Lateralus

Lateralus, an album from the band TOOL re–imagines the iconic visual identity of the progressive metal band TOOL through the lens of brutalist design. Drawing inspiration from the band’s original artwork—known for its intricate symbolism, occult undertones, and visceral textures—this project introduces a bold, minimalist, and raw aesthetic that amplifies TOOL’s previous album release as well as the associated retail items.

Utilizing stark typography, geometric abstraction, and raw, unrefined textures, each piece channels the weight and depth of TOOL’s music while embracing the brutalist principles of functionality, rawness, and imposing structure. With heavy letter–forms echoing the bands lyrical themes of introspection and transcendence and high-contrast, industrial textures reminiscent of concrete, and organic decay, these designs are meant to evoke a feeling of grit and stress.

Lateralus strives to create a fresh yet familiar visual language.