12 Best Hard Rock Singers Of The 1990s

There's been an ongoing debate for years as to where Tool's music falls on the hard rock spectrum. The chunky guitar riffs put them more in line with metal, while the complex drum patterns hint towards prog and the vocal melodies owe something to psychedelia. So, what the hell are Tool? Simple: KICKASS ROCK MUSIC.

Each band member of Tool seems virtually irreplaceable, but there is something to be said about the way Maynard James Keenan delivers each of these songs. While the band's debut Undertow had fairly straightforward metal bangers, Keenan's vocals were the glue that carried the band into unfamiliar territory. On more heady tracks like "Lateralus" or "Parabola," Keenan would act as your musical guide, taking you through each corner of your psyche as the music tapped into your brain.

However, not every Tool song had to be a cerebral bludgeoning to listen to. Deeper cuts like the "Wings For Marie" suite from 10,000 Days shows Keenan at his most vulnerable, as he spends the better part of 10 minutes vocally mourning the loss of his mother. Many hard rock singers find their lane and stay in it, but Maynard James Keenan may be one of the only rock vocalists who can both scare you to death and make you want to weep in equal measure.