Review Summary: Tool's debut EP has some ups and downs, but is a great EP nonetheless.
Tool formed in 1990 in L.A., and after two years of being together they recorded this EP. Every album they have released has a very different feel to it. Opiate is their least progressive release and most heavy.
The EP starts with the interesting
Sweat which is arguably the heaviest song on this EP. Maynard seems pretty angry about something here, but I really don't know what. The lyrics are very metaphorical, your average Tool lyrics. This song is definitely a good one, but there is really nothing special about it.
Next up is one of my favorites
Hush, a song about censorship. This song is definitely getting the point across, Maynard just keeps dropping the F-bomb over and over. The drums really stand out here, as they are not very complex compared to Danny's later works, they really bring out the song to me. It's a really awesome track, but probably not too great to play around your parents.
Part Of Me is my least favorite song on this EP, because it's pretty repetitive and I think it just gets very boring fast. The bass work here is A+ though, as it really stands out and makes the song worthwhile. Maynard's voice always sounds better here than on the last two tracks, but the repetition and due to the fact that the drums just seem to follow the guitar work so closely, the song gets dry. Alright song.
Then comes
Cold And Ugly recorded live on December 31, 1991. Yet again here the drums create the awesome atmosphere here, and while you can tell that it is recorded live, is played flawlessly and perfectly. This song shows off the complexity and great musicianship is the band. This song leads right into
Jerk-off also recorded live on the same night. This song is about something we see a lot of these days, assholes. No, not in the literal sense of course, but it's about Maynard's frustration with some jerk and how he should just kill him. It's really nice song to listen to when you are pissed off.
The title track
Opiate is a song about god. It is on a topic that Tool really likes to come back to. Every instrument is good here but nothing really awesome to me. It's good but nothing really stands out to me. It's alright. The last song follows Opiate and is a hidden track called
The Gaping Lotus Experience which is my personal favorite song on the CD. The lyrics are absolutely hilarious and definitely worth memorizing. This song can actually makes me laugh out loud, but you have to hear it for yourself. Amazing.
Track by track
Sweat 3/5
Hush 4/5
Part of Me 2.5/5
Cold and Ugly 4/5
Jerk-Off 5/5
Opiate 3.5/5
The Gaping Lotus Experience 5/5
Pros
Great musicianship from all of the band.
Pretty nice length.
The Gaping Lotus Experience.
Cons
Some songs are kinda boring.
Guitar doesn't stand out as much as later releases.
Part of Me.
Overall
I think that this album is good for a fan of Tool, but not a good introduction into their music. Aenima would be the best for that in my opinion.
3.5/5
Thanks for reading.
