adam and Danny are doing the best work of their career on here. I mean yeah it sounds like Tool, but that’s not a bad thing.
No no you’re good. I personally have no attachment to this band and have never listened to them outside of like Sober and Schism, but I completely understand why someone would want to check it out.
If the majority of the responses are just “it sounds like tool” then they could have easily released this in between the last 13 years when I didn’t know MJK was a rapist. Then I probably would’ve listened.
Gotta be honest, 7empest has let me down a bit after all the hype from reviews. It comes across like a calculated grand finale swan song for the band's career that tries to do too much and doesn't flow very well. Maybe I'm close-minded, but Adam soloing for four minutes straight in the vein of a traditional metal act just isn't what this band is or should be about. I have the same complaint about the end of Descending, which really needed Maynard to storm back in to wrap it up.
I made it about halfway through and was too bored to finish. Granted I’ve never been a major fan, but to me every song sounded like every other song, which all sounded like every other Tool song I’ve ever heard. It’s just not for me. I will echo the comments about the drummer though. Goddamn.