This song hits like a Cat 5 hurricane every single time. Literally feels like a storm blowing over me in it's structure. The build up, the fall, and then the build to the big climax followed by the calm as the storm blows over. Adam is in beast mode, Danny on absolute fire, Justin putting down those rock solid Justin grooves that let the others all play. Phenomenal piece of music.
I have this theory that many seem to disagree with. Aldous Huxley wrote Antic Hay a century ago. In that novel is the following paragraph; “Does it occur to you,” he went on, “that at this moment we are walking through the midst of seven million distinct and separate individuals, each with distinct and separate lives and all completely indifferent to our existence? Seven million people, each one of whom thinks himself quite as important as each of us does. Millions of them are now sleeping in an empested atmosphere. *Seven Empest*
Dude you just blew my mind. It never occurred to me that "empest" is an actual word. The definition is "to infect with or as if with a contagion" which totally fits the song. You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.
This album keeps getting better with more listens - hopefully you’ll get around to Descending and or Invincible. Please continue to try and identify effects or techniques for those of us who don’t know much about it.
Tip of the horns to Adam! His game is usually in melody, riffs, or bridges stuff. He so rarely, rarely solos, then it's mostly atmospheric. But 7empest gave him space to holla! He starts out soaring the long notes then starts raining little drops before raining down 32-notes or whatever was flying from his fingers. Different from traditional metal or prog rips. Just very exceptional Adam. Love when you hit the time sig. As a former (much younger, oy!) wanna-be drummer it's🔥 whenever you drop that in the reaction. Seemingly, I can't count higher than four. 😄
Honestly, my favorite aspect to every song on the album is the sound engineering. Whoever did that is as much a part if the band as the musicians, imo. Same with whoever orograms the lights for their live shows.
Older tool was better id focus there before making your way to this album. If it makes you feel any better, the rest of us had to wait 13 years for this album.
IMO, this is Adam's best work with Tool and one of my favorite songs by the band. He has done a lot of cool stuff but really shines here. Some of his moments combined with Danny Carey are just mind blowing...top of the line heavy progressive rock. Bass playing by Chancellor is stellar throughout. MJK is really good as usual but obviously the vocals take a backseat for most of the song.
The first time you hear this, you can't help but be washed away in Adam's lead guitar sections (and for good reason, the tones, textures, techniques, and composition are fantastic). I would highly recommend relistening and on that middle instrumental section, try to focus on just Danny and Justin. They are doing some phenomenally subtle rhythmic dancing around each other.
Here is a rundown of Adam’s gear from his guitar tech from years ago but I don’t think a lot has changed. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-r5pbOtNyH64.htmlsi=I3hwyyYP2Ez8-Gs6