TOOL
10,000 Days
Volcano
· The undisputed kings of progressive metal make their highly anticipated return.
Tool has a fanatical fan base, their followers eagerly waiting out the long gaps between albums and treating the resulting music with an enthusiasm that nears reverence. The band has a reputation as being one of modern rock’s greatest craftsmen, imbuing their albums with various layers of musical and lyrical subtleties, many of which only reveal themselves after repeated listens. As such, reviewing a new Tool album after only a couple of listens is a tricky proposition. Thankfully, 10,000 Days also contains tremendous initial impact to go along with the hidden treasures to be discovered later.
Despite the huge success of their last album, 2001’s Lateralus, the band makes absolutely no attempt at aiming for a mass audience. Most of the songs clock in at music-video unfriendly lengths, including two extended epics – the sitar and tabla laden suite of "Wings for Marie/10,000 Days" and the aptly named psych-rock monolith "Rosetta Stoned," both of which stretch well past the 10-minute mark. Due to the band’s superior musicianship, which is both technically adept and musically mature, these songs never feel longwinded, taking their time to simmer and build tension rather than overstaying their welcome.
Indeed, great moments come soon and often. Opener "Vicarious" contains some of front-man Maynard James Keenan’s most bitingly direct lyrics, railing against reality television and media saturation in general. "Jambi," arguably the highlight of the album, shows the band at their very best. Epic in feel yet tightly constructed in execution, it’s one of the best songs they’ve ever done. Despite these high points, 10,000 Days does contain a few flaws. There are some songs on the disc which emphasize texture and mood to the point of sacrificing an emotional response from the listener. Said moments are far from bad, but they stand out as noticeable valleys among the album’s peaks.
As of right now, the album doesn’t quite stand as tall in their catalogue as others, despite the fact that it contains some of the best music they’ve ever created. But because this is Tool, that opinion will probably change with time – I can remember thinking the same thing after listening to Lateralus.
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