Opiate (album)

Opiate was an extended-play release by alternative-rock band Tool in 1992, coming just a year before their first full-length album, Undertow, and some two years after their formation in 1989 and tours with Rage Against the Machine.

It features six tracks with seven songs (a hidden song entitled "The Gaping Lotus Experience" starts at 6:06 of Track 6). Unlike their later releases, Opiate doesn't deal with a wide range of topics, or incorporate a lot of complexity in its songs. More than anything, it's a typical grunge record from the early '90s. The first track, "Sweat," is quite indicative of their future work, dealing with a slightly more complex topic and using metaphorical material. The rest of the album uses society as a focal point—more specifically, society's problems.

The song "Hush" is about censorship and political correctness, and is accompanied by a video featuring the whole band wearing signs reading "Warning: Explicit Parts" over their genitalia. The songs "Jerk-Off" and "Opiate" also deal with society, and while it may not be life-altering material, it is definitely a great starting point to open up one's mind to the rest of the band's work.

Track Listing

1. "Sweat"
2. "Hush"
3. "Part of Me"
4. "Cold and Ugly (live)"
5. "Jerk-Off (live)"
6. "Opiate" / "The Gaping Lotus Experience"

Personnel

• Danny Carey - Drums
• Paul D'Amour - Bass
• Adam Jones - Guitar
• Maynard James Keenan - Vocals