Tool - 7empest REACTION & REVIEW! FIRST TIME HEARING!

[@JL-1123]

I believe it was Justin Chancellor who said this in an interview after the album released that Adam had the main riffs for this as early as Aenima, but they could never quite make sense of it... He said at some point in maybe 2016 or 2017 Danny revisited it and figured out he could do it in 21, and off they went.

[@thecoconutgum]

Damn

[@joshuaburgin5995]

Damn. That’s cool.

[@LIBERTYorD34TH]

I've heard Danny and Justin both talk about the fact that they have a ton of unreleased material, as in full songs, not to mention the many many many many riffs, beats and sections that they have yet to work into full songs, it's kinda crazy. I absolutely looooooove this album and it still seems quite new to me even though it's a few years old, but, I'm dying for them to release more new material.

[@GimmeJimmy23]

It is completely reasonable that it took 20 years to write this song.

[@piacomispl2023]

I love how people get confused in denial when TOOL starts playing in 4/4

[@PeteOliva]

Honestly you CAN feel parts of it in 4 but the song is not in 4/4. As a matter of fact, different band members are are playing overlaying different time signatures in some sections!

[@gurglinghermits3043]

watching you try to figure out Tool time signatures is the content i live for.

[@crawlingcrabs8306]

I'm late to this particular party, but the title of this video should be "David Heretic tries to figure out Tool's time signature."

[@leithal1546]

It’s annoying.

[@gurglinghermits3043]

@@leithal1546 that’s just like your opinion man

[@DanielM796]

@@leithal1546you’re musically inept. It’s okay.

[@nathanbaca5131]

This whole album is Adam's best work with Tool. His guitar playing on FI is phenomenal.

[@mixedmeter]

I agree, also think it's Danny's best work too.

[@DMKali]

Jones wrote part of the song in a super-complex 21/16 time. But 7 is a prevailing theme for this album. It was released on Aug 7th, the album has 7 tracks, and switches between 5/4 and 11/8 time signatures (or a constant, tricky stream of 7/8).

[@wozbop]

Plus they won a Grammy for this song

[@miscmeme]

And don't forget sales and streams dethroned Taylor Swift's Album from the number 1 chart. Good times.

[@jrgdrumsandwatches]

3 bars of 7. Danny Carey talks about how proud he is of Adam Jones to come up with this monstrous solo. Very well done!

[@Egoblivion]

Yeah, I think he said "he went 'stranglehold'..." It's true lol that long spaced out solo section is like Tool's version of "Stranglehold," which is a great song!

[@sebfaucher8508]

7x3mpest indeed

[@GoldTop57]

I think you need to hear Descending next. It’s a sonic masterpiece, and Adam does some incredible guitar work on that one.

[@MaddSpazz2000]

Absolutely, and Invincible

[@rubaidaallen2764]

Descending is just the most gorgeous song. I was heartbroken when I didn't get to hear it live in '19. Its absolute perfection 😌

[@MaddSpazz2000]

@@rubaidaallen2764same, already had tickets and everythimg. shame

[@rubaidaallen2764]

@@MaddSpazz2000 Yeah. The show was incredible. One of the best I've ever been to since seeing them in 2002 during the Lateralus era. Hearing Descending would've been the icing on the cake. Had VIP tix for April 2020 then covid ruined everything. Tears were shed.

[@inthedream9127]

Descending might be the greatest song ever written

[@Defensive_Wounds]

26:03 - I sit here watching with my popcorn in my hand stuffing my mouth knowing what is yet to come...

[@Aecheguren]

I read this on reddit: "I think it'd be most accurately noted 21/16. Compared to the 4/4 sections, the beats in the solo sections come out as semiquavers. It's easier to follow if you try to count them as 3 sets of 7, or vice versa. It's not actually easy, but with practice I'm sure we'll all be headbanging in precise rhythm in just a couple of months."

[@ericflaherty4668]

"More thinking than I wanted to do" 😆 That's Tool for you man: you have to work with them.😉 I'm waiting to see if you ever get to hear Rosetta Stoned by them. It has the most time signature changes of all their songs. I personally love songs that are challenging like this. My favorite Rush song? Cygnus X1 book2.

[@THEDavidHeretic]

Yeah Hemispheres is a pain to play live.

[@achafilms3968]

Another vote for Rosetta Stone. I cannot find the words wich describe that song.. its not only music, it is something else.. mindblowing.

[@ericflaherty4668]

Also, Maynard was at it again with the timing of his syllables: "A Tempest must be just that"= "1, 2 3, 4, 5, 6, 7"

[@chrisdriver7776]

I wonder if that's why they put a "7" in the title... Just occurred to me.

[@pablerry]

@@chrisdriver7776 after maynard listen to the music with Adam, he told Adam, "the number 7 comes to my mind" Adam replied "mine too". Watch that in an enterview when they asked MJK about Why the 7 in 7empest.

[@jimbojones8978]

@@pablerry If you can remember where, I'd love to watch it. Cheers!

[@hvitekristesdod]

Third Eye uses a lot of 7s too

[@jamiewatton7732]

CALM be FORE the TOR rent COMES.

[@chriscary9269]

You don’t need a Eddie Van Halen solo when you have that monster on drums

[@tonysoto8949]

Great review. Adam Jones is the most underrated guitarist in the history of the rock. There was or is nobody that sounds like Adam, maybe Tom Morello who is also very underrated. They both are close friends who hung out together in LA since the beginning of both TOOL and RATM. Danny gets all the accolades and fame which deservedly so cuz he is the GOAT of drummers, but Adam and Justin are as good technically on the he guitar and bass. Both Top 10 all time on their respective instruments but yea Danny is the GOAT.

[@_7empest_10]

Tom and Adam went to the same high school together. Tom’s mom was Adam’s home room teacher in high school.

[@jager9022]

Tom Morello... underrated?

[@supervisedchaos]

23:29 the title '7'empest was meant to give a cheeky hint as to the time signature

[@3pumps324]

Always enjoy your reactions to TOOL! Keep them coming brother.

[@Hexenkind1]

Absolute Adam Jones song, yes.

[@littledittymusic727]

I love your profile pic! ❤️🤘

[@Jsin916]

When I saw Tool in 2019 , right before the pandemic shut everything down, they played some stuff on this album for the first time but the cool part was Danny was wearing a basketball jersey (like he always does) but it was number 7.

[@richiec6372]

Feb 21, 2020 Melbourne. Last live show ive seen since lockdown after lockdown 🤘🏻

[@jeffvolpe4117]

This album kept getting better for me every time I listened to it. Got to see them live before the pandemic and they played 3 songs off their new album- I wish this would have been none of them. Great reaction as always! 🔥🔥🔥🤘🤘🤘

[@Triangulum303]

Tool have mastered the art of picking the listener up, taking them on a journey and then bringing them right back where they found them and letting them off the ride gently.

[@derekbittner1297]

Really enjoyed watching you break this down man.. well done D

[@mda037]

This is my favorite song off of this album .. Adam's guitar tone and playing is just incredible!!

[@supermetalero3000]

Dude, your reactions are awesome!! I would like to recommend Lost Keys/Rosetta Stoned next, o or Levitation 21 by Tigrian Hamasyan! :)

[@PowderedToastMan420]

I hear a lot of David Gilmore in Adam's guitar work. Adam does more with fewer notes then Slash and Eddie (RIP) COMBINED. ✌

[@justinrisen1929]

Omg thankyou.. Ive been saying this since i first listened to Tool in the 90s. Been a PF fan my whole life and David is an idol for me with my guitar playing.... Adam to me is a modern day Gilmour but in Metal obviously. Says so much with a single note and with mastery of sound manipulation. God i love Tool

[@terrahawk1977]

The time signature working out section 😂😂😂 brilliant 👏

[@darensparks]

I know Tool isn't your favorite band , but from all your videos I've watched, which is a lot , I think you respect they're musicianship more than most other rock bands .

[@THEDavidHeretic]

Absolutely, their musicianship is top notch, along with their songwriting.

[@darensparks]

@@THEDavidHeretic Hey, thanks for taking the time to respond. They're time signatures making your brain hurt does entertain me. I don't have your musical knowledge and I love how you explain this stuff so I can learn more about it. Thanks again!

[@MostlyCloudy]

Hey if you decide to listen to Rosetta Stoned for us do us a huge favor and listen to the 2 segues right before it. so it's : Lipan Conjuring - Lost Keys - Rosetta Stone. It kinda tells a story and gives more context to the song. Without them it doesn't pack the same punch.

[@jakefromstatefarm1405]

^^^^^ this

[@ingobordewick6480]

Love people try to count out TOOL songs. LOL

[@never5068]

They get confused by the weird pauses. I always thought this intro sounds like old Soundgarden, like "Loud Love".......

[@zenobiaw831]

What I like about Adam Jones's solo playing in the Fear Innoculum album is that it tells just as much of the story as Maynard's vocals. It keeps you emotionally connected to the song. Another good example of this is "Descending". The vocals stop halfway through and Mr. Jones takes over the story line with the band. It's perfect. I don't enjoy those super shreddy guitar solos that completely kick you out of a song and then you stop listening to it, though it's still playing. It's very tedious.

[@apec335]

44 min vid 🔥🔥 Let’s go!!!!

[@matzebehm5454]

I know TOOL is very complex, but I had never seen that you so long time out, I love TOOL, and I feel with you. I'm a Drummer from Germany, I feel the Music, I can play this but only with the Feeling not with Counting, that makes me crazy

[@wozbop]

I remember reading an interview with Maynard (Singer) and he walked in the studio to do the vocals for this track and said after he listened to it "we're doing another song in 7 are we?" So he ended up changing the T for Tempest to a 7empest 😂

[@THEDavidHeretic]

Ahhhhhh, so THAT' S why the 7 is there.

[@wozbop]

Yes indeed, Maynard having a little joke. Great reaction as always David by the way!! Keep up the brilliant work!

[@TheTurinturumbar]

@@THEDavidHeretic didn't want to ruin your 7 likes so count this comment instead.

[@LIBERTYorD34TH]

The way I always think of it for simplicity sake(if that's even possible) is essentially 5/4+5/4+11/8, but when you listen to the overall pattern as you count and cut it off where it loops back around, it's really 21/16. Keep in mind I'm coming at this from the angle of a drummer, and when I play, particularly odd time and ANYTHING Tool, I always play by feel without counting and when you do that, 21/16 is the feel.

[@linzilooloo7669]

What's the time signature on this tool song? Danny.....yes!

[@davemacdonald4467]

This might be Tool’s magnum opus. Certainly one of their best.

[@doranbacigalupi1059]

I think it is 7. There were interviews saying they did a lot of songs in 7 on this album, and I think the title is a reference to it also. I could be wrong.

[@PeteOliva]

It took me months to sort it all out but a thread on Reddit helped me out. In fact, some of the song has different members playing in overlaid different time signatures that line up.

[@dan.j.boydzkreationz]

I still wonder if it's in reference to Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. "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?... Millions of them are now sleeping in an empested atmosphere...." Seven Empest

[@psych0CS2]

Went to my sheet music to double check the counting and I'm going to be honest. It's a mess. 21/8 is correct. But they divide it in multiple different ways. The into is 3 measures of 5/8, followed by a measure of 6/8, and repeats that. When the distortion kicks in, it's in 4/4. Once it gets to the muted open D string (for guitar. Song is drop D as usual), it's in 21/8 again. However divided differently. This time a measure of 13/8 followed by a measure of 4/4. There's some other Shenanigans in there but I'm not taking an hour to go through it. But there's some 11/8, 7/8 and 5/4 at some points.

[@rubaidaallen2764]

Mind boggling MASTERPIECE 🤘🤘🤘

[@tidewell]

When Tool throws you off so much, you don't even realize a section is in 4/4 at the start 😎 but yes, the main riff that Justin Chancellor wrote in the bulk of the song was in 21/8... the band also noticed that a number of songs they had written on Fear Inoculum were in 7, so Maynard decided to play off that in "7empest" and added some Easter eggs like: 1. a 2. tem- 3. pest 4. must 5. be 6. just 7. that 🤔

[@milosvitin]

21 is such a sacred number, when chanting any mantra it should be at least 21 times 🙏🧘‍♂️🤘(48, 72, 84, 108... 1008...)

[@eduardomoran8766]

You're so funny 😅 I can't wait to you reacting to Schism

[@matthew6427]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think this song is what got them the Grammy.

[@klausbremner_autotelic_art]

Thanks for the reaction David. Have you gone back and re-listened to this one? There's a fair bit to take in on one listen.

[@THEDavidHeretic]

A couple of times.

[@Tylerdoesit]

@@THEDavidHeretic so out of totally craziness on my part David. I need to know if your opinion either 1) changed after a couple more listens, or 2) did you have any thing else of note to add that you may have missed the first time? Thanks david

[@THEDavidHeretic]

@@Tylerdoesit I mean, you'll always pick up on more things when you listen to any song again as compared to the first time listening. For example, I noticed the intro was in 4/4 and then went into the 21/8 once the song kicked into full gear. The guitar solo keeps getting better and better with each listen. Things like that.

[@heyskipj]

I dabbled a little bit in music and bands in high school. It makes me so happy knowing that if Tool time sigs give YOU fits @7:56 I shouldn't feel so bad about not figuring them out either! Is this why Tool calls the song "7"empest?

[@Atom-E.B.E.]

64th notes? I think you're right but I just chalk it up to grace notes at that point

[@MaddSpazz2000]

Lmao when you were struggling to figure out the time signature in a 4/4 section at the beginning. Tool is just so good with the syncopated rhythms that they can make 4/4 sound like five/four or seven/four or something. Completely understandable, I did the same thing on my first few listens

[@lukelarsson]

I always forget that Maynard is a part of this song and then right around the 9:45 mark he’s like, “remember me?” I’m never not surprised. 😅

[@WillWindWonder]

FWIW the part you called fast picking actually isn't. It's a left hand technique. He pulls off one string and then across and hits other dead strings. I saw it first live during invincible where his right hand wasn't matching the triplets I was hearing, and then I recognized he was sounding the final two notes of the triplet with his left hand. He uses the same technique in Jambi.

[@treysalazar7791]

Great reaction, David. Almost up there with your Lateralus reaction. 21 and 8, more Fibonacci numbers trying to test your sanity. If there are ways to lose your mind that can be considered cool, I'd say doing so by be overwhelmed by Tool's brilliance would be one of them. You should definitely do a reaction to "Descending" a great piece. Also check out their cover of Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter" a great version, great vocals from Maynard as well as great work from the rest. One other reaction you should is one for "The Witness" by Adam Jones. It's an instrumental he did for an animated short that Gibson did to promote Adam's Singnature Les Paul line. It came out last year. Technically it's a Tool instrumental because he has Justin and Danny doing the bass and drums. Great piece worth the time

[@torstenjosephkartelmeyer4623]

Is it five/four? no its TOOL... and thanks to Mr. Fibonacci! ;-) As I mentioned... never overanalyse Tool... just enjoy, if you can... sorry for m bad german accent ;-)

[@Matteoloi]

Now Rosetta stoned

[@damienducote1851]

I’ve been saying the same thing

[@jimmyg.6487]

Lateralus almost killed him, you think he's ready?

[@theawakener4360]

Fuck yeah!!!

[@theawakener4360]

@@jimmyg.6487 🤣🤣🤣 true story!

[@MostlyCloudy]

I wanna see him lose his shit to that one lmaooo

[@j.prt.979]

His vocals were absolutely way better on Lateralus. This album is from 2019, and that one is from 2000. His vocals were *much* more powerful back then.

[@eduardohenriquecarneiroalv6343]

Well, he's almost 20 years older so it's quite understandable and what I'd expect. The dude is almost on his 60s and is still rocking hard.

[@j.prt.979]

@@eduardohenriquecarneiroalv6343 Yeah, I know. I said that to clarify that DH doesn’t need to feel weird about saying it. Why else would I say the years?

[@eduardohenriquecarneiroalv6343]

@@j.prt.979 ooh I see. Srry about it then.

[@spinin1251]

All you can do is just throw your hands up. Tool are out of this world on this album and this song.

[@spiderbass65]

King Crimson barbershop quartet- “Sit down and have some fun, tap your foot in 21”. You might like them if you don’t already. Bruford is one of my favorite drummers, and Danny Carey said he was a big influence. You won’t be able to do a reaction to them or Robert Fripp will come toilet paoer your house. 😃

[@sherlock595]

Won Grammy for Best Metal Performance

[@henryt9731]

I think very few caught on to this. But the “7” in 7empest might be a massive hint on the bar count 😂

[@paquipeon9735]

“Such a coordinated attack by the guitar player and drummer”😂

[@brunosm.l2267]

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Stagger Lee live at glastombury 2013 is amazing. It will, at least, shock you. Cheers

[@antoniohale9674]

Just one more, first time seeing you do this song, a lot of times when Danny "adds to the count"but stays within the count, more times than not, Danny and Adam will already have their parts of the song finished before James puts the words to it. Oh by the way, you do a great service to those who don't fully understand the guts of music.

[@asdagffhnm]

Ahhh finally! Count those time signatures, my internet monkey, count! :D also, it would have been hilarious if you tried to pronounce my nick, not just spell out the characters :D loved to see you trying to figure it out, you did a lot better than I did in my first listen! See you in next one!

[@GoldTop57]

The intro time is actually in 21 time. It’s 5,5,5,6

[@chrisdriver7776]

If the time signature is 7/8... Maybe that's why they put the "7" in the title... Just occurred to me.... Kinda like saying the song is a 7 storm or something.

[@howardcraven3664]

Like the way u break a song down into time signatures, I don't know anything about a song, only if it sounds great or not, so it is interesting to learn and watch u break it down. #ToolArmy

[@douglasennis7291]

Time signature is E=MC2

[@saragarland1270]

When I first started playing bass as a teenager I wanted to learn some tool…that was a mistake lol

[@JamesKeelin]

I love watching you react to tool. Is there another band that confuses you like they do?

[@THEDavidHeretic]

Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, Planet X, Spocks Beard,

[@alanthorne3921]

Apart from all the complexities of the song (which I understand,I’m a musician)this track takes you on an aural journey.Being an old fart I listen to something like Close to the Edge(Yes)or Dark Star(Grateful Dead)and being transported(in a smoke free environment,honest).This track does the same.

[@hardcorechristopher9174]

Great a fantastic job all around

[@nikicajovanovic7838]

I assume that's 7/8 bcz if you isolate drum you will get Macedonian scales Vlatko Stefanovski Miroslav Tadic.

[@amassaic]

Also another question…have you ever liked a request so much that you HAD to hear more from that band for your own pleasure?

[@THEDavidHeretic]

Oh yes, there have been several bands that have had that effect on me. It kills me not to go digging, because I reeeeeeeally want to....but if I do that, I might potentially ruin a perfectly good reaction. It's the double edged sword, I want to for personal enjoyment, but I can't because I might cheat all of you in The Fanbase....and that's the last thing I want to do. Sooooooo, I have to sacrifice in order to make sure I give all of you everything I possibly can.

[@amassaic]

@@THEDavidHeretic would love to know which bands specifically had that effect!

[@THEDavidHeretic]

@@amassaic Ohhhhhhh no, I'm not falling into THAT pit....

[@DjDMA]

Regular people hearing Tool for the first time: What is this music? Musicians hearing Tool for the first time: *starts counting time signatures.

[@KansaSCaymanS]

After watching you struggle, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s pointless to try and figure out what time signature Tool is playing in. 😄

[@Butterfliesandzebras]

I count the riff in 7/8 (3 times) so yeah, it's more like 21

[@brunosm.l2267]

What about some Nick Cave and The bad seeds dude! Are you up?

[@josecarrasco4163]

7empest aka the riff festival🤟

[@whynot1742]

Always understood it as Zempest

[@Ricardo-ki1qq]

one cannot have any idea of what a tool track structure is made of

[@Kebria]

16:16 - 16:30 this melody sounds so middle eastern o my ears.

[@sarge7string232]

Your favorite band must be the COUNTING crows ..& your favorite cereal must be COUNTchocula.....favorite movie ? COUNT of Monte Cristo ?!

[@douglasennis7291]

Hence 7empest

[@MrRaErickson]

Time flies by when you need to do some math.

[@douglasdrain]

Adam has a technique where he pulls his finger(s) across the strings to get that fast picking sound …

[@THEDavidHeretic]

So pull-offs and probably hammer-ons with picking? Better have the timing exactly right or it's gonna fumble and stumble.

[@hockeylvr42]

@@THEDavidHeretic I’m pretty sure that technique is one pluck, which is a pull off to open, followed by a muted pluck with the fretted hand on the next higher string, which completes the triplet. Tabbed out it would look like this ------- ------- ------- ------- -----X- -- 3p0---

[@antoniohale9674]

I can't remember the name of this type of time signature but, Danny adds one off beat but stays within the count.

[@domlaurin675]

Yo why not try some dream theater stuff you will count as f....count of Tuscany, metropolis part 2,octovarium,and on and on.....tool influence them in some way....if you're interesting with tool sound try karnivool, soen,rishloo or lucid planet

[@jesseturner3597]

I hear Ted nugget influence in Adam’s playing in this one.

[@gailbreslin5441]

Hi again David! Back here as promised👀😊 Still not a fan. But...👍

[@whitejosh444]

Gotta love watching people pull their hair out trying to figure out the time signatures lol

[@SteveReddington]

FYI my friend, Lateralis is pronounced like LADDER ALICE NOT later alis

[@horoldo77]

They use 7 in the title also

[@stephenpopp1598]

is it 7 maybe

[@RyanMovingViolationz]

Hahahahahaha!!! Why is it such a brain twister when Tool plays 4/4?!?! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@hvitekristesdod]

It’s 21/16 or 5/4 - 11/8

[@brucespeckin1235]

I count 5/4 as 123-12 /123-12

[@chrislowe3915]

When you try to count the measures your missing the point of the work....Its like going to look at a Davinci or Picasso and counting the brush strokes....just listen, listen some more, then one more time.....it comes when you just listen! Said it best in Lateralis "overthinking- overanalyzing....separates the body from the mind....Tool is all about the mental!

[@MostlyCloudy]

I'm here to see you lose your mind again. 🤓😜

[@antoniohale9674]

Sync Danny with the the lead G.

[@alexnewfield]

7

[@donmcbass]

3/4 and 4/4 changing I think