David Bottrill

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Lore & Background

During the recording of Lateralus, Bottrill worked closely with the band across multiple studios including Cello Studios in Hollywood and The Hook, Big Empty Space, and The Lodge in North Hollywood. The sessions took place between October 2000 and January 2001, following a four-year legal dispute with Volcano Entertainment that had previously halted new material creation. Bottrill's production approach helped facilitate the band's shift from alternative metal toward progressive rock and art rock territories. He worked alongside the band as producer, though on their previous album Ænima he had served only as engineer and mixer, not as co-producer. The resulting album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with over 555,200 copies sold in its first week of release.

In Their Own Story

In early 2001, Bottrill found himself deep in the recording process alongside Tool as they navigated away from their legal battles. The band had initially announced a false title 'Systema Encéphale' to flood file-sharing networks with bogus files, but by January revealed the true name: Lateralus. During these sessions at Cello Studios and North Hollywood locations, Bottrill helped capture the intricate layers of songs incorporating Fibonacci sequences and complex time signatures like 9/8, 8/8, and 7/8. The production team faced challenges with running times, as drummer Danny Carey noted they had to cut material during mastering because manufacturers could only guarantee up to 79 minutes. Bottrill's work ensured these ambitious compositions maintained their suite-like purpose despite technical constraints.

Reader's Guide

Bottrill's production on Lateralus demonstrated his ability to handle Tool's increasingly complex arrangements while maintaining sonic clarity. His approach allowed for the band's exploration of progressive territories, helping them move beyond alternative metal labels. The album featured thirteen tracks with prolonged running times, requiring careful mastering using HDCD technology. Bottrill worked alongside the band to balance elements ranging from sampled Buddhist monk chanting in 'Parabol' to piano string samples on 'Reflection'. His production choices supported the album's thematic focus on human expansion and knowledge exploration, evident in tracks like 'Lateralus' which incorporates Fibonacci sequences. This collaborative effort resulted in an album that would win a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for 'Schism' in 2002.

Did You Know?

• David Bottrill produced Lateralus but only engineered and mixed Ænima; Lateralus is his last production credit with Tool to date.
• During Lateralus recording sessions between October 2000 and January 2001, the band moved from alternative metal toward art rock and progressive rock territories.
• Bottrill worked as producer with the band at Cello Studios in Hollywood and three North Hollywood locations: The Hook, Big Empty Space, and The Lodge.
• The album's complex arrangements required careful mastering to fit within the 79-minute limit that manufacturers could guarantee for CD production.