
New York City brass ensemble Brass Against have become famous for covering some of rock and metal’s most beloved songs in the form of a brass band, with past performances including Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage.” Now, the band have put together a pretty interesting version of a perhaps unexpected song from one of metal’s weirder and more confrontational acts — Tool‘s “Stinkfist.”
As you’ll hear via the video below, Brass Against’s cover, featuring vocalist Sophia Urista, makes one realize how big and regal “Stinkfist” could actually sound. Though the band still include quite a bit of electric guitar, the inclusion of horns give the whole thing a certain John Williams-ish quality, while Urista trades Maynard’s inherent hostility for a more sultry take on the vocals. That said, it’s also a song named “Stinkfist,” so it’ll never be a track you play at family gatherings, no matter what rendition you do.
Check out Brass Against’s version of “Stinkfist” below:
And their versions of “Lateralus” and “The Pot” actually impressed Tool so much that that the guys offered Brass Against an opening spot on a European tour.
Watch “Lateralus”:
And here is “The Pot”:
Brass Against’s cover might be the closest we get to new Tool for a hot second. In October, Maynard revealed he was still suffering from the after-effects of COVID-19, after which he urged everyone listening to stop fucking around and wear a mask.
“It’s real. And there’s aftereffects,” Maynard said in a recent interview with AZ Central “I had to go through some major medications to undo the residual effects. Still coughing.
“There’s still lung damage,” continued Maynard. “I still have the cough. Every other day, I have these coughing fits because my lungs are still damaged at the tips. And I just got over the inflammation that was going on with my wrist and hands. I had an autoimmune attack on my system in the form of, like, a rheumatoid arthritis. Basically, from what I understand, it attacks weird spots and it’s random. So that’s what I got. That was my prize.”
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Words by Chris Krovatin