TOOL — Opiate (review)

TOOL — Opiate album cover EP · 1992 · Alternative Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
2/5 ·
AtomicCrimsonRush
A beginning for Tool?

"Opiate" is the first Tool release and is a fair EP that got them into the music scene where they would eventually make an indelible impact. This is not prog metal as they would become but still rocks hard, and features wonderful riffing from Adam Jones and Maynard Keenan's inimitable vocal style. The tracks are far shorter and concise than they would release on subsequent albums, and sound more like alternative nu- metal than the complex musicians they would develop into. The songs are exuberant and exciting showing a band in their development stage, that were aggressive, darkly innovative, and wanted to conquer.

They would have to wait till "Aenima" to make a significant impact but this EP is rather endearing. 'Hush' and 'Part of Me' are heavy and have the signature Tool sound. The live tracks are intriguing showing an early immature Tool, and have some amusing introductions especially on 'Jerk-Off', one of the better tracks.

The longest track is the 8:28 minute 'Opiate/ The Gaping Lotus Experience', that musically is excellent but I feel offended by the lyrical content, especially the ghost track. Overall an EP showcasing the beginning of Tool, who would develop into one of the most inspirational bands over the next 8 years.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

The Soma Collective Metalcore
GRAYWEATHER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Labyrinth Metalcore
SILVER FANG
Buy this album from MMA partners
Reimmerse Metalcore
UNTIL THE UNKNOWN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Maelstrom Metalcore
URAGH
Buy this album from MMA partners
Voice Of The Void Metalcore
GHOST COMPLEX
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Silver Fang - Labyrinth (Lyric Video)
SILVER FANG
Bosh66· 21 minutes ago
Silver Fang - Labyrinth (Visualiser)
SILVER FANG
Bosh66· 21 minutes ago
Silver Fang - Wish I Never (Visualiser)
SILVER FANG
Bosh66· 22 minutes ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us