Progressive metal band Tool has announced the name and release date their long, long, long-awaited new record, and have confirmed their back catalogue will finally hit streaming services on Friday.
The new album is called Fear Inoculum, a Tool-esque title if we ever heard one, and it’s slated to hit record stores on August 30. That’s more than 13 years since their last effort, 2006’s 10,000 Days.
FEAR INOCULUM, Aug 30th, 2019 Album Art, Lead Track, and Pre-Order info TBA. Thank you for your patience. pic.twitter.com/DxDM5j5D8X
— TOOL effing TOOL (@Tool) July 29, 2019
Presumably Fear Inoculum will also be available on services like Spotify and Apple Music when it premieres, joining the band’s other material on streaming platforms.
This Friday, Aug 2nd, the Tool catalog goes up on all digital and streaming formats. High five. #tool2019 pic.twitter.com/Vvt1UpXMvq
— TOOL effing TOOL (@Tool) July 29, 2019
It’s legitimately huge news, and not just for pony-tail-and-cargo-short lads who get riled up by the Fibonacci sequence.
The Grammy Award-winning act is one of the most influential and popular metal bands of all time, but has taken their time writing a new record – and adapting to the new streaming paradigm.
Frontman Maynard James Keenan previously stated he prefers his albums to be consumed as full pieces, not as random, shuffled chunks, but that stance has softened in recent years.
Speaking to a fan last year through his band Puscifer‘s Twitter account, Keenan said it would be “absurd” not to make their music available through streaming in the future.
No. The band never said that. That would be absurd. Perhaps there is a more logical reason for a lack of presence on iTunes & other digital services. #dysfunctional #indecisive #etcetera
— PUSCIFER (@puscifer) March 11, 2018
Now if you excuse me, I need to break the news to the 15-year-old me pictured below, who had (has?) an unhealthy obsession with Danny Carey‘s drumming. Seriously bro, the polyrhythms are sick.