Danny Carey Shares The Most Hard To Play TOOL Songs

TOOL‘s famous drummer Danny Carey shares the most hard-to-play TOOL songs of all time. Carey has composed and recorded some of the most hard drum parts in metal history, which is great and all, until he has to perform those members, live every moment on the TOOL tour. 

Which TOOL songs are hard to play at concerts and festivals?

Few bands can compete with Tool’s complexity and natural ability when it comes to expanding the boundaries of progressive metal. Tool, led by Danny Carey’s superb drumming, has enthralled audiences worldwide with their advanced compositions and thought-provoking lyrics.

Here are the Tool’s most difficult live tracks, demonstrating the technical prowess required as well as the distinct sonic environments they create. Join us on this auditory adventure as we uncover the rhythmic complexities that distinguish Tool’s music.

During the interview with Music Radar, Danny Carey shares his thoughts about the hardest TOOL songs to play live. There are a few – “The Grudge” from 2001’s Lateralus and then “Invincible” or “7empest” from 2019’s Fear Inoculum.

Here is the full interview about Tool’s hardest songs to play live:

1. Ticks and Leeches

“Ticks and Leeches” covers themes of manipulation, control, and the struggle to maintain personal integrity in its lyrics. The words provide a vivid picture of being drained by outside forces, which are symbolically portrayed as ticks and leeches. As the protagonist battles these parasite forces, the song’s visceral words and strong delivery generate a sense of urgency and frustration. The raw emotions revealed in the lyrics strike a deep chord with listeners, tapping into their own experiences of being overwhelmed by external pressures.

The climactic and explosive climax, in which vocalist Maynard James Keenan delivers a passionate and primal scream that releases pent-up frustrations and emotions, is one of the song’s defining moments.

2. Forty-Six & 2 

Lyrically, “Forty-Six & 2” is inspired by psychologist Carl Jung’s idea of individuation, which holds that people have the potential to evolve into higher states of awareness. The song delves with the need for personal transformation, letting go of old patterns, and embracing a new self. The metaphor “forty-six and two” relates to the idea of increasing genetic potential by accumulating more chromosomes.

The various layers of the tune, including Adam Jones’ fascinating guitar work, Justin Chancellor’s throbbing basslines, and Danny Carey’s powerful drumming, contribute to its immersive and captivating ambiance.

3. Rosetta Stoned

TOOL‘s “Rosetta Stoned” is an incredible musical trip that goes into the depths of human awareness through the use of dense instrumentals, powerful vocals, and enigmatic storytelling. This synopsis delves into the song’s intricate structure, thought-provoking lyrics, and ability to engage listeners with its captivating and mind-bending tale.

“Rosetta Stoned” showcases TOOL‘s mastery of progressive metal, fusing strong guitar riffs, polyrhythmic drumming, and intricate time signatures.

4. The Grudge 

TOOL‘s “The Grudge” is an engaging and introspective piece that highlights the band’s characteristic sound and thought-provoking lyrics.

“The Grudge” is the first track on TOOL’s album “Lateralus,” and it sets the tone for the auditory and emotional trip that follows.

“The Grudge” exemplifies TOOL’s ability to craft complicated and emotionally powerful compositions. Its sophisticated musical arrangements, insightful lyrics, and mesmerizing performance elevate it to the top of the band’s discography, resonating with those who want aural exploration as well as emotional depth in their music.

“So, it’s nice to know that it’s not simply a walk in the park for the man who wrote the drum parts in the first place. Speaking to Danny Carey recently for his Instagram profile, Danny’s drum tech Joe Slaby posed the question;

“What’s the hardest Tool song to play, for you?”

With so many iconic (and difficult) parts to choose from, could it be Ticks and Leeches? The oft-covered Forty-Six & 2? Rosetta Stoned? As we might have expected isn’t limited to one song, but three. First, Carey chooses The Grudge from 2001’s Lateralus.

The song is well known for its alternating 5/8 and 5/4 time signatures, as well as the pyramid of double bass drum patterns which transition from quarter notes through eighths, eighth-note triplets, sixteenth, and a thirty-second-note barrage over two bars at multiple points in the song. But that’s just the tip of the technical iceberg, as Carey unleashes myriad jaw-dropping fills over the song’s outro.

Typically, while Danny mentions that the double kicks play a part in the song’s difficulty, it’s the subtleties that pose the biggest hurdle, with the song’s recurring main theme tom groove demanding some stamina from the hands. For endurance, it’s The Grudge because if we’re not in tour shape my hands almost cramp up because of all the Swiss Triplets. It’s just a real physicals song overall, there’s some double kick stuff in there.”

What are your thoughts on drummer Danny Carey‘s hardest TOOL songs to play live? Let me know in the comment section!