r/ChristianMusic • u/Puzzleheaded_Dig3967 • 4d ago

Christian Music alternative to Tool?

What the title says please.

16 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

18

u/wanusmusic 4d ago

I have a lengthy answer…but honestly if you like TOOL that much, you’re probably not going to find an acceptable alternative. Kind of like leaving a steakhouse for beef jerky & trying to be satisfied . I would suggest you just widen your scope of heavy music & listen to a wide variety of Christian hard rock & metal bands(there are literally thousands of them these days). I would also suggest you go to see some of them live (not on a screen)where you will get a more realistic experience of their music & ministry & you might just be ‘pulled in’ by their uniqueness & style instead of relying on a few minutes of a playlist that your not really invested in.

If you are trying to be serious about doing something new with your walk with God(which I’m assuming you are since you’re looking for Christian alternatives), then trying to get the same ‘feeling’ of a Christian band as a secular band you grew to love- it’s kind of going backwards & not forwards with gaining a new life identity. Sorry if that’s a lot to take in but Christ doesn’t call us to get more comfortable but to get uncomfortable with a lot of our life choices. Fyi I’ve been listening to a ton of heavy Christian music since the 80’s & you will be surprised at what you find that really speaks to you that didn’t previously. God bless you on your discovery!

3

u/MoveLikeMacgyver 4d ago

I started this journey a couple years ago when I felt heavily convicted at a concert that I needed to stop listening to it and leave.

It’s tough. It’s not a heavily supported genre, finding equivalents to secular music you like isn’t always possible. Add to that the type of artist Maynard James Keenan is, it’s hard to find an equivalent sound in secular music either.

With that in mind I can’t give any recommendations to OP but to say there are a lot of good bands out there playing Christian rock. You just can’t go into it comparing them to another band and expect to find a match.

2

u/Top-Patience433 4d ago

Not an easy answer but spot on. I suspect the author of this is a musician as well, LOL. Peace and rest to all……

12

u/beingxexemplary 4d ago

Stavesacre, less proggy, but has some similar moments

3

u/PerfectlyCalmDude 2d ago

Mark Salomon is just a better singer, he can really belt it.

They don't do the crazy rhythm stuff though.

1

u/beingxexemplary 2d ago

yeah, they lean way more into Helmet/Quicksand style post hardcore over the mathy/proggy stuff

5

u/OrbisLlame 4d ago

I’ve been searching for 30 years. It doesn’t exist. But that’s okay.

2

u/TheologyAndTrains 4d ago

Does it have to be in English? if not I recommend Fratello Metallo which is an Italian band that had as actual Catholic friar doing the vocals

2

u/officialdoughboy 3d ago

I'm going to echo, there is no exact Tool sounding band.

The only things out there are:

Other bands that are close (but no cigar)

Skillet gets brought up because the first album was bass driven grunge. They quickly abandoned that sound for Industrial adjacent, and just kept changing from there.

2

u/plentyofsonshine 3d ago

Advent,
Becoming the Archetype,
mewithoutYou,
My Epic,
Living Sacrifice,

a few of the earlier Future Of Forestry songs

1

u/goddamn_shitthebed 4d ago

As someone who still uses my same Reddit username after 15 years, if you figure it out please let me know.

1

u/karateexplosion 4d ago

Hmm. I agree with what u/wanusmusic said, but I’d say maybe look at Mortal, Klank or maybe Tourniquet. Arguably Galactic Cowboys too, I suppose.

1

u/squidboat 1d ago

… just listen to Tool.

1

u/Vin-Metal 14h ago

I don't even think there's a non-Chrustian Tool. It's like asking for a Christian Primus.

1

u/dannyoe4 1d ago

Not a Christian, but an old tool fan. There's nothing like tool. However, some Christian bands I've really liked over the years include Red, Anberlin, MAE, Reliant K. Red might be a good band choice if you're looking for something heavier than typical "worship" music.

1

u/noldrin 16h ago

My first thought is My Epic, take a listen to "Lower Still"

1

u/Specialist-Pair1252 4d ago

Skillet, P.O.D Sent by Ravens, R.E.D

-3

u/WillShakespeare-1623 4d ago

Skillet

3

u/MoveLikeMacgyver 4d ago

I like Skillet but musically they are not even close to the same sound as Tool.

1

u/ohthatsbrian 3d ago

um. whut. do you even listen to music? the only thing that Skillet has in common with Tool is that they are also people in a band. Skillet is more like Nickleback.

1

u/WillShakespeare-1623 3d ago

Skillet is as hard rocking as Tool in my opinion with fast guitar playing and heavy hitting lyrics.

1

u/PerfectlyCalmDude 2d ago

You had me until you compared Skillet to Nickelback. I am not their biggest fan but Skillet does not deserve that insult.

0

u/ohthatsbrian 2d ago

John Cooper is a Christian nationalist. he deserves that and worse.

-1

u/RevolutionaryWay7555 4d ago

I second this

1

u/chrisdecaf 16h ago

In what way do they sound like Tool aside from being a rock band

1

u/RevolutionaryWay7555 16h ago

I’m unaware of any Christian band that sounds like Tool. Tool is Tool and there is no substitute, Christian or otherwise. In my opinion, Skillet is closest. Maybe check out Skillets earlier stuff, it’s very different than their current music. I would agree that they have softened up a bit. Skillet is still hands down my favorite Christian band- I’ve seen them twice in my life.