The Stream of Fear Inoculum of Tool

August 2^nd was a big day for Tool fans all over; the enigmatic prog-metal band’s catalogue was finally made available on all streaming platforms! That means no more listening to the band’s music on YouTube with commercial breaks in between songs if your car lacks a CD player, a major win for the rest of us.

This move comes ahead of the release of their very long-awaited fifth studio album, Fear Inoculum, due August 30. Pre-orders are now available on the band’s website.

photo: Revolver

Maynard James Keenan, the band’s mercurial front man, commented on the band’s late arrival into the digital realm, stating: “Our obsession with, and dream of, a world where BetaMax and Laser Disc rule has ended. Time for us to move on. But never fear. There’s a brand new thing we think you’re really gonna dig. It’s called Digital Downloads and Streaming. Get ready for the future, folks!”

The release of Fear Inoculum closes a 13 year gap since their last release, 2006’s 10,000 Days. The band has issued no new studio releases since aside from vinyl reissues of all previous albums, and has continued to enjoy massive success.

photo: NME

   Before any official statement on Fear Inoculum, Tool had already been teasing new material live, debuting two new songs on their recent American spring tour. They recently wrapped up a sold out 15 date European summer tour, which also included festival appearances.

   With obvious demand for Tool despite slow progress on new music, it’s safe to say that for the next year or two they will be very active promoting new music. With their discography now accessible on streaming platforms and a strong social media presence, the often media-shy band could be turning a new leaf in accessibility, and they can finally stop being harassed with comments like “It’s taking you guys 10,000 days to release a new album.”

   Listen to Tool’s music on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or whichever platform you listen to music on, pre-order Fear Inoculum, and get ready to see Tool everywhere.

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