TOOL appears to be embracing a newfound urgency when it comes to their next album, largely driven by the advancing years of its members
During a recent interview, bassist Justin Chancellor shed light on this perspective, stating, “Danny Carey is 62 now, so there’s no thought of taking 13 years if we’re gonna do it. We’re gonna have to be more efficient, and we’ve been talking of ways that we can do that.”
According to TOOL vocalist Maynard James Keenan, in an interview with Metal Hammer, there is indeed a consensus within the band regarding Justin Chancellor‘s sentiments on the matter. Keenan affirmed that there is a collective agreement to expedite their creative process and operational efficiency.
Maynard says: “Tool is a more complicated beast with a lot of egos and a lot of other things going on in our lives. But all the creativity’s there, the songs and the ideas can flow and the arguments ensue. As soon as we get past the arguments, we can get shit done! Ha ha ha! I think we could do it more efficiently. And I think everyone’s on the same page that we have to get through that, because we can’t drag this out another 14 years.”
TOOL guitarist Adam Jones added: “Most of the people that you hear from on those things – like, ‘When’s your next record?’ – when you do finish it, they’re like, ‘OK, when’s your next one?’ You can’t make people happy. We have this very selfish approach to art. It’s our rules. When you start trying to make people happy, you’re losing yourself. You’re losing that burn inside you of why you do what you do.”
Justin Chancellor previously spoke with Loudwire Nights and revealed the band’s intention to release new material more promptly this time around, recognizing that time is ticking and the members of TOOL aren’t getting any younger.
“At that point [after touring in 2024], we’re looking at a bit of a break, but we’re also looking at a long stretch at home when we’re going to be ready to start meeting up again,” said Chancellor. “But, we’ve already started. We’ve got a few things on the table. It really starts with sharing the ideas with each other, going through what we call a listening party and just sitting at the loft where we write and just kind of re-familiarize ourselves with what’s available to us that we’ve already come up with.”
He later added: “We’re all getting older, so we’re determined to get this one cooking a bit quicker this time. That’s my pledge.”
Chancellor also touched on TOOL‘s writing process for the new material, revealing that soundchecks, while on the road, seem to be the best time to mess around with new ideas.
“Danny [Carey]’s been working on this beat everyday. It’s amazing, but I hadn’t really played with it, but we had a good half-an-hour and I just really sort of got it. Of course, there’s like three different things going on top of each other, but yeah, it is very exciting. It was like everyone just kind of stopped and we were just working on this thing. Some days you get that vibe and it’s very creative, you know?”
In 2022, TOOL made a significant splash with the release of “Opiate2,” an extended and reimagined rendition of the title track from their 1992 EP, accompanied by a visually striking short film. This marked the band’s first new video in a decade and a half. Additionally, they unveiled the Ultra Deluxe edition of “Fear Inoculum” on vinyl, a limited offering featuring five 180-gram discs adorned with unique etchings and complemented by an elaborate pictorial booklet showcasing never-before-seen artwork.
Since their formation in 1990, TOOL has built a formidable discography, including five studio albums: “Undertow” (1993), “Ænima” (1996), “Lateralus” (2001), “10,000 Days” (2006), and “Fear Inoculum” (2019). They’ve also released two EPs: “72826” (1991) and “Opiate” (1992), along with the limited-edition boxset “Salival” (2000). The band’s stellar achievements have earned them four Grammy Awards, including “Best Metal Performance” for “Ænima” (1998) and “Schism” (2002), “Best Recording Package” for “10,000 Days” (2007), and “Best Metal Performance” for “7empest” (2020).
Comprising Danny Carey on drums, Justin Chancellor on bass, Adam Jones on guitar, and Maynard James Keenan on vocals, TOOL continues to captivate audiences worldwide with their unique blend of progressive metal and artistic innovation.
