With a somewhat ineloquent cry resounding from Australia’s isolated West following a perceived Frontier Touring faux pas in organising the locations of certain heavy metal band’s Down Under Tour (here’s a clue the band begins with ‘T’ and ends in ‘ool’), it seems the same band are intent on continuing to create tsunami-sized waves – but of a different kind.
With a widening gap growing between their last release in 2006, the platinum-certified 10,000 Days, Tool are bound to make up for a seven year deficiency with a re-release certain to cause a well-awaited, blood-thirsty frenzy.
Posting via their Facebook page on Monday, the band spilled the beans on an exclusive re-release of their debut EP Opiate, which is to be issued on the 26th March, 20 years and 16 days after its initial release in 1993.
In the spirit of re-visiting roots after their burgeoning commercial and critical success in the past years, the Opiate release can be perceived as a tribute to not just a twenty-one year history of Tool’s music but to that of fans, where the exclusive 5,000 copy release of the EP (released in five sets of 1,000) will surely distinguish and reaffirm the popular art metal outfit’s following.
As the band put it, “the 5,000 copies will be broken down as 5 x 1,000 runs with each set featuring a variation of the exterior graphics and included bonus items.”
With their eye for visuals having manifested in a Grammy for ‘Best Recording Package’, Tool have extended the legacy with an interactive marketing bridge between their 2006 epic album and the re-issue of their first humble EP.“The 5,000 copies will be broken down as 5 x 1,000 runs with each set featuring a variation of the exterior graphics and included bonus items.”
Incorporating the fan-appreciated gimmicks of 10,000 Days, the Opiate re-release will “include a new stereoscopic image for fans to use with their glasses from the 10,000 Days packaging;” the 3D glasses that provided “stereoscopic vision” as part of the 10,000 Days artwork.
The new artwork, which is yet to be revealed, was put together through the collaborative artistic efforts of album art directer Adam Jones, “legendary artist” Ada Granovm and package designer Mackie Osborne, whose influence on previous Tool albums – including 10,000 Days, Lateralus and Salival – will be surely seen in this anticipated re-release, according to Tool’s Facebook.
Tool-head hype will surely hit the roof with the EP’s re-release available only exclusively available the band’s website on 26th March, “and there will be no pre-orders,” warn Tool. Which will surely see a metal meltdown which will excite the exclusively East-Coast Australian masses right before the April/May Tool tour.
Maybe a Tool EP re-issue will placate Perth fans. Highly unlikely though.
Tool Australian Tour 2013 Dates
Tickets on sale now: www.frontiertouring.com/tool
Sat 27 Apr Melbourne | Rod Laver Arena (All Ages)
Ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Sun 28 Apr Melbourne | Rod Laver Arena (All Ages)
Ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849 on sale 9.30am
Tue 30 Apr Adelaide | AEC Arena (All Ages)
Ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Fri 3 May Sydney | Allphones Arena (All Ages)
Ticketek.com.au| Ph: 132 849
Sat 4 May Sydney | Allphones Arena (All Ages)
Ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849 on sale 9.30am
Mon 6 May Brisbane | Entertainment Centre (All Ages)
Ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
