Aaron Grech May 8th, 2019 - 9:39 PM
Although alternative-metal legends Tool have been touring across the world for over a decade, the release of the band’s long-awaited (and currently untitled) fifth studio album has dragged on for over 13 years. The band’s fans can now rejoice however,as a proper release date has been announced by the band for the new project, which will be released on August 30.
According to fans, and Consequence of Sound a video screen flashed the date “August 30th” during the intermission for a show in Birmingham, Alabama on May 7. Frontman Maynard James Keenan then encouraged fans to share this news on social media, stating, “Alright, everyone, take out your phones, security stand down, and let these fuckers do whatever it is with their phones.”
TOOL announced that the new album is coming out August 30 at their show tonight! pic.twitter.com/DtgPPwp28b
— Brandon Wiley (@capthowdy1027) May 8, 2019
This was eventually confirmed on the band’s own social media, which bares a similar screen that displayed the “August 30th,” date. This will be the band’s first album since the release of 10,000 Days in 2006.
— TOOL effing TOOL (@Tool) May 8, 2019
During the launch of their 2019 summer tour at the Welcome to Rockville Festival on May 5, the band debuted two new songs: “Descending” and “Invincible.” The group will likely continue to preview this new material throughout the entirety of their summer tour, which is set to wrap up in the middle of May.
Although Keenan did state that the album was going to be released this May-July, the band was rumored to be working on this project since at least 2015. Around this time, Keenan reportedly stated “Midway through mixing. Most likely to be a few recalls. Then some arguing. Then Mastering, Artwork, Video, Special Packaging, etc”
Other notorious rumors regarding the album, include the album only containing tracks that are over ten minutes long in length, possibly making it the group’s longest project. The hype over the new album is further exacerbated by the fact that the group’s music is still unavailable on any streaming service, which Keenan states was not his fault.
Launching back in 1990, Tool launched onto the alternative rock and eventually alternative metal scenes with Undertow in 1993 and the band’s hit album Ænima in 1996.They eventually made a name for themselves with their unique time signatures and diverse sonic palette coupled with their large visual performances at live shows which has become a staple of there’s.
Due to their stylistic songs and unique song-writing Tool songs have been notoriously difficult to decipher at times, due to their song’s musical complexity and their unique lyricism. Keenan explains that this is due to fact that he leaves his song’s open ended, which is why he has refused to try to decipher the meaning of songs associated with his work.
“Some things are subjective, and some things are not,” Keenan explained in an interview with Kerrang. “Some things are logical: take a step back, take away all the grandiose stuff and the idol-worship part, and look at something practically and you’ll come up with an answer that’s fucking reasonable – rather than this crazed Twitterverse of horseshit. Shut the door to the shit room.”
