Tool
USA, 1990–now
Los Angeles band formed in 1990 (Maynard James Keenan, Adam Jones, Danny Carey, later Justin Chancellor). Fusing heavy riffing with odd meters, long-form structure and visual art, Ænima and Lateralus made them a cerebral, hugely influential force in progressive alt-metal.
MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Tool and 4 artists Tool influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Tool?
- Rush — Rush's virtuosic, long-form progressive rock is a foundational model for Tool's odd meters and epic structures.
- King Crimson — One of the prog forebears behind Tool's technically complex approach, with Rush.
Which artists did Tool influence?
- Breaking Benjamin — Tool's heavy, atmospheric alt-metal shapes Breaking Benjamin's darker, dynamic textures.
- Chevelle — Chevelle's brooding, dynamic alt-metal is repeatedly likened to Tool — Pete Loeffler's vocal phrasing and the band's heavy, spacious build-ups owe much to them.
- Seether — Tool's heavy, dynamic alt-metal is part of Seether's harder-edged palette.
- Meshuggah — Tool's heavy, odd-metered art-metal is a stated influence on Meshuggah's polymetric complexity.