Blair‘s Tool Newsletter for November 2018 is out now. It highlights a recent visit to LA following the Malibu fires, where Blair catches up with Danny Carey and a few other regulars from the Tool family. The good news is that Blair managed to hear at least part of the new album, though keeps it spoiler free:
https://www.toolband.com/news/newsletter/457514/tool-newsletter-november-2018-e-v
While walking to his car (parked on yet another deficient alley), Danny emerged from the studio and insisted that we hear a couple of new Tool songs before we left. (Not the final mix.) Yes! Climbing into the Porche, I remarked that a cave man probably wouldn’t be able to tell that it was better than Kent’s BMW because he would be so astonished at seeing an automobile that little details wouldn’t matter. While reclined in the passenger seat (with both Sturgeon guitarists comfortably in the back), Danny put the CD into the tray and selected track 3… (No spoilers here, which I’m sure you’ll thank me for later.)
To indulge in a little speculation: Blair suggests that it’s not the final mix. The glass half full people (myself included) would take this to be that Tool are in the process of finalising the mix of the album – meaning that tracking has finished (including vocals) and that we’re perhaps on track for a release sometime before touring kicks off in 2019. The more cynical among us might say that they’ll believe a new album is coming out when they actually see it. Some are still waiting for the non-hoax version of 10,000 Days is released.
Also Danny has a Porsche Panamera now, which I believe is in addition to his Lamborghini. Perfect for a growing family!