Undertow holds a special place in Tool's discography for several reasons. It's an album that marked a significant evolution in the band's sound, with more complex compositions and deeper lyrical themes. Tracks like "Flood" and "Disgustipated" exemplify the band's ability to merge heavy, aggressive riffs with melodic passages and intricate time signatures, a hallmark of their sound.
This is not a remix. Don’t expect Lateralus -era low-end punch. The bass still sits below the guitars. The snare still sounds like a gunshot in a tiled room. What the 2019 24/96 release offers is a wider window into the original analog master tape.
As of 2019, this specific master was released through HDtracks, ProStudioMasters, and Qobuz. Warning: The version on standard streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music) is not the 24-96 version; those are lossy or CD-quality streams. To experience the true , you must purchase the download. Tool - Undertow -2019- -FLAC 24-96-
The loudness war squashed the soft/loud dynamic of the verses versus choruses. The 2019 high-res version has a measured LUFS (Loudness Units) of roughly -16dB, compared to the 1993 CD’s -10dB. This means you turn your volume up for the quiet, paranoid verses, and the chorus genuinely explodes without digital clipping.
This is where the format either wins or loses you. Adam Jones’ guitar tone is famously mid-forward and harsh—a cranked Marshall with a flanger. In standard resolution, this can fatigue. In 24/96, the harshness is re-contextualized as texture . You can hear the amp’s speaker cone struggling. The feedback on “Sober” isn’t a wash of noise; you can trace its harmonic evolution. The format refuses to smooth over the rough edges. It reveals them. Undertow holds a special place in Tool's discography
: This high-res version is widely available for purchase on platforms like Qobuz , HDtracks, and HighResAudio . A Masterpiece of Dark Atmosphere
The re-release of Undertow in high-resolution audio comes at a time when interest in vinyl and high-quality digital formats is experiencing a resurgence. For a new generation of listeners who have grown up with the convenience of compressed audio formats like MP3s and streaming services, the Undertow FLAC 24-96 release offers a chance to experience Tool's music in a way that more closely approximates the original studio recordings. This is not a remix
This is the audiophile debate. The is not a remix . The stems were not altered. It is a remaster focused on fidelity, not commercial loudness.