The 2019 hi-res remaster of Tool's Undertow, released in FLAC 24-bit/96kHz, represents a significant sonic leap for the band's 1993 debut. This release coincided with Tool's entire catalog finally hitting digital streaming platforms on August 2, 2019. Why the 24/96 Remaster Matters

The high-resolution release is available through platforms like Qobuz and OTOTOY. Key technical details include: Format: FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) Sample Rate: 96 kHz Bit Depth: 24-bit Release Date: August 2, 2019 Label: RCA Records Label Sonic Improvements

Digital Platforms: You can find these high-res files on audiophile-focused stores like HDtracks, Qobuz, and ProStudioMasters.

Undertow: This seems to refer to an album or possibly a song by Tool. Undertow is indeed the second studio album by Tool, released on April 6, 1993. It received significant critical acclaim and commercial success.

2. Separation in "Prison Sex"

The guitar riff in "Prison Sex" uses a distinctive "pull-through" harmonic that usually gets lost in the mids. In the 2496 version, Adam Jones’ guitar sits perfectly left-of-center, while Paul D’Amour’s bass snakes through the right channel. The clarity reveals that Jones was playing through a vintage delay pedal, a detail masked in lower resolutions.

2. Release Context

• Original Release: Undertow was originally released on April 6, 1993, by Zoo Entertainment.
• 2019 Reissue: In 2019, Tool’s back catalog was re-released digitally and on physical media. These reissues were part of a broader campaign coinciding with the release of the band's fifth album, Fear Inoculum.
• Source Material: The 2019 hi-res versions are widely considered to be derived from the same remastering sessions as the recent vinyl reissues. Unlike the original 1993 CD (which has a different dynamic range profile typical of early 90s mastering), the 2019 digital transfer offers a modernized sonic profile.