Tool Ticks and Leeches Reaction!! 

I would argue that it isn't a stain on the record. Here are my talking points: 1) Danny Carey goes absolutely gonzo on this song. The drums are amazing. 2) I think it's pretty smart and on point for Maynard to directly address the people he was angry at. Studio execs want a heavy song. "This is what you wanted, I hope you choke on it." He's communicating and having the touch conversation with the people who have made him angry. He chooses immediate catharsis over hanging onto the grudge. 3) With all the astral journeys Lateralus takes, it's good to have a song with both feet in the mud, showing how hard attaining and keeping a philosophical/spiritual understanding is. Life will try to drag you down. Stupid people will damage your calm. Enlightenment is a never-ending road, a constant effort.

This song is basically Maynard's response to a studio exec telling them to make a more radio friendly song. It's about the industry.

Have you noticed how abruptly this song goes to a very, tediously long, monotonous calm part that fucks up the very idea of a "heavy radio hit"? Now that is the level of musical devotion.

Tool just posted that Justin is laying down his bass tracks for the new album on their Facebook page this morning. One step closer to Maynard coming in for vocal tracking! New album is starting breathe.

Whether that record label story is true or not, Tool always has a song like this that splits the record in two. On Aenima it was "Hooker with a Penis" and on 10k days its "the pot". A song that doesn't quite fit in, merely exits to divide the flow. This is that song on Lateralus. Also you can never be upset when danny goes beast mode.

this album is perfect from start to finish. end of story

You do realize that this "terrible" song was voted the #1 Drumming performance of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine. Please give credit where credit is do

I remember an interview with Maynard where he said he lost his voice for 3 weeks after recording this song. Intense

Danny's drumming is just nasty on this track. Yeah maybe the song doesn't flow with the rest of the album but it's still my favorite.

This song was added to the album because the record label was disappointed that it didn't sound like the previous 2 albums. The record execs are the 'Ticks & Leeches'. Go back and listen to it again with that in mind & I think you will find that it makes much more sense. And as Maynard says, "if my art doesn't heal me, then how can it heal you?' The whole point of his music is working through the blocks & obstacles to evolve into a better version of the Self. It always struck me as odd that so many fans never evolved with the band & are upset because their sound changed, but I guess people who want to stay angry will stay angry. There's The Grudge for you.

I love how halfway through the track they slow it way down for probably half the track. Just another way of throwing up a middle finger in the face of the record executive's. No mistaking theres a method to maynards madness

I feel it fits perfectly, anger is another emotion that needs to be released. This song released it. A grudge can not be let go until it is first expressed. Yes, maybe this song should have been first on the album to follow the sequence of pain, expression, to forgiveness. But life doesn’t follow that sequence.

Hey guys 👋 love the videos! I’m assuming by now you know we’re finally getting a new Tool album in the near future. I look forward to having a listening party with the both of you.

I love all of Tool's music, they haven't made one bad song

Maynard lost his voice for two weeks after recording this track.

The silver lining of the supposed story behind this song is one of the best live drumming performance songs in rock. One of my favorites from tool now. Such a journey of a song with the lull in the middle and coming back out full instrumental force

The middle part of the sobg where it calms down feels like a big middle finger to the record label.. Always loved that part

Sori's response was pure gold... "Oh, I go cold and they stop sucking". That look on her face and then the "oh". So good haha.

As a drummer it really is impressive.

yes they did it and you nailed it this time

The angry screaming Maynard is what the rec execs wanted, so the super slow, calm middle is the real "fuck you" in this song.

Love it guys!! I used to jam so hard to this album back in high school. I remember my step dad coming home with this song playing and asking me who I was listening to. He instantly fell in love with Tool haha. Do Puscifer- The Arsonist!!

This is a great song. Love it. Love the vocals and the drums but the vocals in particular

knowing the story behind this track and with the legal battle with their management makes me like this track more....I love this album

That's a great explantion for the song, I understood the lyrics but all this time, I had no idea who they were aimed/angry at.

some times "Artist" do things that we cant understand or even realize, thats what makes it art.

Love the review and thoughtfulness as always guys! And Vin I think maybe when you get through more of their earlier, heavier (this word doesn't feel right, maybe darker is better?) stuff it might make Ticks and Leeches' placement on Lateralus make more sense. At the time I first heard it I remember thinking that Lateralus felt like Tool was sending fans or whoever may listen a message. Like they were saying hey: we've moved beyond the raw hatred and anger of youth and matured a bit. And they shared some of the wisdom and thoughtfulness gained during the transition and of that process on almost every other song on the album. But to me Ticks and Leeches kind of felt like both an homage (I mean the song is fucking awesome in my opinion), but also a fat middle finger to the people who bitch and whine about musicians selling out or changing style and then also complain when every album sounds the same. Anyway, just throwing out some food for thought. I had never heard the info about the record label pushing heavier songs though, which was very interesting, and that makes a hell of a lot more sense lol. Cheers!

for me this song, follows another line of thought of Lateralus

This is there FU response to the pressure of being heavier!

I don't think I agree with Vin at all on the song not fitting. Life/people aren't perfect. As much as you try to let go of grudges and be at peace, you're going to have..questionable thoughts and feelings once in a while. Also from a musical perspective, I think the song follows their regular flow of peaks and valleys both within the song and within the album. Calling it a stain on the record is ridiculous imo.

Looking forward to your breakdown on Reflection, super deep

The song fits to me, because it and Schism both deal with things that had to do with the long break they had between Aenima and this album. Where Schism deals with them coming back together as a band for the first time in a decade... Ticks and Leeches deals with not only what you mentioned... but the legal issues the band had at that time. To me the songs are siblings.

I disagree wholeheartedly with the assessment of this track. In fact, I find ticks and leeches to be one of, if not THEE finest track Tool has ever produced. The drums, the lyrics painting the picture of how parasites work, the layers. This one was a fail as far as how it was perceived and analyzed. This piece of music is killer.... Stellar and just plain brilliant on so many levels.

SO many times in life people use ,abuse and mistake a person's kindness for weakness and those people get taken advantage of time and time again until they finally get fed up and have no more fucks left to give to those toxic people. This song is for those kind hearted souls who have had enough and are ready to put themselves first for once in their life!

The long instrumental interlude in the middle is another FU to the record executives because it makes it unplayable for radio.

Pink Floyd - Have a Cigar Same story, very different way of telling it. Definitely worth checking out.

The label didn't ask them to do much. They have stated they took less money to have full control of their music

Love the reaction and analysis, but I do have to disagree that this song doesn't fit, I think it makes the whole album more human. . . even the most transcendent of us can lose their shit sometimes. I also believe that, even though I understand Maynard's (and the band's, as a whole) frustration with the situation, I think that this album needed this song as a way for the perpetually frustrated Tool fans to let out their own anger. This is one of the reasons why I believe that 10000 Days was not as popular, as there is no track on there where you can just close your eyes and completely thrash your head around in anger, I believe The Pot comes close, but nothing like this. So in the end, as much respect as I have for the artistry within these guys, I think ultimately the record execs were right, which Maynard and crew so ironically proved by making this song. . . it's all kind of poetic if you think about it. . . lol

This is an amazing song and it happens exactly where it should in the context of the album. I never considered that some people felt differently.

I seriously love tuning in to you guys... Im a hiphop head that opened up to metal thanks to Lateralus. I know you mainly do metal but as an ex Christian (still respectful to the beliefs of others) Id love to see you guys react to "The Ill Mind of Hopsin part 7"

talent level = magnificent

thing is i dont think the producers or label was "essentially" wrong... this shit is amazing...

This is incredible musicianship

I love this song instrumentally. Some people really use people to drain everything out of them, are consciously and aware that they are pushing people to their limits just for the sake of getting more and more out of them without taking care of their well being. In the song maynard just gets drained more and more... until he's fattigued, that shows in the slow mesmerizing instrumental. Untill he had enough and goes out with one finall outburst. Also the drum in the intro has a more internal distabeling sound and on the outro it has a really raging explosive feel to it.

No. I didn't miss this. I couldn't have missed this. How did I miss this?

Yes Sori, that's Maynard James Keenan!🤘🏼

The fact it doesn’t go with the album makes me love it more.

I'm glad they put this song there! XDDD So freaking technical leet!

Analysis on point i always felt that’s what this song was about. Doesn’t fit the album but the drums are just so kickass that I’m glad they made it cause it’s good in the gym lol

I love Maynards anguished howls on this track. In spots it reminds me of Vektor. Knowing what Vin said, it definitely sounds like Maynard writing this song directly to the execs trying to tell them how to play their music. I do think though that it fits on the flow of the album though, because look at how the album evolves from here. Got to look at the context of the album as a whole. Musically this track is fire. Crazy drum work particularly.

Undertow is definitely my favorite Tool album from start to finish. Every song has musically influenced me since i bought it when it released. The "demo" album before that (Opiate) is also amazing in it self. Only 6 songs. The title track Opiate is a great yet, almost inappropriate lyrically. Especially considering the condescending and obviously sac religious message. Still, it's Tool at their most raw form. A must for Tool fans. I totally recommend reviewing " Opiate". Y'all will love it. 😄

The drums and bassline make this song, along with Maynard's message

a jewel has many facets. this song is great.

Look, these guys don't compromise. You can see that by how long it takes them to "perfect" the album. It's on there for a reason and they chose it to be there.

I think it's an important note to make that ticks and leeches, feas, bed bugs, and such are not an enemy. They are beings that strive to survive the same as we do. They are not villains. They are not evil. They just get what they need to survive. To take that in account of the metaphor. "This. Is. Necessary. Life feeds on life" Discustipated, on the album Undertow

The best of our skin, it is that it does not let us flee

For the underground show. Either In De Naam Van De Duivel or The Possession Process by Carach Angren. They're a symphonic black metal band that writes their albums as horror stories. These two work as stand alone songs though. Think you guys will love em. And Babel's Gate by Septic Flesh. Symphonic Death metal and you'd get a kick out of the lyrics. Also you guys need to do the whole of Damnation And A Day by Cradle Of Filth. Best Cradle album in my opinion and the album tells the story of Satan before his fall all the way to his defeat. Seeing how you guys dissect this stuff is amazing.

It's about the asking for a radio jam that's five minutes at most so this is what your getting...

Amazing song

Iron Maiden - Rime of the Ancient Mariner

You guys consistantly have the best thought provoking reactions! If you do another TOOL album review, consider my vote for Aenima! (Sounds like on-ima) i think it means the female side of the male psyche. Their best album!

Tool is never under pressure under anyone But themselves.

Please do Tool aenima record, and Deftones - passenger. Pucifer- humbling river.

7:34 where is Sori lipstick? Tool make magic

I don't know if anyone has brought this up, but I think it's a fun sort of "counter-argument" to the thought that the song doesn't fit. If you listen to the Holy Gift (which is Lateralus but rearranged to where the number of each track corresponds with the Fibonacci sequence) the drums in Schism go right into the drums in Ticks and Leeches so perfectly to where it sounds like it's one long(er) song

Still waiting for Dark Side Of The Moon

Danny in full octopus mode. Beast. and am pretty sure Maynard damaged his voice some on this song.

So fuckn' good on ya.

I can’t play this loud enough when it comes on.

Perfect for the album

This is a very good reaction guys

All praises due to those record company employees/A&R people that pushed tool for a harder sound, if they hadn’t, this track would never have been conceived.

This is Maynard saying ‘ I own you all’

5:07 reminds me of Fist by Deftones. love the ambient transition

this the tool song i put on when im angry 😂

The album was set to the fibinachi sequence

I have found that after being angry at a leech for a short time I just ended up feeling really sad for them. I was willing to be so giving and kind but they countered with cruelty. It’s because of ultimately how destructive such a way of being is that makes me deeply sad for them, true love and friendship is something they will never know. A truly hollow existence.

Rumor has it there is a song even heavier than ticks and leeches on the new record.

This is the best song ever made.

Is being angery or frustrated and communicating that immature? I think splitting anger and hatred helps my point of view. Anger is an emotion that is healthy and natural. It can be used and you can move past it. Whereas hatred is more of a grudge and is destructive. In that sense I think it fits with the album. You can't have emotional or communicative growth if you leave out select emotions and speech. If I remember correctly, this song was about the label as well as a lawsuit that the band was dealing with.

They had just won a court case against there previous label - thus Tick's and Leeches - there was no need for them to comply..this is a win ! It belongs on this album..

Reign of darkness- Thy art is murder (music video) Land of snow and sorrow- Wintersun Carbon phrases- Alkaloid Crushed- Parkway Drive I'm gonna spam this on every video

Yeah, it does seem like he's just giving it to the label

React to Good Mourning/Black Friday you won't regret it.

The Label was all over them to make a 3 minute-ish song for radio play, to compete with the Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam etc, Instead they got this 8 minute song~

WOW surprised you guys were down on this song.

This song absolutely belongs on the album in my opinion. The way I see it, it's a reminder that we are still human and we are capable of losing control of ourselves to the Ego. I think the band decided that the album should display their light sides and dark in order to be complete

5:02 - 7:33. That folks, is called a fucking interlude.

It’s a bad ass song. Interpret the song however you like. Thats the beauty of TooL’s music. It’s always a masterpiece that stimulates the mind.

Hey guys, just want to say I love your videos, I can't get enough of them. Could you do a video to Soilwork - Drowning With Silence.. Thanks and keep up the great work.

4:45 hahaha. Gold

you should do "Third Eye"

Beds are burning - midnight oil

The long slow part in the middle was one more fuck you to the record company, because they new it wouldn't get radio play with that middle section in there

No man,he had the same themed song called hookers with penises in 1996, I'm a 22 year fan grew up on Tool.

i think this song is actually about their first lawsuit, or maybe the one with their insurance company against another lawsuit. How it takes more energy from creating, and that frustrates them. You have to express anger to get past it.

You have to listen to their song "message to harry manback" first to understand why he wrote "ticks and leeches" the way he did. Go play one song after the other and it make sence. Think about it like maynard comes home, hears the message "harry" left on the phone and this song is his answere to "harry".

Listen to the lateralus album in the holy gift order and you’ll understand why the songs there

FYI the main beat is in 7/8 time ;)