Let's be real for a second. Finding bands that sound like Tool is a bit of a fool's errand. You aren't just looking for a drop-D guitar riff or a drummer who likes quintuplets. You’re looking for a specific kind of existential dread wrapped in a mathematical equation. It’s that intersection of Maynard James Keenan’s haunting, serpentine vocals, Adam Jones’s textural grit, Justin Chancellor’s grinding bass, and Danny Carey—who is basically a human octopus.
Most people point to the "Poly-rhythm, Dark Visuals, Long Songs" checklist. But that's a surface-level trap. You can find a million bands on Bandcamp that use Fibonacci sequences and Alex Grey-inspired artwork, yet they feel empty. They lack the tension. Tool is about the space between the notes as much as the notes themselves.
If you're hunting for that specific itch—that blend of progressive metal, atmospheric psyche, and odd-time signatures—you have to look beyond the imitators. You have to look at the bands that share the same DNA or the ones that took the blueprint and actually built something new with it.
Why the "Tool Sound" is a Mechanical Nightmare for Other Bands
Why is it so hard to replicate? It’s the "Interlock." In most metal bands, the guitar leads and the bass follows. In Tool, the bass is often the melodic lead while the guitar acts as a percussive, textural layer. If a band doesn't understand that fundamental flip, they’ll never sound like Tool; they’ll just sound like a standard prog-metal act trying too hard.
Then there’s the production. Ever since Aenima, Tool has leaned into a very specific organic-yet-mechanical warmth. It’s not over-processed like modern "djent" bands. It breathes. It’s dusty. It’s heavy but never "clicky."
The Immediate Contenders: Karnivool and Rishloo
If you haven't heard Karnivool, start there. Specifically, their album Sound Awake. It is arguably the closest anyone has ever come to capturing the Lateralus era vibe without feeling like a total rip-off. Ian Kenny’s vocals have that soaring, emotive quality that rivals Maynard, but it’s the rhythm section that really seals the deal. "Deadman" and "Change" are masterpieces of long-form progressive rock. They understand that a 10-minute song needs to be a journey, not just a repetitive loop of a cool riff.
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Rishloo is another name that pops up in every Reddit thread and Discord server dedicated to this search. Andrew Mailloux has a vocal range that is frankly terrifying. He can go from a fragile whisper to a glass-shattering scream in a way that feels very "The Grudge." Their album Living as Ghosts with Ghosts is essential. It’s theatrical. It’s weird. It’s heavy. It’s exactly what you’re looking for if you want that "psychological" edge.
The Grittier, Sludgier Cousins
Sometimes, what you love about Tool isn't the math—it's the filth. It's the feeling of being dragged through a swamp.
Soen is a fascinating case. Their debut album, Cognitive, was so close to Tool that people actually accused them of being a side project. It featured Martin Lopez (ex-Opeth) on drums, and he definitely channeled his inner Danny Carey. Songs like "Savia" and "Fraccions" are basically love letters to Undertow. However, as the band progressed through albums like Lykaia and Lotus, they found their own voice—more melodic, slightly more "classic rock" in its soul, but still retaining that rhythmic complexity.
Then you have Lucid Planet. These guys are doing something wild. They blend that heavy, tribal Tool-esque percussion with electronic elements and psychedelic trance. It’s like Tool went to a rave in the Australian outback. Their second album, Lucid Planet II, is a massive step forward in showing how the Tool influence can be evolved into something entirely different.
The Atmospheric Masters: Wheel and Kolm
Wheel is probably the best modern example of "The New Wave" of this sound. Based in Finland, they took the staccato, percussive guitar style of 10,000 Days and sharpened it. Their tracks are often focused on social commentary and political themes, moving away from Tool’s more spiritual or Jungian leanings. The song "Wheel" itself is an epic that hits all the right spots: the building tension, the explosive climax, and the relentless, driving bassline.
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If you want something a bit more obscure, check out Kolm. Their album Umbra is a masterclass in atmosphere. They lean heavily into the Fear Inoculum style—long, slow-burning tracks that require patience. It’s meditative metal. It isn't about the "hook"; it’s about the immersion.
The Genetic Ancestors and Side Projects
We can’t talk about bands that sound like Tool without mentioning where the sound came from and where it branched off to.
- King Crimson: Specifically the Red and Discipline eras. Without Robert Fripp, there is no Adam Jones. The interlocking, repetitive guitar patterns in "Frame by Frame" are the literal blueprint for Tool’s "7empest."
- A Perfect Circle: This is the obvious one, but it's worth noting. While APC is more "radio-friendly" and melodic, Billy Howerdel’s guitar work shares that same haunting, atmospheric DNA.
- Puscifer: If you like the "weird" side of Tool—the electronic glitches and the dry humor—Maynard’s third project is where that lives. It’s not "heavy" in the traditional sense, but the vibe is unmistakable.
- Peach (GB): This was Justin Chancellor’s band before he joined Tool. If you listen to their album Giving Birth to a Stone, you can hear the exact moment Tool’s bass sound changed forever.
The Common Misconception: "Does Every Prog Band Count?"
No.
People will tell you to listen to Dream Theater or Porcupine Tree. Both are incredible, legendary bands. But they don't sound like Tool. Dream Theater is too flashy, too "shred-heavy." Tool is about restraint. Porcupine Tree is too melancholic and British-prog-pop (at least in their mid-period).
To truly sound like Tool, a band needs that "Tribal" element. It’s that feeling of four people in a dark room playing a ritual. It’s the lack of "ego" in the playing. No one is soloing just to show off; they are all serving the "The Thing" in the middle of the room.
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Why You Should Care About the "Post-Tool" Scene
We are currently in a bit of a renaissance for this specific sub-genre. For years, bands were afraid to sound like Tool because the comparisons were always so biting. But now, a new generation of musicians who grew up on Lateralus are reaching their peak. They aren't just copying; they are iterating.
Take a band like Vulkan. Their album Technatura is a sprawling, bilingual journey that uses the Tool foundation to explore folk, funk, and heavy psych. Or Source, a band from Colorado that focuses heavily on the philosophy and consciousness aspect of the music, mirroring Tool’s lyrical depth.
Actionable Steps for the Hungry Listener
If you’ve exhausted the Tool discography and you’re staring at your speakers waiting for another thirteen-year gap to end, here is how you actually find the good stuff:
- Follow the Producers: Look for albums engineered or produced by Joe Barresi or David Bottrill. They have a specific way of capturing drums and guitars that appeals to the Tool-loving ear.
- Explore the "Post-Metal" Tag: Bands like Isis (especially Panopticon) or Russian Circles capture the heavy, instrumental atmosphere of Tool even if they don't have a vocalist.
- The "Bass-Forward" Search: Look for bands where the bassist uses a Wal or a Dingwall and plays with a pick. That "clank" is half the battle.
- Support the Underground: Use Bandcamp tags like "Atmospheric Progressive Metal" rather than just "Prog Metal." You'll find the smaller acts like Prisma or Ceterum who are keeping this specific flame alive.
The search for bands that sound like Tool usually leads to a realization: Tool is a once-in-a-century anomaly. But the ripples they left in the water are massive. Whether it's the polished Aussie-prog of Karnivool or the DIY psychedelic experiments of Lucid Planet, the spirit of that complex, dark, and rewarding music is very much alive. You just have to be willing to dig through the mud to find the gold.