The "good" Tool clones
Posted: Wed September 27, 2023 12:59 pm
It's undebatable at this point that the band Tool has left a huge footprint on the musical landscape of the world. Their influences go far and wide and yet because of a very unique approach to composing music and unmatched performance skills from each member of the band, it is extremely difficult to mimic or emulate their style and sound. Many have tried and failed miserably, evoking nothing but cringe in terms of response from the audiences.
However I came across a few bands that in my opinion are worthy of checking out and have made me want to follow them further and expect good things from them in the future. This collection of bands shares one common characteristic of being the "good Tool impersonators" while retaining their own selves and identity, at least in my eyes.
1.
Band name: Kolm
Album: Umbra (2018)
Despite a quite poor production quality of their debut (and the only album to date as far as I know), I would place them at the top of the list of the best "good" Tool clones. Give them a listen. To say that I was surprised would to be put it very mildly. The quality of songwriting, the boldness of musical decisions, the bravery of sudden turns and plot twists midsong - it's the exact kind of audial spanking that I love me so, so much. In short I would describe Umbra as "very mature music making" which is a total shock considering it's their virgin work. I wonder why there isn't anything new out by them. Or maybe there is, only I don't know about it.
2.
Band name: Atonian
EP: Ravenous (2022)
It's a one-man band (from what I understood) run by someone called Cameron Winters whose earlier songs were just him fooling around re-making old Tool songs into something they weren't before. Ravenous is his first 'independent' single and it is a GOOD fucking song. Number two in my list of the good Tool clones.
3.
Band name: Wheel
Album: Resident Human (2022)
This is their 2nd album and their first attempt at writing good music (instead of whatever passed for music in their debut album which is complete garbage), and a successful attempt at that. There are a couple of throw away tracks but the rest is quite strong, enjoyable material that I come back to pretty often. My number 3 spot among the good Tool clones.
4.
Band name: Lucid Planet
Albums: Lucid Planet (2015) and II (2020)
Very solid overall, but they are at the bottom of my list because of too much fluff interspersed among solid quality material. It's just unforgivable to write a song that would (arguably) give 10 000 Days a run for its money and then have it followed by a piece of utter crap that makes you want to delete the whole thing from your library. But there are true gems and rhinestones in this steaming pile of cow dung that make it worth keeping them and keeping and eye out for the new stuff they might put out there.
That is all. Just thought I'd share.
However I came across a few bands that in my opinion are worthy of checking out and have made me want to follow them further and expect good things from them in the future. This collection of bands shares one common characteristic of being the "good Tool impersonators" while retaining their own selves and identity, at least in my eyes.
1.
Band name: Kolm
Album: Umbra (2018)
Despite a quite poor production quality of their debut (and the only album to date as far as I know), I would place them at the top of the list of the best "good" Tool clones. Give them a listen. To say that I was surprised would to be put it very mildly. The quality of songwriting, the boldness of musical decisions, the bravery of sudden turns and plot twists midsong - it's the exact kind of audial spanking that I love me so, so much. In short I would describe Umbra as "very mature music making" which is a total shock considering it's their virgin work. I wonder why there isn't anything new out by them. Or maybe there is, only I don't know about it.
2.
Band name: Atonian
EP: Ravenous (2022)
It's a one-man band (from what I understood) run by someone called Cameron Winters whose earlier songs were just him fooling around re-making old Tool songs into something they weren't before. Ravenous is his first 'independent' single and it is a GOOD fucking song. Number two in my list of the good Tool clones.
3.
Band name: Wheel
Album: Resident Human (2022)
This is their 2nd album and their first attempt at writing good music (instead of whatever passed for music in their debut album which is complete garbage), and a successful attempt at that. There are a couple of throw away tracks but the rest is quite strong, enjoyable material that I come back to pretty often. My number 3 spot among the good Tool clones.
4.
Band name: Lucid Planet
Albums: Lucid Planet (2015) and II (2020)
Very solid overall, but they are at the bottom of my list because of too much fluff interspersed among solid quality material. It's just unforgivable to write a song that would (arguably) give 10 000 Days a run for its money and then have it followed by a piece of utter crap that makes you want to delete the whole thing from your library. But there are true gems and rhinestones in this steaming pile of cow dung that make it worth keeping them and keeping and eye out for the new stuff they might put out there.
That is all. Just thought I'd share.