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Tool - Opiate Audio CD

A fair review of the Tool "Opiate" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Tool reviews here, or go back to the Tool tabs.

Tool Band: Tool
Title: Opiate
Rating:
Release Date: 2006-05-10
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Sweat 2: Hush 3: Part of Me 4: Cold and Ugly [Live] 5: Jerk-Off [Live] 6: Opiate

Opiate (Japanese import)
However, the back artwork on the inside, includes some images off the salival artwork with 2 hands, and the back lists the tracks of disc, opiate (just like ths US version, it leaves off the hidden track,Gaping Lotus Experience) and the salival tracks; Third Eye (Live), You Lied (Live), Merkaba (Live), No Quarter, Lamc, and Last but not least Maynard's D**K. I'm only posting here to clarify what songs are actually on this import, The disc artwork and cd booklet artwork are exactly like the US released version.
The only discrepency i have been able to find is the disc is stated to be a Japansese import yet it is clearly stated on the disc to be "made in Germany".


Driven First CD - Hints of Progressive Beneath the Chrome
Regardless of what they did later, "Opiate" is a crunchy hard rocker. "Opiate" was Tool's first release, and immediately pegged the band as metal, though they have attempted to defy that classification by releasing albums that are more progressive metal and perhaps alternative metal or even alternative progressive.
"Sweat" kicks off with short line lyrics and heavy guitars that are a hallmark of the Black Sabbath school of hard rock. The riffs occasionally recall Led Zeppelin, and the topic of "Sweat" may also recall drug music of the 70s. In its own way retro, this song may be less than what you could make of it; it may just be a hard rock dream.

The next song, "Hush", is the perennial rebellion song. The message is short and to the point. You keep telling me what I can't say, so I tell you to go do physically impossible things to yourself. The music is edgy, and the Led Zeppelin influence is clearly felt, though with an even harder edge.

"Part of Me" is a song with personality, a song about a part of males that controls us, and yet we do not want that control sometimes. It's amazing how a piece of you can be so much in control when it does only a couple of things. The drums lead this piece, but the guitar crunches are more Black Sabbath than Led Zeppelin. Solid metal.

"Cold and Ugly" is another lyrically simple song, performed live, that starts out like thrash rock. The guitars crunch and wail, but the lyrics become quiet, drifting back to a grunge sound. Between the wails this song is about relationships and people, and how they are beneath the exterior they show the world.

The next song expresses how many of us feel about certain people in the world. "Jerk-Off" makes no apologies for calling them like they see them. The rock is driving and driven, and fully emphasizes the point. A great song to relieve your stresses to.

The last song, "Opiate", is perhaps the most different of the group. This song feels like grunge, or at least blues-influence rock, and is calmer than the other songs on the CD. This song is also the longest song on the CD, and feels like progressive with occasional alternative influences in addition to metal. There are occasional flashes of thrash metal on this song, but it remains a harbinger of Tool's later CDs where the progressive became more predominant. This song does have a somewhat acid-rock ending, which is fitting since Tool's music often seems to have a strong retro influence.

This short debut CD showed the promise of Tool, and the direction Tool would eventually head, though you had to find it amongst a variety of styles. This CD may be mild for those who prefer groups like Hatebreed, but for those who like their rock edgy and hard with a variety of styles and a clear musical artistry, this CD and Tool should be on their must-have list.

Note that there are several versions of this CD available at various prices and quality. This particular version is an import. Be sure you determine which version meets your needs before you buy.

This review is based on a review copy of the CD.
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You can see a complete list of all Tool discography, or go back to the Tool tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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