Music enthusiastic alike will be very eager to learn that a CD release today brings both praise and extreme pleasure to the ears.

Symphonic hard rock band Tool has finally returned from the shadows to produce its fourth studio album.

Titled 10,000 Days, the album is the first set since Tool’s previous release, Lateralus, in 2001.

Music fans, however, may question the attractiveness of the new album as a result of the lingering period since the last release.

In addition, Tool’s singer, James Maynard Keenan, continues to head the popular band, A Perfect Circle.

After listening to 10,000 Days, though, it is easy to see that Tool can please listeners once again.

The level of emotion and symphonic style of hard rock found in 10,000 Days provide a unique tone, rarely imitated.

The first track and popular single, “Vicarious” opens the album on a very good note.

As with many Tool songs, the single includes a very harmonic introduction of instruments.

The song then reaches full potential with the guitar and vocal entrance. Listeners will find the inclusion of very complex bass lines to be another familiar trait of Tool.

However, the still manages to create a truly unique experience.

Maynard’s aggressive lyrics “Vicariously I live while the whole world dies” seem picturesque in the orchestra of guitars.

The level of emotion and beat are then raised to another level with the following song “Jambi.”

The quick guitar introduction seems like a typical hard rock song that would include clashing drums, screaming vocals, and heart pounding bass.

Nonetheless, Tool seems to find yet another way to mix hard rock with a soft, emotional experience.

Drums and echoing guitar effects fill the song and balance the unique vocals. Even more emotionally charged and unique in sound, “Wings For Marie Part 1 & 2,” are a ballad of epic proportions.

Much like Pink Floyd style, the dual-song piece is a twenty-minute stretch full of soft drumming, mind-boggling guitar effects, and Maynard’s seductively quiet lyrics.

As one listens to the second section of the piece, Titled “10,000 Days” one can see how the song builds into a climax much like that of a brass orchestra: bolstering into a full whirlwind of emotion and musical genius.

The album then changes pace into more unique songs similar to previous Tool singles.

“The Pot” features Tool’s normal guitar ballads and simple guitar riffs with rather interesting lyrics regarding drug usage.

“Lipan Conjuring” follows with an untraditional Native American chant that gives the album a nice balance of tone. In addition, “Lost Keys” includes a few guitar sections, but no lyrics.

Much like “Intermission” on Tool’s Aenima album, “Lost Keys” aids in bringing the listener into a nearly meditative state.

The listener is then brought back into Tool’s guitar-laden world with the song “Rosetta Stoned.”

The song features, yet more emotionally charged hard rock, but with background speech presented in a very intricate way.

The spiral of unique styles and emotional tone continue further with “Intension.”

The band surprisingly uses electronic synthesizers to aid the guitar melody. “Right In Two” and “Viginti Tres” conclude the album with a graceful exit.

“Right In Two” takes advantage of many percussive instruments while “Virginti Tres” sounds like wind passing through a long tunnel. The result is a very peaceful and enjoyable memory of the album after listening to every track.

10,000 Days is by far a Tool classic, sure to please new and old Tool fans alike.