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10 Bands Like Tool To Check Out If You Like Progressive Rock

March 1, 2021
bands like tool

If you’re looking for bands similar to Tool, you’re at the right place. Read on to find a list of metal and progressive rock bands like Tool.

Tool is one of the world’s strangest bands with a very unique sound. The band has an almost cult-like following and they deserve it. The band formed in Los Angeles in America in the 1990s. Tool consists of drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Justin Chancellor has served as the band’s bassist since, 1995 after he came in to replace Paul D’Amour. The band has won a lot of awards including 4 Grammy awards. They have toured worldwide and produced some truly phenomenal albums.

At the time of writing this article, the band has released a total of five albums and an EP. Tool emerged in the ’90s with their first album in Undertow(1993) which solidified their place in the metal world. Their subsequent albums were all hits as well and they gathered a worldwide dedicated following. Tool used great visual artwork, with superbly complex and layered music that made them gods in the eyes of their fans. Tool has sold over 13 million albums in the United States alone.

The band Tool is usually thought of as a transcendental band that incorporates elements of progressive rock, psychedelic rock, and metal. The band is notoriously private and doesn’t get involved with the media too much. If you’re looking for bands like Tool, read on for a list of bands similar to Tool.

Also Check Out: 11 Bands Like MGMT You Should Check Out If You Like Electropop

10 Bands Like Tool/Bands Similar to Tool

  1. Karnivool
  2. Porcupine Tree
  3. Soen
  4. Tesseract
  5. Rishloo
  6. Puscifer
  7. Deftones
  8. Gojira
  9. Opeth
  10. Mastodon

KARNIVOOL

Karnivool is one of the most popular progressive bands today and they often come up in conversation when people talk about Tool. The band consists of Jon Stockman on bass, Ian Kenny on vocals, Steve Judd on drums and Drew Goddard & Mark Hosking on guitars.  The band hails Perth, Australia.

KARNIVOOL made their debut with the 2005 album, ‘THEMATA’ which became very popular with progressive rock fans in Australia. Their second album, ‘SOUND AWAKE” made the band popular throughout the world. Their third album, ‘ASYMMETRY’ which came out in 2013 is universally considered to be their best musical work. All of KARNIVOOL’s albums have been a huge hit and have reached gold or platinum. As of now, they’re working on their highly anticipated fourth album. You should check them out if you’re a fan of Tool and progressive rock.

Porcupine Tree

Porcupine Tree were a popular English progressive rock band formed by musician Steven Wilson. In the beginning, when Wilson created the band in 1987, he started it solo, composing all music by himself. By the early 90s however, he decided hew wanted to work in a more social band environment. A few people joined the Porcupine Tree on a rotational basis. Richard Barbieri as keyboardist, Colin Edwin as bassist, and Chris Maitland as drummer were the prominent ones. Wilson served as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the group.

Porcupine Tree’s early work was reminiscent of the Pink Floyd era of psychedelic rock and fans were instantly hooked. The band got a record dal with Kscope label in the late 90s and became a popular mainstream alt rock band. By the early 2000s, the band had started making more progressive metal music which was quite similar to Tool’s style of music production. The band officially split up in 2018 after many years of inactivity. They are a we loved band and you should definitely check out their very unique prog metal sound.

Soen

Soen is a Swedish progressive metal band with an extreme style sound. The band was officially announced in May 2010. The band’s first song ‘Fraccions’ was released in October 2010 and their first album, ‘Cognitive’ debuted on 15th February, 2021 and received a lot of positive reception from the fans.

One of the founding members describes the sound of Soen as, ‘melodic, heavy and intricate’. The band consists of Joel Ekelöf – Vocals, Martin Lopez – Drums, Percussion, Cody Ford – Guitar, Lars Åhlund – Keys, Guitar, Oleksii “ Zlatoyar” Kobel – Bass. You would be hard pressed to find a band like tool better than Soen. Check out their music.

Tesseract

Tesseract are an awesome British Progressive metal band from Milton Keynes, England. The band was originally formed in 2003 and consists of Daniel Tompkins on lead vocals, Alec Kahney as lead guitar and producer, James Monteith as guitar, Amos Williams as bass and backup vocals and Jay Postones as drums and percussion.

The band is singed on with Kscope records. Tesseract are often called the pioneers of the Djent movement in the progressive metal scene. As of now, Tesseract have released four studio albums and they have all been highly successful. They have an experimental, progressive, metal sound which fans of Tool will appreciate. Their latest album, called Sonder was released in April 2018. They are a band worth giving a listen to.

Rishloo

Rishloo are a progressive metal band but their music isn’t defined by any tags or boundaries. They aspire to reach new heights and explore newer styles of music with each new album. The band was formed in 2002 in Seattle, Washington and consists of guitarist Dave Gillett, bassist Sean Rydquist, drummer Tyler, vocalist and songwriter Drew Mailloux.

The band’s influences include classic artists and bands like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and David Bowie. Their music has elements of all these great artists. The band is often compared to bands like Tool, Dredg, The Mars Volta. Rishloo had initially emerged on the scene as a alt-rock band but quickly made a name for themselves among the progressive fanbase. The band has grown rapidly since the release of their first album in 2004, titled ‘Terras Fames’. You should give them a listen.

Puscifer

Puscifer is an American rock group formed in Los Angeles by James Keenan, the lead singer of Tool and A Perfect Circle. Keenan is the only permeant member and he thinks of this project as his ‘creative subconscious. Puscifer is also considered by fans of Tool as James Keenan’s solo sound style. Since Tool’s vocalist is the main member of this band, this band should definitely be on your list of bands like Tool.

Puscifer has a much darker style of music than Tool and James Keenan digs dip into his psyche to write some deeply introspective songs filled with a lot of dark humor and satire. The music of Puscifer is very much Keenan. The most famous songs of the band include V is for Vagina, Donkey Punch the Night and Money. This band is a must listen for fans of Tool.

Deftones

Deftones is a popular American alternative band. The band was formed in Sacramento, California in 1988. The was formed by Chino Moreno who plays the guitar and the lead vocals and consist of Stephen Carpenter  on lead guitar , Abe Cunningham on drums, and Dominic Garcia on bass. Their lineup often changed during their early years but stabilized in 1993 when ABe Cunningham rejoined the band. This has been their lineup for the last 15 years.

Deftones are often considered to be one of the most experimental groups from the metal scene. The bands are called, ‘the Radiohead of Metal’ by critics and fans. If you’re a fan of Tool, there’s a good chance you will enjoy Deftones music. Deftones have sold over 10 million albums in total worldwide.

Gojira

Gojira are a very popular French band from the Landes. The band was originally formed in 1996 with the name Godzilla but changed it Gojira in 2001. The band plays heavy metal and their members consist of Joe Duplantier on the vocals and guitat, Mario Duplantier on drums, Christian Andreu on guitar, Jean Michel Labadie on bass. The members of the band have remained constant since their name change in 2001.

Gojira have released a total of six studio albums and three live show DVD’s. The band is known for their phenomenally explosive live and have become one of the most popular death metal bands of all time. They have also inspired hundreds of bands that came after them. Regardless of anything else, metal fans and prog fans have to check out this band.

Opeth

Opeth is a Swedish progressive rock and metal band. The band was formed in Stockholm in the year 1989. Over the years, the bands has been through a lot of shuffles. Every member from the original band has been replaced. The current lead vocalist and guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt has been the backbone of Opeth since the original vocalist David Isberg left in 1992.

Opeth has always incorporated element of different genres of music in their work. If you listen carefully, you will find traces of folk, blues, classic and jazz influences in the midst of their progressive metal style. These elements can be found on their long anthem like tracks. Opeth is a legendary band that most metal fans have heart of. If you haven’t yet you definitely should.


Mastodon

Mastodon is one of the most influential metal bands of contemporary times. The band was formed in 2000 and their first album, Remission came out in 2002 to critical acclaim. They became very popular right with their first album. The band has won three album of the Year records and their song, Sultan’s Curse got the Grammy for Best Metal Performance.

Mastodon’s music has elements of garage rock, stoner rock, psych- metal yet remains hardcore metal in their essence. The band’s second album, Leviathan, based on the classic of Mody Dick, became one of the biggest and most influential metal albums of the decade. The whole theme of Mastodon’s music is change and evolution and it reflects in every new album they put out. If you’re on the lookout for bands similar to Tool, you should give Mastodon a listen.

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When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost. 

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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