Tool
Lateralus

The fourth album of the American band, after an EP called Opiate, Undertow, and Ænima, comes out about 5 years after Ænima, indeed, it took a while, but time was well spent.
Once you get out of the store (yes, I actually bought this one... I'm happy to give my money to some), you start opening the booklet and realize that alone it’s worth at least half the price. Exciting.
Then you get home and need to have some time to dedicate to this album. Listening to it in parts or on random doesn't convey the idea, not at all.

The album opens with The Grudge, a long, dark, percussive track, reminding those who might have forgotten that great songs can be written outside of 4/4. The voice is filtered to then become more natural. In my opinion, it's a pinnacle for Maynard James Keenan (the singer, who is also part of A Perfect Circle), who uses his voice sometimes sweetly, sometimes ill, sometimes meanly, but always effectively. As I said, the track is a continuous change of dynamics and immediately grabs you. Following is Eon Blue Apocalypse, an intro to the third track: The Patient. It opens slowly, quietly to then explode into a reflective but extremely powerful chorus. One never speaks of "chorus" in the classical sense because in fact, Tool doesn't follow a precise pattern in the composition of their songs.
Mantra is another of the "noisy" tracks on the album leading to the album's "single" called Schism, a truly strange song with a short and repeated text (as is the main theme) where the drum work impresses, concluding with a worldwide drum roll!
Coming next is the pair Parabol-Parabola, where one song naturally continues the other. The incredible thing is that here often the time is even. There's also a video of this song online that should definitely be downloaded.
Ticks & Leeches is the eighth track, a nervous, fast, angry song that I personally never loved too much, probably because I haven't listened to it properly.
The ninth song is titled Lateralis and is one of the most complex things I've ever heard. It's somewhat tribal and tremendously calm, terrifying. Especially for a drummer who would want to attempt to play it, as halfway through there are polyrhythmic passages where the drummer plays a time on the hi-hat, bass drum, and snare misaligned with the guitar and voice, and in each turn, shifts the emphasis to a different point. Wow.
Disposition is an incredibly sweet and cathartic song, with a whispered voice and slow riffs where it's the sound that takes over. The text obsessively repeats "Watch the weather change". It ends with a stick bouncing on a timpani, which is used as an intro for the next piece: Reflection. A distant song that seems to come from vast distances and practices worthy of the Cthulhu cult. At a certain point, Keenan's desperate voice repeats in a compulsive delirium "they're calling me...". One of the best of the album.
Triad is a mixed ride of distortions and powerful sounds that leaves little breath for the listener.
The last track Faaip de Oiad is a mix of rolling drums and an English conversation of a guy whom I was told is the recording of a pilot during a sighting. I don’t understand the words, but anyone who hears this person's voice can't remain indifferent.

In conclusion, a real concept album, relatively quieter than previous ones but daunting, sweet, and terrible. What is surprising is the quality of the sounds, even those of dubious origin.
One of the best records I have ever heard from one of my favorite bands. I wouldn't even know what genre to classify them in because they are so peculiar that they almost make a genre of their own.