Tool, Manchester Arena. 1st June 2024

Tool are a niche kinda band aren’t they. Despite that though, the Arena is packed. They’re on early too and catch me out. Only just though, but enough for the lad next to me to ask “What time do you call this?”. I’ve missed part of ‘Third Eye’, but fair play, Tool songs are long. I wonder if that’s part of what makes them seem a bit serious and impenetrable from the outside. You have to give them some time to get under your skin. Both lads either side of me have clearly done this, they’e excited, bouncing with every beat. This could be annoying but it’s actually quite fun, I’m enjoying the energy. This is important for a Tool gig, is all about the energy and boy do they bring it. It’s a full on proper arena show. The lights are amazing, there’s lasers and some of the best video projection content I’ve seen in ages. It’s not really about seeing the band at all. The visuals largely take over, with them kept out of the spotlight. Adam, Danny and Justin do all get there moments, but frontman Maynard shirks the usual frontman ego stuff, keeping to his preferred position on risers at the back. The sound though is what’s really important and it is spot on. Probably the best I’ve ever heard it in here. Depeche Mode in here the other month sounded great too, the Arena seem to have upped their game. It’s really intense, making my seat buzz even though I’m the other side of the room. In a smaller space it’d melt the skin off your bones. The entire set is incredible, but songs like ‘Descending’ and ‘The Grudge’ are absolutely stunning. Each song is almost like a set on its own, twisting and turning through time changes, like a movies moving through the acts. Naysayers will dismiss all this as pretentious and indulgent, but they’re missing the point. Tool are world building and it’s quite incredible how they create such raw power with just the three of them (plus Maynard of course). After a very civilised intermission. Danny gets things going again by playing a giant gong. My Aussie buddy that was sat to my right hasn’t returned and I’m wondering if he realised it was just a break. The gong playing switches into a drum solo which I’d usually scoff at, but it’s pretty spellbinding. More of a tribal opera than the usual banging indulgence. Then Justin has a go, using his bass to give SunnO))) a run for there money and they tear into ‘Flood’. It all feels a bit like that scene in Oppenheimer when the bomb goes off. Your pinned back in awe. The Aussie doesn’t return and the poor bloke misses a staggering finale with ‘Ænema’ that has me thinking that despite being in this cavernous space, earplugs might’ve been an idea. It’s too late now though. The apocalypse seems to be drawing closer outside. Thank fuck we’ve got Tool to soundtrack it.