TOOL

Tool is a mysterious progressive metal band from Los Angeles, California. Its members include vocalist Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones, drummer Danny Carey, and bassist Justin Chancellor, who replaced Paul D'Amour in 1995.

The band debuted with their sole EP, Opiate (1992), followed by their first studio album, Undertow (1993), during the early 1990s grunge era, achieving success by headlining Lollapalooza festivals. As the alternative rock scene faded from the mainstream American consciousness, Tool transitioned into art rock and progressive rock, releasing Ænima (1996), Lateralus (2001), and 10,000 Days (2006), which received global critical and commercial acclaim. After much anticipation spanning over 13 years, their fifth studio album, Fear Inoculum, came out on August 30, 2019.

Tool’s approach combines conviction with sarcasm. The band integrates mathematical and ritualistic themes in their music, creating a paradoxical belief system that has confounded a large portion of their fan base. They employ multiple time signatures in their recent works, arrange their instruments in complex formations, and even incorporate the Fibonacci Sequence into the song “Lateralus.”

For over a decade until it was updated before the 2017 tour, Tool’s website featured artsy, nonsensical band member biographies, crafting a calculated mystique, and delivering false news intended for their cult-like followers who are willing to believe almost anything. Communications from the band, whether directly from a member or through media, are designed to be questioned, aligning with an ideology the band has promoted for many years. Some suggest Tool’s approach mimics that of their long-time subject of satire, L. Ron Hubbard, and the belief system he developed.

Through their thematic structures, visual arts, vivid and Grammy-winning album art (with contributions from Adam Jones and artist Alex Grey), and lengthy, intricate releases, the band’s sound is described as transcending styles—a blend of progressive metal, psychedelic rock, and art rock. The connection between the band and the music industry is ambivalent, marked by censorship and their ongoing demand for privacy.

On August 2, 2019, after years of delay, all of Tool’s music was made available for digital streaming and purchase.