Review Summary: A great EP worth alot of great listens. Not one bad track, a much heavier different side of Tool, and many other positives. Has some flaws, but nothing too major. Tool fans don't be expecting another Lateralus or Aenima
Opiate is what you would call an oddball Tool release. It has heavier everything from vocals, to riffs, to even lyrics. What Tool is known for is dark, long, strange, somewhat hard rock songs that round out at about 5-8 minutes. These things are what Tool does best, and show up time and time again in albums of Tool’s best work. Keeping those things in mind you begin to listen to Opiate. Right from the start this is different; you hear a much heavier Tool, a less dark version, and an even more rebellious Tool lyrically. Just take any track on the EP Opiate and compare it to Tool’s other work and the differences are apparent. What is so good about Opiate is it shows you some of Tool live, which is a great thing to hear. With entrances like “Throw that Bob Marley mother f**ker out of here!” and talking about disposing of jack***es like pests portrays the live feeling of Tool.
Not only does the rest of the band play differently, Maynard has a different attitude and style on Opiate. Keep in mind the time when Opiate was released it was 1992, Maynard and the rest of Tool had a long road ahead to get where they were when they released their greats. Maynard’s lyrics on Opiate have meaning, but relaying it as well as he usually does can’t happen when Tool is just starting out. What you’re used to from Maynard is the low, soft, dark voice of his that blends so well with Tool’s overall dark mystique. What you hear on Opiate it’s different; you hear loud constant yelling, and very angry vocals. Maynard does show signs of this in other albums, but only at apexes of songs, and not very much in general. Another difference is what Tool plays, and how they play it. Right off the start of a song you are thrown into the heavy riffs, vocals, and everything else. From Tool you usually get a long, slow opening, and then it slowly expands into a back and forth heavy to soft song that continues for at least five minutes. There’s only one track really relays the usual Tool and that’s the title of the EP, Opiate. Lyrics and vocals are another difference, like I said before Maynard goes into a rant of yelling throughout, but what he yells is even more peculiar. In most of the songs there is an angrier version of Maynard, for example one song that would do is “Hush”. In most of the song Maynard repeatedly yells “GO F**KING KILL YOURSELF!” It’s not like Tool is a soft warm and fuzzy band before you hear Opiate, they have many songs that relay an image of hate towards people, and showed it with finesse, but not in the fashion they do in Opiate. Blaring guitar riffs, relentless pounding of double bass drums, and screaming vocals show these violent moods in Opiate.
Instrumentally this album is quite different, as I said before Opiate could be considered a metal album. Danny Carey’s play is much different in Opiate, his almost mechanical, precise, skilled drumming that appears in many of Tool’s successes is all but lost in Opiate. Because of the heaviness of Opiate Carey’s style of play changes drastically, he slams aggressively on his double bass drum set with authority. Instead of his drumming creating a mood, and a background to most Tool songs, his drumming clearly stands out and provides more than a backbone for Tool’s aggressive up beat constant play throughout this EP.
Adams Jones’ instrumental focus is changed as well. He obviously throws down some heavy riffs, but he also makes catchier riffs. The guitar intro to “Jerk-Off” is one of my favorites by Tool. Jones’ play is also more aggressive, similar to most of Tool’s sound from Opiate. His intros aren’t soft, and passive as they are most of Tool’s other releases, they begin immediately exploding without warning and go well with Justin Chancellor’s play. Along with everyone else Chancellor’s instrumental style isn’t tweaked that much. A great complex, bass line is Chancellor’s specialty. His play is a huge part of Tool’s sound, and often times are heard over the guitar, that is one thing that doesn’t change in Opiate.
Since Opiate is one of Tool’s earlier releases it’s not fair to compare it to albums like “Lateralus” and “Aenima”. It’s a great EP, and even better considering the fact Tool was just starting off. Every track is a delight to listen to, just different from what Tool fans are used to. Instant satisfaction is granted, and granted with force as most tracks explode immediately. This style of play from Tool is not a bad thing either; it can be a breath of fresh air for some who don’t enjoy lengthy songs. Each track besides Opiate is under 6 minutes which is a rarity for a Tool release. If there is any standout tracks out of the six they would probably consist of “Cold and Ugly”, “Jerk-Off”, “Part of Me”, and “Opiate”. But the other two tracks “Sweat” and “Hush” are very good as well. There aren’t many negatives to Opiate either. Opiate does not consist of one track I don’t like, which makes it very enjoyable to listen to. One thing that is a negative is the same exact sound consists on most of the songs. Each one is loud, fast, and heavy, which is good, but can get repetitive. Also the EP is almost nothing like the Tool most are used to, so the change could be too much for some listeners. One last negative is crude recording quality, the tracks sound edgy enough with some live performances, and loud, rough vocals. Other than those few things, Opiate is a great listen, and something different for Tool fans.
Positives
-A different sound from Tool
-Less amount of length for each song
-Tool’s heaviest album/EP
-Live performances show you the live side of Tool
-Catchy and heavy guitar riffs
-Not one bad song
Negatives
-The band is less talented than what most are used to
-Recording quality makes tracks sound rough and choppy
-The difference of style could be too much of a change for some listeners
-Can sound repetitive
Recommended tracks:
-Part of Me
-Cold and Ugly (Live)
-Jerk-Off (Live)
-Opiate
