Tool – ‘10,000 Days’ (Sony/Bmg) Released 01/05/06

It has been five years since the notoriously media shy and overly mysterious band have pierced our airwaves with new material. After cries that ‘Lateralus’ was to be their last release for many years and possible in-band-tension rumours as many of the members have broke away temporarily to pursue side projects, it was a relief to hear that Tool would reform and push the envelope farther yet again.

Overall ‘10,000 Days’ is almost a direct continuation of ‘Lateralus’, yet an abyss compared to the deepness that was attached to the direction and emotion of the latter. Where the immediacy of the 2001 release’s songs gained new fans and sometimes disappointed ones of old, ’10,000 Days’ will subdue followers as it is plain to see that Tool have something to be angry over again. Their angst riddled approach is fuelled due to their well documented distaste for the American president, but luckily at first glance they have not gone fashionably political. Tool have drawn upon the direction of ‘Aenima’ and sometimes even ‘Undertow’ at times, but still, as previously stated, it does sound like a direct continuation of ‘Lateralus’ but with all the good bits and riffs reminiscent of their far earlier stuff.

Opener ‘Vicarious’ is the obvious choice for single as it is an instant favourite and a staple in the bands musical career, clocking in at just over seven minutes, it is good to see they haven’t lost their penchant for taking the listener on a tour through their psyche. Put simply everything is tighter. Jones’ guitar riffs are, for lack of a better word inspiring, utilising odd-tempo opposing rhythms kept in check by the monster that is Danny Carey on drums who has got completely off the boat and is leading the band once again, no longer anesthetised by the droning of ‘Lateralus’. Of course Maynard’s voice is completely on form, rejecting any digital effects that had previously layered his vocals, and Chancellor’s bass lines thunder and shake foundations from the back bench, no longer forcing his lines out, happy to contribute rather than stamp his identity on things.

’10,000 Days’ leaves dark-and-brooding behind for violent and unpredictable pastures as tracks like ‘Wings For Marie (Pt 1)’ will lull the listener into a false sense of security only to frighten the wits out them five minutes in, as Jones wakes up and conjures up one of his trademark key change riffs. The eleven minute epic that is the title track is one of the best tracks Tool have conceived as it’s beautifully harmonised vocals are in contrast to the harshness of a thunder storm and the underlining tension that constantly threatens to break out through this song, and when it does…it hurts. Of course you have your songs that aren’t so good such as ‘Jambi’ and the borderline boring ‘Intension’ but however slightly disappointing they may be, they are overshadowed by the utterly brilliant ‘Rosetta Stoned’ epic journey, not to mention the instantly infectious highlight that is ‘The Pot’. Closing track ‘Right In two’ is one of the most powerful attacks that Tool have ever conspired, collecting all their pent up anger that has been stewing in their five year wait.

’10,000 Days’ captures the off kilter aesthetic and storyline symbolism that came along with ‘Aenima’, the anger of ‘Opiate’, yet moves away from the immediacy of ‘Lateralus’. An album that is not for the new breed, but a chapter in a story hopefully yet to be finished.