Tool: 10 Albums We Waited For Longer Than The New Album
Even JLS released four albums in three years. How hard can it be?
Tool stand today as one of the most intriguing and complex bands ever to grace the music industry. Evolving their initial heavy metal sound to include more progressive and experimental elements, the band has conjured up three Grammy Awards across four albums in their near thirty year history.
Along with Tool's mystique - usually opting to avoid media outlooks wherever possible - a large part of their success is down to the quality of each album. Every release is a progression from their previous output, drawing in huge soundscapes, complex vocal delivery, unusual time signatures and integrations with maths and psychology. Small wonder then, that everyone is clamouring for album number five.
Whilst most fanbases have it easy compared to Tool's fan in waiting for a new album (eight years for new Metallica, five for Maiden, eight for Aerosmith, etc.), they themselves have it easy compared to those who waited for any album on this list (especially when some of them weren't that great).
As you read this, spare a thought for those still waiting for new albums from System of a Down, Emperor or Fleetwood Mac. They're all beginning to look like Seymour from Futurama.
10. Van Halen - A Different Kind Of Truth (~14 Years)
Van Halen, both the band and guitarist Eddie, have given a lot to the music industry. Their synth-backed glam metal style helped bring forward the bombastic California glam movement of the 80s, they introduced contract riders which in tern made promoters produce safer shows, and in 1984, Eddie Van Halen occupied both the number one and two spot on the Billboard 200, with appearances on Van Halen's 1984 and Michael Jackson's Thriller.
Fast forward to 1998 and things are very different.
Grunge swallowed up and spat out glam metal, neither of Van Halen's talismanic frontmen are with the band and Van Halen III is a drab mess that sounds like a constant clash between the music and vocals. After this, the band went into a hiatus from the public.
Not one to be deterred, Van Halen reunited with David Lee Roth (again) and brought in Eddie's son Wolfgang as the band's new bassist for A Different Kind of Truth in 2012. Harkening back to the glory days, the album performed considerably well and featured some of Eddie's best guitar work in years.
Cheesier than halloumi fries dipped in fondue.