Thanks Simone. The bands I highlighted are the ones I feel giving the most direction into where it’s going – so I suppose listen to them and see how they’re different from other bands??
Tool is awesome. The next album that I can the influences, I’ll let you know. But even the way Slipknot approached making their latest album was very different, and similar to Tool’s take.

I will never understand people’s fascination with TOOL, but love what you love and that’s fine by me. I can even hear that annoying jerky song playing in my mind right now (even though I don’t know the lyrics). It’s driving me nuts so maybe I should put on some Ed Sheeran to get it out of my head… Anyway, I’m interested to hear how you feel TOOL’s album has changed other bands.

Back when Demon Hunter’s “War & Peace” came out, I listened to several of the songs to try and get an appreciation of how the two albums compliment each other. It’s great, and I wish it wasn’t only the metal genre that did that kind of thing.

And lastly, Rammstein is pretty cool. I think I remember you describing them as metal pop? Or… basically developed in such a way that non-mental fans enjoy listening to them too. Their videos are so entertaining!