re: Was Live the best heavy metal band of the 1990s?

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If we're going to allow Alice in Chains then we have to allow Tool and Tool clearly > AiC.

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While I object to "clearly" I have Tool above AIC - however, on a purely technical note - this is the "1990s" discussion, and I'm not sure a pre-Lateralus Tool trumps AIC based on their 90s work alone.

Tool had Opiate (EP), Undertow and Ænima in the 90s.

AIC had Facelift, Dirt, Jar of Flies and Alice in Chains, plus, outdoing even Nirvana, the greatest "unplugged" performance of all time.

So, once Lateralus drops - and I've made no secret that I think that the title track from that album is the best heavy song of the 21st Century, that puts them over the top - but before then - it's probably a push - Tool demonstrably with the better rhythm section, and AIC with a better guitarist and vocalist - an edge to Maynard as a songwriter, maybe.

And lets not even get into why Tool should or shouldn't be considered "heavy metal".