Tool - Schism (The Reprobates 1977 Soul Funk)

Song Description – “Schism” (The Reprobates, 1977)

The Reprobates take Tool’s cerebral anthem “Schism” and drag it deep into the funk basement. Where the original is tense and mathematical, their version breathes with groove—wah-wah guitar scratching over a syncopated bassline, congas bubbling underneath, and horns stabbing like exclamation points in a lover’s quarrel.

Lyrically, the song’s tale of communication breaking down between two souls is delivered with raw soul grit. The lead vocal aches like a man confessing in the confessional booth, while the backing harmonies echo his doubts and pleas. As the groove spirals, the arrangement grows wilder—psychedelic organ swells, polyrhythms from the drum kit, and a gospel-tinged call-and-response on the chorus: “I know the pieces fit.”

What was once progressive metal becomes a hypnotic soul-funk meditation on love, pride, and reconciliation. The Reprobates turn “Schism” into a dance-floor sermon, proving that even in dissonance, there’s beauty—and in the breakdown, there’s always a beat to bring it back together.

Artist Bio – The Reprobates
The Reprobates were a raw and uncompromising soul group hailing from Chicago, Illinois. Formed in the early 1970s, the members first crossed paths while serving time together in a juvenile detention center. Music became their outlet—an escape from the system that had labeled them—and a powerful way to channel their frustrations into art. Blending the grit of street life with the smooth grooves of Chicago soul, The Reprobates created a sound that was both rebellious and deeply rooted in the traditions of funk, gospel, and rhythm & blues. Their name reflected the way society saw them, but they turned it into a badge of honor, carving out their place in the 70s underground soul scene.

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