In wake of Maynard James Keenan confirming Tool has finished recording its long-awaited fifth album, dedicated fans have been chomping at the bit hoping for any sort of news.
Over the weekend, a cunning fan stood in line to meet longtime member Danny Carey at an exclusive signing session at NAMM 2019. He secretly recorded an exchange with the 57-year-old Tool drummer asking him for an update on the upcoming album.
“Any news on the record?” he asked. “It should be out mid-April,” replied Carey. “That’s the plan anyway.”
Whether it be a single, artwork or an official release date, it doesn’t seem to matter — fans will take what they can get — just as long as they know the album is actually being mixed.
After all, it’s been nearly 13 years since the release of Tool’s last record, 10,000 Days (2006).
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In the last few years, updates on new Tool music have been scarce. If what each member says is true, the album has been in the works for upwards of 10 years.
From short studio sessions in 2008, to further writing stints in 2012, to playing a new song during a 2016 performance, fans are certainly hoping it’ll be worth the wait.
Its potential was teased in late 2017 by former-Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello. “Had the honour of being the first outsider to hear new Tool music,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
“Still just instrumentals,” he added, “but sounded epic, majestic, symphonic, brutal, beautiful, tribal, mysterious, deep, sexy and very Tool.”
Someone close to the band, Gabriel Shaffer, recently posted to Instagram teasing that he listened to the entire album, suggesting that it’s completely done.
“All I can say, is that I heard something from start to finish that a number of us have been waiting to hear for over 10 years now,” he wrote.
“I can confirm it is worth every bit of the wait. The main question is are we worthy of it?” he asked.
The post which included #Tool was deleted shortly after. Its authenticity is unclear as of this writing.
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On Jan. 4, Keenan, 54, offered updates on a number of his bands. He even tweeted that all vocals for the forthcoming Tool record were finished months prior.
“If all instruments are tracked, long process of mixing now,” he wrote, suggesting that his bandmates were not done recording.
Between Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer and a number of other projects, Keenan keeps himself busy and conveys perpetual eagerness to move forward with his music.
Keenan further expressed his agitation while waiting for the album to be finished. A fan asked him how it felt waiting for an incomplete project to conclude.
“Like a slow death,” the singer wrote.
Many fans then reached out to the eccentric frontman on social media pondering whether he and his bandmates actually get along.
“It looks like there is not much communication between the four of you,” wrote a user. “No s**t,” Keenan replied, insinuating that the lack of communication in the Tool camp may be the reason why their followers have waited so long for new music.
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While there is no official release date for the next Tool record, Keenan has confirmed that it will not be a surprise release.
However, thanks to Carey, this spring is sounding promising. Keep your eye on the official Tool website.