It was released as the fourth single from their second studio album Ænima in 1996 and received radio airplay.

[1] In March 2023, Rolling Stone ranked "Forty Six & 2" at number 53 on their "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time" list.

[2] A popular belief is that the song title refers to an idea first conceived by Carl Jung.

The next step of evolution would likely result in human DNA being reorganized into 46 autosomes and two sex chromosomes, according to Melchizedek.

Additionally, it may refer to the desire to experience change through the "shadow", an idea that represents the parts of one's psyche, and identity that one hates, fears and represses; this exists as a recurring theme in the work of Carl Jung.