It’s the fight between fans that we never saw coming, with Taylor Swift supporters apparently furious that Tool might knock their fave off the top of the US albums chart.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last six months, you would be aware that last week saw the release of Fear Inoculum, the first Tool album in over 13 years.
A stunning return to form for the group, its release coincided with albums by the likes of Lana Del Rey, and appeared one week on from Taylor Swift’s latest record, Lover.
However, while Lover managed to top the Billboard 200 charts, the latest numbers indicate that Swift is likely on track to be outsold by the prog-metal icons – and fans aren’t happy.
https://twitter.com/eurodolI/status/1167461667128655872
https://twitter.com/TheLuckyLover/status/1167879653895262208
Taylor Swift stans learning who Tool are because they're currently selling more copies than "Lover" is really something special pic.twitter.com/k398YRDzvZ
— Ryan Broderick (@broderick) September 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/Uppercut_Slut/status/1167602380986298370
I deleted those comments.
I tweeted out of ignorance cause i had no clue who they were and i assumed that they were a new band from Spotify (even i listen to a lot of Classic Rock).
After doing some research, i see that they are an influential act in rock and metal scene
— johnny1248 (@StateOfReds13) September 2, 2019
While Tool’s Fear Inoculum managed to top the iTunes Charts upon its release (followed closely by Lana Del Rey’s Norman Fucking Rockwell!), Forbes reports that Lover will only shift 260,000 units this week when compared to Tool’s 300,000.
Likewise, Hits Daily Double reports similar figures, noting that Tool’s achievement will all the more impressive, considering they have not utilised ticket bundles or direct-to-consumer as part of their sales.
This news has rankled a few Taylor Swift fans, who have taken to social media to share their displeasure that “a new band called Tool” might topple their favourite from the dizzying heights of the album charts.
Although some fans have noted how surprised they are that a band with such lengthy music might best their pop idol, others have taken a more vitriolic approach to the matter.
“Anyways who the fuck is TOOL?,” wrote one person, “and can they move their fat ass like genuienly no idea who that is am i the only one??????”
However, one Taylor Swift fan appears to have found themselves educated by the whole scenario, which they had labelled a potential “embarrassment beyond belief” for Swift.
“I had no clue who they were and i assumed that they were a new band from Spotify (even i listen to a lot of Classic Rock),” explained Twitter user StateOfReds13. “After doing some research, i see that they are an influential act in rock and metal scene.”
Although it remains to be seen whether or nor Tool will indeed overtake Taylor Swift on the US albums chart this week, it looks like there will be a lot of Swifties bitter that they found themselves even having to worry about a veteran metal act and their performance on the charts.
Check out ‘7empest’ by Tool:
