I've seen Tool more times than I've seen U2. Needless to say, you can call me a fan from even before Undertow came out.
and as far as new album news, you're funny.
they are on the Trent Reznor, an album every 5 years or more plan.
Actually I might expect one Spring '06 at the earliest. If they were nearing a fall '05 release I would have heard something, I think.
But by all means, I hope they prove me wrong.
I love Undertow, Opiate and Aenima quite a bit, and Lateralus, I like but maybe to a lesser extent.
Maynard is kind of an interesting dude live. He played the Lateralus tour at the back of the stage, often times with his back to the crowd, even playing a 'keytar' here and there. But I saw them on the Aenima tour in a smaller venue and it was probably the best show I've ever seen by anyone. At least it's up there in the top 2 or 3 with a couple of U2 shows.