Ok, not many new threads around here, so I figured I'd start one. The new Tool album is out next week and the reviews are extremely positive. Has anyone heard it yet?

The font on the cover is really fucking ugly though, I must admit, and the title track sounded lazy and uninspired to me at first, but as usual with Tool, there are hidden depths that reveal themselves after several listens. I'm still not ecstatic about it, but I definitely like it.

10,000 Days was very good, but it was also patchy and the worst Tool album in my view. Hopefully this one is better.

Title track is a grower. In typical tool fashion. Was lukewarm at first but love it now. Very excited for the album. Obviously the hype and expectations and lengthy wait time all point to a disappointment- but I’m
Still holding hope that it will be fantastic. If it’s 3/4 as good as Lateralus then I’ll be ecstatic.

Waiting for the Digital version with bonus tracks!

I'm disappointed that there is no standard cd release as of yet. Only the special edition version is available, and it's damn expensive.

Standard release coming down the line apparently, they'll sell a truckload of deluxe CDs first, though.

Listened to the first couple of tracks yesterday, didn't make any impression other than to sound meandering but I'll give it a proper listen when I have a chance.

Found it weird KJ are supporting Tool! (Tried again but just not my cupajoe!) I am a TOOL (that was FF)

Yeh. Hopefully they will release a standard cd and one with decent packaging that's more affordable like they did for Aenima, or release a nice package like 10,000 Days that only costs slightly more than the average cd.

Psuedo has the Upright Priest Variant, it cost £45.
She's still stuck the ceiling after it arrived.

Edit:
I got the price wrong.
It was £43.55 all in with £5.70 shipping from the USA.

Wouldn't pay £4.50 for this, let alone £45.

Hey Sol, where did you read/hear that a standard edition cd release is planned? I haven't found info on it anywhere.

Can't remember, some music site.

I've never been able to get into Tool before, but I decided to put it on in the background at work a couple of weeks back and I actually found myself enjoying it. No idea if it will have any staying power with me, but I enjoyed the laid back middle eastern groove thing they have going on on a lot of tracks.

She's still playing that bloody album!

I caved in and bought the LTD ED last week.

It's quite a good album, but I would have preferred a bit more 'oomph' in the rhythm department. It's a little too subdued at times. There are also too many long songs.

I wish Tool would return to throwing a few straight forward rock style songs on their albums.

I've still only given it one full listen, I'm in no rush to play it again, I found it completely underwhelming. I'll get back to it eventually. Maybe.

I'm not a pretentious Tool fan, but one listen is nothing. Seriously.

Whether you want to put in the effort or not is another story.

Oh I know, and I fully intend to give it a chance. Eventually.

I’ve listened to it a few times on Spotify. It definitely has moments, but it just meanders a bit too much for me, or they’ll drag an idea on for too long. They’d hit something nice, and I’d think, “oh yeah, I like this”, but the payoff never seemed to come and I found myself drifting off again, or when I thought a song was hitting it’s peak/conclusion, I’d look at the counter and notice there was still four minutes remaining and feel there wasn’t anywhere really to go. In saying that, I really enjoyed ‘7empest’. 10,000 Days at least had some songs that were more immediate and easily agreeable - or shall I say a little bit dumb. For dummies like me, of course, that want some RAWK! nd not have to think too hard. I don’t really go to Tool for meditative pieces TBH.

Are they a thing? I watched a strange video once & bands I liked liked them eg. E9.