Lateralus

When these sludge rockers first hit MTV with 1993’s “Sober,” their stew of grinding guitars and twisted animation made them seem like the most daring metal band on the planet. By this point, though, Tool’s shtick is tired. As usual there’s a slew of eight-minute-plus opuses—thudding rock that skids through every guitar sound known to man—interspersed with short instrumentals and noisy improvisations. The screaming kiss-off of “Ticks and Leeches” aside, Lateralus moves strongly sideways but rarely soars.