To date, the band has released five studio albums, one EP and one box set. They emerged with a heavy metal sound on their first studio album, Undertow (1993), and became a dominant act in the alternative metal movement with the release of their follow-up album Ænima in 1996. Their efforts to unify musical experimentation, visual arts, and a message of personal evolution continued with Lateralus (2001) and 10,000 Days (2006), gaining critical acclaim and international commercial success. Their fifth studio album, Fear Inoculum, was released on August 30, 2019, to widespread critical acclaim. Prior to its release, the band had sold more than 13 million albums in the US alone.
Due to Tool's incorporation of visual arts and very long and complex releases, the band is generally described as a style-transcending act and part of progressive rock, psychedelic rock, and art rock. The relationship between the band and today's music industry is ambivalent, at times marked by censorship, and the band's insistence on privacy.
There is a raging debate about whether Tool can be considered "post-metal" or not. However, they surely had a hand in its creation as much as Neurosis. The influential act Isis was heavily influenced by Tool's music, so much that they lifted entire basslines and guitar riffing from Tool and even their iconic snare sound was inspired by Tool's style. Much has been made of both Isis and Tool's sound and influence across the years but one thing is sure, modern post-metal has their fingerprints everywhere and it would not have sounded this way without them. Additionally, Tool actually was aware of and liked Isis' music as they chose Isis as touring partners, a move that brought even more attention to Isis' music.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_(band)
Studio albums
Undertow (1993)
Ænima (1996)
Lateralus (2001)
10,000 Days (2006)
Fear Inoculum (2019)
Culling Voices
Tool Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Suspicious tendencies
Conversations we've never had
Imagined interplay
Psychopathy
Don't you dare point that at me
Heated altercations we've never had
Yet guided by them all
Every single one
Psychopathy
Misleading me over and over and over
Judge, condemn, and banish any and everyone
Without evidence
Only the whispers from within
Psychopathy
Misleading me over and over
Psychopathy
Misleading me over and over and over
(Imaginal interplay)
(Imaginal interplay)
(Imaginal interplay)
Don't you dare point that at me
Don't you dare point that at me
(Don't you dare point that at me)
Don't you dare point that at
(Don't you dare point that at me)
Don't you dare
Don't you dare
Don't you dare point that
Don't you dare
Don't you dare
Don't you dare point that at
In "Culling Voices," Tool explores the theme of how disembodied voices play a role in shaping our perception of reality. The song suggests that there are voices that exist only in our imagination, and they influence our actions and judgments, even though they are not based on real conversations or facts. The lyrics mention "heated altercations we've never had," indicating that these voices can create conflicts that aren't actually happening.
The song also touches on the idea of psychopathy, which can be interpreted as a mental condition that causes individuals to perceive things differently from what they are in reality. This creates a sense of paranoia and mistrust in the world around them. The line "Misleading me over and over and over" emphasizes the idea that these voices are persistent and difficult to ignore.
Towards the end of the song, the lyrics repeat the phrase "Don't you dare point that at me," which can be interpreted as a warning against projection. Projection is a psychological defense mechanism where one projects their own negative feelings onto others, making it seem like others are the ones at fault. In the context of the song, this can suggest that the voices we hear within ourselves can distort our perception of others and lead us to project our negative feelings onto them.
Line by Line Meaning
Disembodied voices deepen my suspicious tendencies
The voices I hear in my head make me feel more suspicious of those around me.
Conversations we've never had, imagined interplay
I imagine conversations and interactions with people that never actually happened.
Psychopathy, don't you dare point that at me
I fear that I may have psychopathic tendencies, but I am afraid of anyone else pointing it out or accusing me of being a psychopath.
Heated altercations we've never had, so I'm told
Others have told me about arguments or conflicts with people that I don't remember or don't believe ever happened.
Yet guided by them all, every single one
Despite not remembering or believing these arguments happened, I still feel guided by the feelings and emotions that accompany them.
Psychopathy, misleading me over and over and over
I feel like my own potential psychopathy is constantly leading me to misinterpret situations and interactions with others.
Judge, condemn, and banish any and everyone without evidence
I have a tendency to unfairly judge, condemn, and push away anyone without evidence to back up my suspicions or negative feelings towards them.
Only the whispers from within
My suspicions and negative feelings towards others are solely based on my own internal voice and not on any tangible evidence or actions on their part.
Imaginal interplay, don't you dare point that at me
The imaginary conversations and interactions in my head are a product of my own mind, and I am scared of anyone holding me accountable for them.
Don't you dare point that at me, don't you dare point that at
I am warning others not to bring up anything that might make me feel exposed or vulnerable to criticism, especially related to my own mental state or behavior.
Don't you dare point that at me, don't you dare, don't you dare, don't you dare point that, don't you dare, don't you dare
This repetition emphasizes my fear and need to protect myself from anyone who might expose or challenge the false reality I have created in my own mind.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Adam Jones, Daniel Carey, Justin Chancellor, Maynard Keenan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@atsleep
My girlfriend and I both absolutely love Tool and actually bonded pretty tight because of them and this is her favourite song on them album.
We bought tickets to go see them in Amsterdam and decided to stop following them for months to avoid spoilers, but she kept on expressing her disappointment over the fact that they wont be playing Culling Voices because of the extra guitar track.
I got it spoiled pretty early on, that Danny picks up the guitar for this at the concert.... for seven friggin months I kept this from her. I thought for SURE she'll read it somewhere by accident, but no...
Great great great concert, but hands down the best part for me was when they brought chairs on the stage and Danny strolled to the front with a guitar in his hand. Looking at my girl all confused, trying to piece things together and figure out what was going on was one of the best thing I've ever seen... I know how she thinks and she figured it out before they even started playing. Never seen a person freak out like that while still trying to contain themselves.
I'll never forget it.
F**k, I love her...
@bassdrummer9849
This track is becoming one of all-time favourite Tool songs. The hypnotic progression in this one is just brilliant.
Fear Inoculum really is another Tool masterpiece.
Undertow: cold, harsh and honest
Ænima: dark, brooding, transitional
Lateralus: ethereal, grand sounding and mystical
10 000 days: groovy, melancholic and rocking,
Fear Inoculum: atmospheric, deep and musical
@romischer
Disembodied voices deepen my
Suspicious tendencies
Conversations we've never had
Imagined interplay
Psychopathy
Don't you dare point that at me
Heated altercations we've never had
so I'm told
Yet guided by them all
Every single one
Psychopathy
Misleading me over and over and over
Judge, condemn, and banish any and everyone
Without evidence
Only the whispers from within
Psychopathy
Misleading me over and over
Psychopathy
Misleading me over and over and over
(Imaginal interplay)
(Imaginal interplay)
(Imaginal interplay)
Don't you dare point that at me
Don't you dare point that at me
(Don't you dare point that at me)
Don't you dare point that at
(Don't you dare point that at me)
Don't you dare
Don't you dare
Don't you dare point that
Don't you dare
Don't you dare
Don't you dare point that at
@jasoncowley4718
Disembodied voices deepen my
Suspicious tendencies
Conversations we've never had
Imagined interplay
[Chorus]
Psychopathy
Don't you dare point that at me
[Verse 2]
Heated altercations we've never had
So I'm told, yet guided by them all
Every single one
[Chorus]
Psychopathy
Misleading me over and over and over
[Verse 3]
Judge, condemn, and banish any and everyone
Without evidence
Only the whispers from within
[Chorus]
Psychopathy
Misleading me over and over
Psychopathy
Misleading me over and over and over
[Interlude]
Imaginal interplay
Imaginal interplay
Imaginal interplay
[Refrain]
Don't you dare point that at me
Don't you dare point that at me
[Instrumental Interlude]
[Refrain]
Don't you dare point that at me
Don't you dare point that at
[Instrumental Interlude]
[Refrain]
Don't you dare point that at me
Don't you dare, don't you dare
Don't you dare point that at
Don't you dare, don't you dare
Don't you dare point that at
@jeremiahblum7833
I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank tool for giving an old man one last excuse to buy a cd at a record store... brought back a lot of memories... thanks guys, it's been one hell of a ride
@roughcity1859
I remember exactly where I was when I bought 10,000 days the day it came out. It was on my lunch break at a factory job. I drove to Circuit City and bought the cd. Do you remember where you were when you bought 10,000 days?
@thesquatch9821
Circuit City holy shit, that went out of business when I was 8 if I remember correctly
@Mark-cc5bv
Rough City Podcast with Keith & Chazz I went and bought it right before graduating high school lol graduated June ‘06. Such an amazing album to enjoy some mushrooms to 🤯🙃..*ahem back in the day of course not now🤫
@Astro8way
Yes sir!
@markfromct2
If they don't play Tool at my funeral......I am NOT going!!
@zyzy7102
I know that most people focus their attention on Tool's instrumentals, but can we take a moment to appreciate how clean and smooth Maynard's voice is on every single song. His voice fits perfectly on every track, forming the words rhythmically and almost turning them into instruments.
@jobuswayne9354
Danny come out and say as much, that since 10k days they been using Maynard's voice more as an instrument than anything else.
@goofyahhgaming3594
Yknow what now youve said it i cant unhear it lol. They are so unique, almost like the pink floyd of metal.
@UpperLevelFitness
Maynard is a wizard of rhythmically spoken poetry. The careful placement, and few words needed to express grandeur among themselves.