TOOL fans, like me, are insanely dedicated to the band. They're similar to Rush fans (I'm a Rush fan as well). Both bands have incredible musicians.

In on Rush and Tool fanboyism. Both outstanding musician in all ways. Shame Rush is done. Can't wait for the comeback tour.

Album has its moments. But if I'm being completely honest, with the exception of Sevenempest, a lot feels a bit lazy and dull. Like it was the leftovers from the last two albums that lacked the development necessary, but they didn't bother to develop to the standard of past albums.

It feels like they're just doing the most generic overdone tool thing they can most of the time. Not every song needs the part where the whole band is doing percussive D chords, they've done that plenty of times already. And the interlude of invincible feels like Adam dozed off while practicing Jambi. The last two minutes is great (minus the fact that they felt the need to end it by doing more chuggy percussive D chords...sigh) but that long ass interlude of laziness kills the song.

I sincerely hope they have another album in them. Would hope they end with something closer to the quality and development of past albums. Even something relatively straightforward and "generic tool" sounding like vicarious has so much more depth and thought put into the riffs and how they progress. It tells a story, its not just going from one generic tool riff to another like a lot of this album feels like.

how come theres virtually no lyrics in the whole album

As a music producer I can tell listening right now for the first time this album is a masterstroke of artistic genius.

Kim was the closest to understand what is happening here.

First of all they are creating and working in a "dead language" of music. But the choices and motifs are beyond Godlike and transcend the actual material.

Not to give anyone goosebumps but this is something special. Its pure art.

Heres why; its like a similar thing that happened with Brian Wilsons: Smile, a 10/10 album that was essentially a combination of classics that transcended itself in its minutia of master craftsmanship, of inspired abstract purity of artistic expression.

Anyone who said it sounds like riffs from the past, dudes, that was on purpose. These are interplays of memories, nostalgia, genre, but injected with the randomness equivalent to a series if vignettes and the progression of a classical music piece, where it dynamically stimulates the mind beyond just the fundamental machination of the musical devices as we know them.

Anyone looking for a traditional banger along the lines of the legendary songs like Lateralus and 46and2 and all the classic prog metal are looking for the wrong thing. That is not on offer here. Its deeper than that.

This is the product of people who mastered a craft and then used that as a language to create something profound.

Absolutely this will be a work that grows over time. I can tell on first listen its a grower.

Its a beautiful next level for them to reach and is true and inspired art. The genre is just a backdrop and canvas for it. Its a journey of abstract poetry. The interludes are palate cleansers and the pieces are neither strong nor weak. They are all interconnected as one whole. None of it is supposed to stand out like a good pop or rock song. Just like a classical music score isn't supposed to be about the hook or the melodies.

Its loaded with brilliance and deliberate mastery, well thought out and rewarding at every turn.

10/10 they have ascended and transcended. Kinda like the real life non-ironic art version of their classic videos and visuals and philosophies.

In the past they were always treaded as a different realm from true indie rock and serious musicians but now its no longer ironic.

Its super relevant and essential.

Oh trust me brah I get what you're saying exactly now and I agree.

I'll try not to judge so quickly next time.

I couldn't have said it better.

Fuk just had the most transcendent yoga session and home workout to this lol

I listed to it all day at work. I felt much more motivated and engaged.

Tool brahs, help me out. I'm new(I know, we landed on the moon.jpg)

Hard rock isn't my go to but I like a variety of music and got curious about Tool with seeing stuff about their new album coming out. So I checked out some of the new songs and then some of the old songs. I can't put my finger on how I'd describe them or how I feel about them. There is something weird, almost creepy about some of their stuff, but that's also what makes it interesting. I wouldn't say I love it yet but at bare minimum I am... intrigued?

Are there favorite songs or albums you would recommend me to start with or anything like that? Point me in the right direction boyos, enlighten me, sell me.

wasnt crazy for the Invincible song but now I absolutely love it


warrior.............. struggalinn'

#1) Stinkfist
#2) Do NOT start with Lateralus. Check out the other albums prior and then listen to it.

I was in the same boat as you a few years ago then got hooked before this album.

I’d say at the very least go listen to their old hits which are now on YouTube for the first time ever in full quality. That way you can get even more creeped out lol. Their videos were works of art.

The old stuff was still very progressive and didn’t follow your standard “blah blah chorus blah blah chorus” format. This new album breaks those barriers even further. I think you will appreciate it more after listening to their old stuff first.

I was just telling my lady it’s so amazing they put this album out with 10+ minute tracks and it’s #1 during a time when people have such short attention spans and most music is getting shorter and shorter.

I’ve listened about 5 times all the way through and every time I find a new section of a song I love.

Edit: also, if you do any mind altering drugs, give it a listen under the influence lol. Always takes me deeper.

Aenima (on-ima) is my favorite album. I love every song.

Found this with the whole album, every time I listen I love it a little more

Buying my tickets to their Toronto show today, will be my second tool concert

Forty Six & 2 from Ænima was a popular radio play back in the day, and it's still one of my favorite songs. Since it's mainstream, that may be a good song to start with.

Stinkfist is my favorite Tool song so far. How he goes back and forth between the softer lyrics and the more aggressive ones is super cool.

when that one riff comes in...

brb getting under the barbell

This album is #1 now! It beat out Taylor Swift's album. Her fans are pissed as they don't even know who TOOL is.....! They also were going off about the length of the songs.

Lmaoo gottem

Damn str8

Invincible is prolly my fav off the album, it's just beautiful


Whole album is solid as fuk though.

As a stand alone, I can say I love this album. Compared to the rest of their catalog? It's ok. My biggest gripe is that there aren't any huge "releases" like with Maynard just belting some chit out. He stays pretty even keel throughout the entire thing, despite there being plenty of opportunities to just blow us away. It's really hard when you have AEnima which is almost pure build up and load blowing, and as close to a perfect album as you get, and then to have something like this with tons of build up but no real release.

I dunno, wish we could get some climactic chit like in Vicarious when Maynard really opens up with the viiiiiiiiiiiiiiicariously IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII part.

That said, Invincible is such a sick fukking song, pneuma is my second favorite then a tie between descending and tempe5t.

Yes!!! Invincible is fuking amazing. The more times I listen to the entire album, the closer it comes to matching the masterpiece known as Lateralus.

There isn’t a song I dislike, and before anyone claims they used those filler tracks like Chocolate Chip Trip, realize that the album is 128 minutes long. 99.9% of albums barely reach 60 minutes. 13 or so of that is comprised of 4 filler tracks.

Edit: this album officially proves without a doubt that Danny Carey isn’t human.

I have similar feelings. The songs build but don't really peak. It's just not grabbing me like previous albums. Although technically it's a bloody masterpiece. It's just that you sort of wait for the songs to really hit, but they just don't. They flatten off.

As I've listened to this album more and more, Invincible for me is among the best songs they have ever made, and I'll even go as far as saying its my favorite theyve ever made. I can't get over it to be honest. Its by far now my favorite song of the album. The main guitar riff is catchy as fuuu, the buildup is amazing finishing off on high energy, and Danny Carey is about as brilliant as brilliant gets. MJK has great vocals in it...not his best song, but its not a vocally driven song.

It just amazes me how much chemistry a band can have. Theyve been making music around 30 years, and continue to evolve and produce music that evokes a lot of emotion.

I'm on my second listen and am reserving judgment so far. But...just a little reminder that there were people polarized by Lateralus' release too so...yeah.

Das it meng, chocolate chip trip too is great while going fast on the freeway ive found haha

All this but I think Maynard’s vocals were fuking perfect in Invincible, especially his cadence and timing. It flows perfectly with the rest of the bands instruments.

Tool said this album would be a little bit of each previous album, so of course those of us that have been fans from day 1 can hear the familiarity at times.

I can’t help but feel bad for whatever fans didn’t quite live long enough to hear this masterpiece. 13 years is a long fuking time, but wasn’t intentional.

Seeing them October 25th boyos first time EVER seeing them ever since getting into them in 6th grade

Nice, I'm thinking of getting tickets for when they come to Detroit nov 9 but tickets are pricey


Then again , when are they ever going to tour again...