Tool - Sober

The music video for “Sober”, from Tool’s 1993 debut album Undertow, is a striking visual companion to the band’s breakthrough single. Directed by guitarist Adam Jones, the stop-motion animated video presents a haunting exploration of addiction and psychological torment.

Set in a decaying, industrial landscape, it features a gaunt, humanoid figure navigating a surreal labyrinth of rusted pipes and pulsating organic forms, symbolizing the inescapable grip of dependency. The jerky, tactile animation enhances the song’s visceral intensity, creating a disquieting yet captivating narrative that established Tool’s distinctive visual aesthetic in the early 1990s.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1990, Tool—comprising vocalist Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones, drummer Danny Carey, and bassist Justin Chancellor (who joined in 1995, replacing Paul D’Amour)—is renowned for their cerebral fusion of progressive metal, art rock, and psychedelia. Their meticulous songwriting and elaborate live performances have earned them a devoted following.

Undertow, their first full-length album, blends raw alternative metal with intricate progressive elements, evident in tracks like “Sober” and “Prison Sex.” Later works, such as Ænima (1996) and Lateralus (2001), further showcase their evolution, with songs like “Forty Six & 2” highlighting their complex rhythms and philosophical depth.

“Sober” itself is a masterclass in Tool’s songwriting prowess, combining sludgy, detuned guitar riffs with Carey’s dynamic, tribal drumming and Keenan’s emotive vocal shifts, from anguished growls to melodic pleas. The track’s deliberate pacing and explosive crescendos create a palpable sense of tension, mirroring its lyrical exploration of addiction’s cyclical despair. Keenan’s lyrics—“Why can’t we not be sober? / I just want to start this over”—are both raw and poetic, layered with irony and existential weight. This clever interplay of direct emotional confession and abstract metaphor typifies Tool’s ability to craft songs that are both viscerally accessible and intellectually provocative, cementing Undertow as a foundational work in their influential catalog.