This may be pointless to some people, but I think, besides the Dream Theater influence (which gets really clear in the beginning of Vicarious, comparing it to the beginning of "New Millennium" - stunningly equal) I heard S.O.A.D. already in my first few listens.

I thought of them when I heard 10,000 Days (the song) because of the way the melodys go and the vocal harmonies (like on S.O.A.D.'s older album "Toxicity").
But then I found a lot more influence in their newest album "Mezmerize / Hypnotize", there are a lot of ideas, that just can't be coincidentally put on the Tool album (like the bass solo from Vicarious in "Revenga" (I know it's typical) and the riff from the end of The Pot in "This Cocaine..." and "Attack"... Does anyone agree?

And I also think the artwork from 10,000 Days is inspired by the artwork of "Mezmerize / Hypnotize".

I kind of doubt it dude. I've heard Tool speak of Rick Rubin only with pejoritives.

NO

You're a moron who has never listened to King Crimson or Mr. Bungle.

Similarities can appear wherever you see them. I like SOAD a lot too, but they are quite different IMO, save some political qualities I feel both albums share. In fact, music releases in the last few months/years have had major political implications...more so than any other time I've been alive for anyway. Maybe I'm just waking up to such things in my life though.

Art work inspired by SOAD's Mezmerize/Hypnotize? No F-ing way. 110% no F-ing way. Alex Gray's art has been a part of Tool (perhaps vice-versa too) for, well, over 5 years now. But the art from Mezmerize/Hypnotize is also cool, IMO.

wow, what an asshole remark.

KING CRIMSON RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mr. bungle is ok too.

I don't know about that moron stuff.

Yeah, seriously mike09 - lighten up.

True. But I too am an ass, so I don't always pick up on that stuff. Must be a militant Tool fan. You won't ever catch me in pit at a show.

sorry lol, that was pretty harsh.

I guess this comment:

just makes me want to bang my head against a wall. Threadstarter, download the King Crimson song "Discipline". That's where both New Millenium and Vicarious's ideas came from. Tool actually doesn't like Dream Theater, most likely because of how badly they ripped them off with "The Great Debate".

Thanks, dude. You've forced me to learn a new word. I love that shit.

pe·jor·a·tive (adj) 1.Tending to make or become worse.
2.Disparaging; belittling.

funny though. an asspile of my music collection has Rick Rubin's name on it.

Ummm.
No.
Firstly, while SOAD is a good rock and roll band, they lack the skill to make great music like Tool can.
Secondly, if the artwork was inspired by SOAD, then Tool needs to die. If they start copying other fucking bands things, they need to retire.

:(

Let's not forget the song "Home" on DT's Scenes from a Memory album. It's an awesome tune, some of singer James Labrie's best vocal work if you ask me. But it so blatantly copies (or as they put it, pays tribute to, lol) Tool's musical style that it's kinda sad.

And to the original poster, big time NO. I'm a fairly big SOAD fan. They make great music but it's all pretty basic stuff. I hear no SOAD influence in anything Tool does. Or vice versa. Each band has such a distinctive style that I'm quite surprised you found any real musical similarities in either. Both SOAD and Tool are very influential bands, but I just don't hear any aspects of either band in the other's work.

And you're way off the mark on the art issue, if you ask me. Seriously, dude, not to be condescending but I'm not sure what to think if you see the artwork on 10,000 Days as similar to the Mesmerize/Hypnotize artwork. And I seriously doubt Alex Grey would take any inspiration from SOAD artwork. The man's on a high enough horse as it is.

tool was using that artwork in their tours in 2002...so maybe SOAD stole it from them

I don’t think Tool are influenced by System of a down at all,King Crimson and early Yes maybe,Adam Jones mentioned all his influences in the Guitar world magazine,and not once was System brought up.

Negative on the SOAD influence

Well, I used it as a noun, but close enough... I actually think Rick Rubin is pretty good. I don't think The Chili Peppers or System of a Down would be even half as good without him. But with that said, if your producer is what makes your band good, you're fucked when he leaves.

Yeah the Great Debate thing makes me hate the whole album, which was one of my favorite albums ever before.

But cool to find that their not ripping off DT, but KC. :)

By the way, listen to the beginning of "Vicinity of Obscenity". The drummer plays the Jambi opening riff. Lol.

Agreed. Chalk and cheese.

Maybe Tool stole this artwork from Alex Grey.

I'm kidding...

the only vague similarity with SOAD is that middle-east sort of feeling the music occasionally has, what with the tabla and certain other melodies. That they both sometimes draw elements of music from a non-Western tradition hardly means that one has any influence over the other at all

and as for Dream Theater. . . *shudders*

LOL at the SOAD influence, hahahahahaha

Enthralling thread, indeedy!!! If I stop and consider even the remotest wisp of a fragment of possibility that Tool would/could EVER be moved/influenced by ANYTHING SoaD have "created" I... I... I... DAMMIT!!! Now I have to punch myself in the taint region 'til the spiritual pain ceases. THANKS ALOT!!!

The beginning of Vicarious does sound like Dream Theater, and especially when the main riff kicks in. I thought this the first time I heard it as well.

Just add a terrible vocalist and some shitty lyrics, and it could be a dream theater song.

yeah right

Just because parts of songs sound similar to parts of songs from another band doesn't mean Tool is consciously influenced by System of a Down. I highly highly doubt that.

The three bands that noticably influence Tool are King Crimson, Meshuggh, and the Melvins.

Pink Floyd

I don't hear an SOAD influence at all

Hellz nah, "s.o.a.d" has to be the gayest/shittiest band ever, besides fallout boy but thats different genre, system of a down should be hurled into a black hole for no one to look back on. Tools only influence is Tool.

I enjoy SOAD quite muchly, but there's definitely no influence on Tool's music. If there was any pop-rock band that had any influence with would be Audioslave (consdiering Adam and Tom Morello are good friends, and Maynard wearing his I <3 Brad Wilk shirt on Conan). Anyways, SOAD's artwork was done by Daron's father, Tool's was done by Alex Grey.

I agree about the only similarities being generally the middle-eastern/eastern styles of music found in both albums, though I doubt either one were influenced by the others. System of a Down is one of the few bands who can write a great song under 2 minutes long. Tool is one of the few bands who can write an amazing song over 10 minutes long :p

I'm a huge SOAD fan but I don't hear any similarities between the two. SOAD's music is incredibly raw, and the harmonies have this anxious quality to them where they're almost out of tune but not quite. Really drives the music forward.

Tool takes a very differnt approach.

I agree completely with what the post above me says about how SOAD is impressive cause they can write a good song thats shorter than 2 or 3 minutes, while Tool is impressive cause they can write a good song that's over 6 minutes.

There is a tiny part in Jambi that reminds me of a SOAD riff, onl;y what the guitars playing though.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN IS A DISGRACE.
yeah they used to be good BUT now they suck

And he said to the christian faith, "quite Muchly", and they joined in a mass suicide and he said, "lol".............ending the apocalypse

Length has no input on tool, they just write, time has no meaning. System of a down writes for media, contract, fame, and publicity for war, they dont care.

You sound very intelligent, so I will take your opinion into consideration.





Of course Tool in influenced by other bands! It doesn't mean they've copied them, it just means they draw inspiration from them.

Also, System of a Down kicks ass.

SOAD aren't that bad, but even if you think they suck, they are no where near the obsolute shittiestness of Fallout Boy. I could right a whole freaking book on why Fallout Boy suck so much fatty emo ass. But that's not what this is about.


....If anything, SOAD were influenced by Tool. Not the other way around. Tool have influenced so many alternative metal bands. Look at Chevelle. A lot of people think Chevelle is a carbon-copy of Tool, but I think they take the basics of Tool and add to it with something different. Hell, I loved Chevelle long before I knew Tool even existed.

the first time i listened to vicarious i thought "gee, this sounds like tool"

STFU!