TOOL may be decades into their storied, genre-defying career, but the band proved in Auckland last night (November 22nd) that they’re far from settling into predictable routines. Long known for their perfectionism in the studio and an often rigid approach to live setlists, the group surprised their New Zealand audience with a burst of nostalgia—resurrecting songs that hadn’t been performed in 20 to 25 years.
For a band frequently scrutinized for taking the “slow and steady” route both on and off the stage, this show instantly stood out. In recent years, fans have debated TOOL’s increasingly selective setlists, with many assuming the group had retired large swaths of their early catalog for good. Vocalist Maynard James Keenan, now 61, has openly acknowledged that age has pushed him to adapt his performance style, particularly when it comes to the raw intensity of their ’90s material.
But the opening night of their Australia/New Zealand/Japan/Hawaii run proved that surprises are still on the table.
The biggest shock of the evening came with the revival of “Crawl Away” from Undertow—a song that hadn’t been heard live since 1998. Moments later, the crowd was treated to “H.” from Ænima, returning to the stage for the first time since 2002. Not to be outdone, the atmospheric “Disposition” from Lateralus also resurfaced after a similarly long absence.
For longtime fans, hearing all three in a single night was nothing short of historic.
The surprises didn’t stop there. TOOL once again rolled out their brooding cover of BLACK SABBATH’s “Hand of Doom,” which they debuted earlier this year at the “Back To The Beginning” show in Birmingham, UK—a show that doubled as the final live appearance for BLACK SABBATH and Ozzy Osbourne. Its inclusion in the encore added an emotional weight to an already standout performance.
Setlist for Auckland show was as follows:
- The Grudge
- Fear Inoculum
- Lost Keys (Blame Hofmann)
- Rosetta Stoned
- Disposition
- Jambi
- Pneuma
- Crawl Away
- Vicarious
- Intolerance
Encore:
- Chocolate Chip Trip
- Hand of Doom (Black Sabbath cover)
- Invincible
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.