Tool

Following in Keith Richards’ footsteps, the prog metal frontman vows he’ll play until he can’t anymore

Part of the Kinsey Sessions.

The Aftershock festival rumbled into Sacramento, California, again this year, with organizers having filled the 2026 instalment of the long-running music event with heavy-hitters from the worlds of rock, metal, hardcore, hip-hop, and more. Between October 1st-4th, more than 140 bands cranked things up at Discovery Park. From big time headliners like TOOL and Limp Bizkit, to rising tastemakers like ivri and Holywatr, they gave the crowds the goods in heavy fashion. Photographers Brian Anderson, Austin Cooper, Saylor Nedelman, Priscilla Rodriguez, Steve Thrasher, Dan Virchow were all there to capture some of the most memorable moments the Aftershock festival had to offer — check out a bunch of standout shots below. Limp Bizkit Steve Thrasher BABYMETAL Steve Thrasher Queens of the Stone Age Steve Thrasher Insane Clown Posse Austin Cooper Drain Steve Thrasher TOOL Steve Thrasher The Pretty Wild Priscilla Rodriguez Wage War Steve Thrasher Jutes Priscilla Rodriguez Cavalera Dan Virchow Slaughter to Prevail Austin Cooper Holywatr Brian Anderson Body Count Dan Virchow Down Saylor Nedelman Thursday Dan Virchow Corrosion of Conformity Priscilla Rodriguez Alexisonfire Priscilla Rodriguez Blue Medusa Dan Virchow Coal Chamber Jordan Pantoja From Ashes to New Dan Virchow Killswitch Engage Priscilla Rodriguez Sevendust Priscilla Rodriguez Starset Dan Virchow The Pretty Reckless Saylor Nedleman Black Label Society Dan Virchow

How one writer discovered that it's easy to casually nap through 110 decibels

1996’s Ænima blasted TOOL into the upper echelon of heavy music, and stands as one of the alt-metal icons’ greatest, and darkest, musical feats. True, the band’s mainstream breakthrough took place a few years earlier when they released Undertow, but the L.A. foursome were still finding their feet in front of larger audiences — they quite literally got moved from the side stage to the big stage mid-way through Lollapalooza 1993. By ’96, TOOL became arena headliners. Ænima mixed brooding metal riffage with psychedelic expulsions of sound, polyrhythmic complexity and the ethereally howled musings of Maynard James Keenan. While writing sessions began with founding bassist Paul D’Amour, by the time they hit the recording studio they had a new rhythmic wonder in the form of Justin Chancellor, cementing the band’s iconic lineup, which remains in place to the day. While it’s a classic, through and through — and brought the band their first Grammy win, for pseudo-title cut “Ænema” — which is Ænima’s greatest track? The one that raises the crowd’s stinkfists highest? We asked out readers this very question, and they ranked their picks accordingly. “Jimmy” “Jimmy” stands as one of the darkest journeys on Ænima, as it’s apparently a deeply personal song reflecting upon the aneurysm that paralyzed frontman Keenan’s mother when he was 11 years old (the “J” in Keenan’s name stands for “Jimmy”). The band lurch through a mesmerizingly sludge-shackled dirge as the singer enigmatically vibrates through thoughts of fear and hopelessness experienced beneath “a dead Ohio sky.” But Keenan also encourages the 11-year-old self to “hold your light,” to one day move past loaded memories in order to heal. Its message of facing adversity to find your way back “home” rings universal. “Forty Six & 2” When asked to contemplate which Ænima song they’ve been clinging to tightly since it first dropped in 1996, a good grip of you came out in support of “Forty Six & 2.” Indeed, it’s been with fans so long that it seems as if it’s impressed itself right into their DNA. Led by a sinewy, snakey bass line from Justin Chancellor, the song metamorphosizes through various polyrhythmic measures. Danny Carey puts on an absolute clinic behind the kit. “H.” Is it possible for TOOL fans to be too connected to “H.” Well, the votes came flooding in over the weekend for this heart-swelling early Ænima standout, and to tell you the truth, we don’t mind at all. It’s an emotionally complex alt-metal epic, one which finds Keenan hinting at past traumas, conflicted feelings, intergenerational connectivity and transcendent growth (“Looking to turn my piss to wine”). When asked about the inspiration behind this set of lyrics, TOOL’s frontman has pointed out that his son’s name is Devo H. Keenan. Adam Jones has a killer, near ambient wah-wah guitar solo that pops off hard. The final chorus — boosted by a brief but skull-pouding double-kick session from Carey — is huge. “Eulogy” Our readers had a lot to say about “Eulogy,” but it really boils down to this: Ænima’s second track rules. Another moody rumbler, Carey fills this one with a mighty set of hits whilst Keenan delivers said eulogy for someone that took a stand on everything with a voice “loud and strong.” There are allusions to biblical martyrs — fans have theorized it’s partly about comedian Bill Hicks, whose voice is sampled later on the album and to whom Ænima is dedicated. It’s not out of line to suggest it’s one of the record’s best tracks, but our readers rank another song just above “Eulogy.” “Pushit” Here’s some peace of mind for ardent “Pushit” fans: This one got pushed and shoved all the way to the top of the poll this week. It’s a memorably hypnotic Ænima outing. It tethers itself to Jones’ minimalist fuzz-blues pull-offs for a full four minutes before the group briefly rumble into overdrive, but they quickly move into a lean and atmospheric mid-section. Keenan is incredibly raw and vulnerable while intoning love, fear and unhealthy dynamics (“Remember I’ll always love you/As I claw your fucking throat away”). Among an album of classics, “Pushit” is the one our readers love the most.

Louder Than Life got incredibly loud indeed over the weekend, despite show organizers in Louisville, Kentucky, having to pause the four-day music fest at times due to the extreme weather. The real storms raged across the event’s seven stages, where nearly 200 bands rocked the Kentucky Exposition Center between September 17th-20th— from mainstage headliners like Iron Maiden, My Chemical Romance, Limp Bizkit and TOOL, to the rising crop of heavy acts that kicked things off on the smaller stages. Amps were cranked, the pyro was in full force, and memories were made for everyone in attendance. Photographers Lexie Alley, Austin Cooper, Steve Thrasher, Dan Virchow and Nathan Zucker were all there to capture some of the finest moments at this year’s Louder Than Life festival — check out an array of their standout shots below. TOOL Steve Thrasher Mastodon Nathan Zucker Black Veil Brides Lexie Alley Danny Elfman Steve Thrasher Killswitch Engage Lexie Alley The Pretty Wild Austin Cooper Tom Morello Steve Thrasher Bilmuri Steve Thrasher My Chemical Romance Steve Thrasher Halestorm Lexie Alley Coheed and Cambria Steve Thrasher BABYMETAL Steve Thrasher Dethklok Steve Thrasher Ministry Nathan Zucker Black Label Society Steve Thrasher Alexisonfire Lexie Alley In This Moment Lexie Alley Ice Nine Kills Steve Thrasher Kami Kehoe Lexie Alley Pantera Steve Thrasher Kublai Khan TX Austin Cooper Danzig Nathan Zucker From Ashers to New Lexie Alley Iron Maiden Steve Thrasher Mac Sabbath Steve Thrasher Machine Head Nathan Zucker Starset Lexie Alley Suicidal Tendencies Steve Thrasher Underoath Lexie Alley The Warning Lexie Alley

Sacred geometry, lunar currents, media baiting, arena shows… there’s enough complexity in their first four albums to fill several lifetimes’ worth of study

And now you know.

Maynard James Keenan isn't letting his recent hip surgery slow him down, saying that he has no plans to cancel any of his upcoming shows.