“Feersum Ennjin” is the first full-length release of the new solo project (of the same name) by former Tool bassist, Paul d’Amour. Four years after the likewise self-titled mini-album, Feersum Ennjin finally put out a full-length album. You can definitely hear the affinity to Tool – ironically even to the direction the band took after d’Amour left in order to expand his musical horizon. “Fishing Grounds” features phrases that are reminiscent of “Lateralus” and “The Grudge.” Even d’Amour’s voice sounds eerily like his former bandmate Maynard James Keenan’s, if not as accomplished. Opening track “The Fourth” even features his old Tool bandmate, Danny Carey, on drums. After d’Amour’s last musical project, Lusk, with their only album, “Free Mars,” this was originally meant as Lusk, Mark II. Eventually, d’Amour named the project after the novel “Feersum Endjinn” by Iain Banks, where spirituality and technology collide, a theme the musician found suitable for the songs he had written. This is prog-influenced alternative rock that doesn’t have to shy away from comparison to Porcupine Tree or the aforementioned Tool.

by artistxite