Looks like it’s finally time to make some space in the TOOL box.
Maynard James Keenan, lead singer of TOOL, took to Twitter Friday morning to make an exciting announcement for fans of the psychedelic prog-metal band. The recording process for the band’s long (long) awaited new album is complete, and the band is entering the final mixing stages.
“Update- Final vocals tracked MONTHS ago. Then U.S.-UK-Euro run w #APC. If Tool all inst are tracked, long process of Mixing now,” Keenan wrote, signifying that the end of waiting is nigh.
Update- Final vocals tracked MONTHS ago. Then U.S.-UK-Euro run w #APC. If Tool all inst are tracked, long process of Mixing now. Meanwhile write/film/track w @puscifer for #puscifer2020 & troll the band FBs with wine posts. #funnyshit #whileyouwerewhiningiwasworking
— Maynard J Keenan (@mjkeenan) January 4, 2019
Originally slated for release back in 2017, the album suffered from delays due to what Keenan called the band’s “analytical” process. That’s far from the only problem the album has had in its development, however. Back in 2007, the band was sued by an artist claiming they hadn’t been paid for work which led to another lawsuit being filed against TOOL, this time by an insurance company originally hired to help defend them against lawsuits which, in turn, led to TOOL suing their insurance company.
That series of lawsuits took eight years to unwind, which prevented the band from getting into the studio. Work on the new album has been underway in earnest since about 2015, though the band’s particular process and the general complexity of their composition doesn’t exactly lend itself to banging out new albums.
This has caused much consternation from a certain segment of fans who’ve grown impatient with the long wait for the new album. TOOL hasn’t released a new album since 2006’s 10,000 Days. Frustrating though that may be, within the context of the lawsuits it’s not hard to forgive them.
Though the album has finished recording, the mixing process is a whole other can of worms that might take some time to complete. As with their composition, TOOL albums are mixed in a very meticulous, particular, and precise way, lending to the band’s ethereal sound and sonic design. As the last 13 years have proven, TOOL is not a band that can rushed by any part of the process. Patience is always key when waiting for new TOOL.
Thankfully, with the album in the mixing process, the wait should be just about over. Thirteen years may be a long (long) time to wait between albums, but if anyone can make it worth it, TOOL can. If the release of their previous two albums, 10,000 Days and Lateralus, are any indication, we can expect months of teasing as the new album title and artwork are slowly revealed. With TOOL, however, that’s all a part of the process. Hang tight, TOOLies. It’s all about to payoff.
