For all their prog majesty, Tool<\/a> are above all else the same provocateurs who once trolled the church of Scientology. That means any performance by them isn\u2019t going to adhere to usual standards or conventions, and the idea of putting on a \u201cgreatest hits\u201d set is like expecting a whale to suddenly fly a plane. So naturally, as Sonic Temple’s headliner for the final night of the festival, they surprise us by jumping straight into Stinkfist as opener.<\/p>\n From there, things get as weird as you\u2019d hope. Rosetta Stoned is delivered in frantic gibberish, wails of \u201cHoly fucking shit\u201d and \u201cI forgot my pen \/ shit the bed again\u201d about the only parts we can reasonably decipher in Maynard James Keenan\u2019s unhinged psycho-babble.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beams of light spread across the stadium like some giant spacecraft descending, War Of The Worlds style, the trippy visuals projected onto screens around the stadium adding a general sense of otherworldliness. Where the other headliners of the weekend have been anchored around a magnetic star, Maynard James Keenan has no interest in the spotlight. An otherworldly presence crooning from the back of the stage, the musical jams of his bandmates afforded much more focus.<\/p>\n Latest Videos From Louder<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n The first Tool show of 2026, there\u2019s a genuine sense of anticipation before each song, nobody knowing quite what to expect. While rarities are in short supply, the band manage to touch on their disparate eras, with particular focus going to latest album Fear Innoculum<\/a> and 2006\u2019s 10,000 Days. Unsurprisingly, the decision to indulge some of their more meditative, pensive songs doesn\u2019t completely blow everyone away. There\u2019s more than a few mutterers asking where The Pot, Prison Sex or Lateralus are, and the crowd thins before the final songs. But those who stick it out are treated to some exceptional, mind-altering tones.<\/p>\n The bass on H. is so thick and powerful it feels like the band are trying to strike a resonance with a black hole, the stands rattling with each note struck. It\u2019s so powerful, in fact, it causes some technical issues as they’re forced to pause and switch equipment. \u201cToo much rock for one Cab, Justin,\u201d Keenan laments.<\/p>\n With the kind of visuals you\u2019d expect on an inter-dimensional trip \u2013 psychedelically enhanced, of course \u2013 there\u2019s no denying that Tool feel a breed apart from just about every other band on the Sonic Temple 2026 bill. It might not be exactly what festival fans were hoping for, but it\u2019s another glorious effort from prog metals biggest provocateurs.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.loudersound.com\/media\/img\/Louder_logo_v1a_black_on_white.svg\"){kind=logo}
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