Theyre so different and truthfully both are very good...i like how Vicarious flows better though...so Vicarious

I found Vicarious more striking than the Grudge on a first listen, more involved. But it can't beat the rawness of the last part of the Grudge.

Grudgcarious

I would say Vicarious has more interesting lyrics in the first few verses of the song.

My vote goes to The Grudge.

i feel the same way...

I'm not a big fan of the Grudge so I have to go with Vicarious

C TOOL LIVE

How can you compare Vicarious to The Grudge that isn't right. The grudge is one of the most unique songs i have ever heard and its wonderfull, easily one of the best songs TOOL or any band has ever written. Its great to play along to or sing along too as well. It also has amazing drums all the way through.

On the other hand you have Vicarious, a very average TOOL song kinda sounds like virtually every other TOOL song mixed together. With some very uninspired riffs and drum playing. Alright to listen too every know and again but i'd rather have the songs it so heavily rips off.

vicarious easily.

????

We should do a poll over this

.

The Grudge no doubt, just seeing that baby in concert and the visuals that go along with it.

I think they're both great openers. Too hard to take one over the other.

The Grudge, and it's really not even close.

Agree with above post.

i have to say the Grudge, because it was such a new aspect of TOOL. I still remember the ride home with the CD and thinking, is this the right CD when the lyrics came in? vicarious sounds a little too expected, not that it's not an incredible song.

The Grudge is an amazing song, there's no discussion about it, but I would prefer Vicarious as an opener and then for my part The Grudge may come.

the instruments are about equal on both, but the vocals on teh grudge own, expecially the 30 second roar

the grudge kicks you in the teeth as it starts, whereas vicarious takes a while

so TG

both great songs, but The Grudge is one of my favourite Tool tracks; its just an amazing song, so i choose it.

Wow that's very hard to answer. I don't think I can. They are both equaly great openers for completely different styles of albums.

The Grudge !

But only for chronological reasons. If Vicarious would have been there first, I would have chosen Vicarious. Hmmm ... and maybe the fact that somehow Vicarious sounds so familiar, while that was not the case when listening to The Grudge for the first time.

This is a hard question !!!

actually not hard at all the grudge is an amazing piece of music. it hits harder than vicarious which is what a opener is supposed to do. vicarious is good but isnt even in the same league as the grudge.

The Grudge.

the grudge was excellent for the first 3 minutes and the heavy ending...

everything between was great...

vicarious should be compared to schism, this is a stupid comparison...

The Grudge is unique, Vicarious is on a limp bizkit level....

It's difficult to say, really. As it stands now, my vote goes to The Grudge, because Vicarious really hasn't had time to sink in for me. When I heard Vicarious, I'm not sure what I was expecting, exactly...it may just be a time factor, and, if that's the case, I hope Vicarious grows on me more. I like it well enough, but listening to The Grudge is just a wild ride...from start to finish, it hits you like a sledge hammer...I'll never get over that feeling that The Grudge gives me when...I may not really be paying attention to the song...and then the music drops...and all of the sudden...CRASH...Maynard's finale comes in...phenomenal...although, thinking over Vicarious...Vicarious is really amazing as well...new material...new perspective...it's really just too hard to say...I think I'll give it some time before I give a definite decision...

Hopefully it comes to the point where I'm not even concerned so much with which song is better...in the past, there are songs that I didn't care for too much, simply because I hadn't gotten used to them...like Reflection...it had the lowest play count...and now, I love that song as much, if not more, than any song on Lateralus...something about it just does it for me, I suppose.

For me it's a tie

Based on it being the first song, I'd have to say The Grudge simply because it introduces us to Lateralus in a way that prepares the listener for the rest that ultimately follows. But if I were to answer that same question only in the context of which is the better song I'd have to say Vicarious. Which leads me to my follow up question to all who follow: does the mere order of tracks constitute for a liable assumption that they are deliberately and conseqently placed in such a way because they are better?...what's a first track if you always have the player on random? What if you always played it through on repeat without ever stopping? Do we fixate on these "titles" of position and placement because we enjoy order? Or is it because we enjoy being ordered......hmmmmm. But i digress. Mull it over, or not. Cue the Matlock theme song by the way....always cue the matlock when i ask a question.

The Grudge slaughters every song on 10k Days, but its still a great album.

i second this motion.

The Grudge is my favorite Tool song period. But I have to say Vicarious isn't far behind as an "album opener".

Vicarious is awesome particulary the last couple of minutes. I'ld like Stinkfist is right there...very hard to split.

The Grudge is definately better.

It's not too early to tell.
The Grudge is simply a better song.

The more i listen to Vicarious the more i like it, but its too hard to decide between the two at this stage. I have to go for a tie atm.

Vicarious has better lyrics, but the grudge has better music.

I love Vicarious, but The Grudge is The Grudge. Can't beat it. That song blew my fucking face open when I first heard it, and I still think it's one of the most well-structured, well-written, well-played songs I have ever heard.

Sweat.