Hot off the presses – Tool have confirmed at the Birmingham show tonight that the album will be released on August 30th. No further details at this time, but stay tuned!
Hot off the presses – Tool have confirmed at the Birmingham show tonight that the album will be released on August 30th. No further details at this time, but stay tuned!
You have had a busy week Hellboy. With here and looking after reddit.
Epic
Also I hope that Alex Grey pic is just a placeholder.
I love Alex, but I am ready for a change.
*Disappointed clap
Why?
Hmmm something feels off.
Alex Grey artwork and an August 30 release date?
I wouldn’t be surprised if this was some elaborate scheme or trick here. Old artwork and longer than expected release date? MJK said mid-May to mid-July release and they’re playing two new tracks…
What could possibly take so long here?
Despite popular believe, I don’t think there’s any actual precedent for Tool running some kind of elaborate hoax.
Not convinced the Alex Grey stuff is album art at all.
To me, the logical reason why the release is so far away is to have vinyl available at the same time.
Yeah This is what I was thinking.
What are the chances they are readying the remasters of old albums for release around then also?
Tool are never in a hurry to do anything, so I’d make no assumptions we’ll see anything other than a new album on that date.
the logistics alone, press etc .. these dudes are 55 years old now. A full blown album cycle is a mega undertaking for young dudes. The release will probably coincide with a full states run in primary markets for the fall, anyway. I’m cool with it. I’m thankful there’s a date at all.
10,000 days still hasn’t come out on vinyl.
I just don’t understand why they would wait so long. Touring Europe for the first time since 2007 and only two new songs are released? Again, something seems off.
I’m not saying it’s good/bad/justified/etc, just that pressing vinyl takes some time.
I can’t think of another reason for a delay that long. We know the recording part is “complete”
Could it just be that whole record industry precedent of Spring or Fall releases? I assume with hashing out digital releases, artwork, printing and shipping physical releases maybe they missed out on the late Spring release window.
^yeah fair enough, I’m just disappointed we have to wait so long and those of going to live shows may only get to see TWO new songs performed live.
It’s just a bit of a letdown as I thought mastering in March might mean a “mid-May to mid-July release” and the new live shows might match up with the new album etc.
August 30 is nearly 4 months away. Hmmmm.
Good lord. We finally get blessed with new music and now, just 2 shows in, its already not good enough and we are back to whining and bitching and complaining.
It’s a month or so beyond what Maynard has guessed. I agree with HB I think they are going to have a vinyl ready at launch and it will be a full package. Takes time. It also gives Maynard time to do his wine thing after the European tour. He said 2019 and here it is, new tool. We’ve heard two songs already. I’d say things are progressing nicely. There is no elaborate scheme and I highly doubt the Alex grey art is related.
Booooooo! But. Yayyyy. But also. Booooooo.
Vinyl is a crap reason if that’s the reason. It’s mastered (supposedly). Gimme it now.
I’d also be super surprised if that torch bearing Alex Grey graphic was the art. He might be involved but I’d think it’d be darker, less of his typical “rainbow psychedelic” spec artwork.
But I was first!
I’ve been a huge fanboy/defender for a long time, but this is a bummer.
They should not have signaled an immanent release to sell tickets and then pulled this garbage.
-1 respect for this move
I’ll defend them in this case – festival shows are booked quite far in advance. I expect the band signed onto these in good faith, expecting the album to be ready. It’s not, and here we are.
I don’t think it’s some conspiracy to line their pockets with more money.
Hellboy, in fairness… you always defend them. T00L don’t seem to care about their fans, whatsoever. They play new music live at festivals, not even their own shows. That’s number 1. Number 2, they could have released 2 singles digitally to the general public on any of the streaming platforms, so after 13+ years their fans could hear the studio quality songs rather than a bunch of cell phone records for those lucky enough to be in attendance. And now after saying May to July, the release will be 1.5 months later than previously acknowledged. Sigh. It’s a love/hate relationship… Read more »
**recordings**
Not sure if you got the memo, but they played their own show tonight, with the new songs…
I’m not rushing to the defense of the release delays.
You don’t seem to like when people disagree with you. I got the memo…but my point was they debuted both new songs at a festival.
Listen it’s their music, they can do whatever they like…and they certainly do. I’m just not fan of their decision making process.
IMO they peaked in 2001 and seriously rested on their laurels after that. I’ll always be a fan of their work, but they could have been more than they are.
No problems with people disagreeing. If I did I’d probably just ban them. Thanks for clarifying your statement.
I’ve been critical of their decision making process in the past, and will continue to be when I feel a point is worth being made.
No worries, I feel better now that I’ve vented. I’m grateful to the band for still making music, in all fairness they could have just rode off into the sunset years ago. And a serious thanks to you for all the hard work running the site. It’s been the go-to for T00L and other related news for the last 13+ years for me.
Peace out.
You’re way off and don’t seem to have a point other than to be negative about Tool in general. HB doesn’t always “defend” Tool.
Pardon my negativity. I had a moment. However 1 week from today will make exactly been 18 years since Lateralus. To date T00L have released exactly 10 songs since that point in time…18 years. 2 of those songs they played only live, just recently. That’s an average of .5 song per year. I’m not counting Lipan Conjuring, Lost Keys or Viginti Tres as actual songs for those doing the math.
I think my point went well over your head sir.
Oh. He usually does. Lol.
I mean, we’re talking about 55 year old dudes playing a young person’s game.
You’re probably right abought them peaking in 2001, but they were 37-38 years old when they reach stratosphere level band on that record. How many other times in the history of rock n roll has that happened?
Honestly, that they even continued to be a band after that is still pretty fucking amazing.
Also, “peaking” in the 01’ was a pretty crazy goddamn peak for ANYONE that started in May of 2001 at the Tabernacle in Atlanta and went around the world X amount of times hitting every corner ending in Hawaii days away from 2003. That is an INSANE cycle.
The entire history of the band is a complete anomaly. This 13 year layover (in which they’ve done shows/tours in almost every year in that time) is actually quite fitting.
The expectation level is too high.
Wow….
whatever, we have a date at last.
Also, about the new songs: I’m pretty sure I caught some lines that I haven’t seen on any of the attempts at transcribing lyrics. “this madness of our own making” in Descending and on Invincible I’m pretty sure I heard Maynard sing “No one dies. Stay. Alive.” instead of “one try to stay alive.” Maybe I misheard.
album world tour to follow but I thought MJK wanted Puscifer next year??
Please no re Alex Grey.
Also is this supposed to be their self-help/motivational album…? 🤣🤣
For a band that touts such support for “high artistry” when there are THOUSANDS of struggling artists out there for them to give exposure to collaboratively it’s a bit short-sighted in using the same lame ass anatomically “spiritual” BS artist over and over.
Now you’re just bullshitting. You’re just heaping your own expectations on them.
That isn’t the album art.
i have high standards it’s true, in any aesthetic sense…i know it’s not the album art…i’m just sick of Alex Grey’s Lisa Frank colors mannnn colors…and seriously, shit like, give me ONE Tool article that doesn’t open up with something like “Tool are a mysterious band who rarely grants interviews…” GIMMICKS R’US
but i digress. F Alex Grey.
I will be buying a copy of every format so I don’t mind waiting. Just glad to have new music and an announcement finally!
What are the chances of a double album at this point?
Love Descending and Invincible after many listens
My understanding is it should be a single long CD. It’ll certainly be a double album by vinyl standards.
Non-double CD quasi-confirmed?
While I don’t think the torch will be a part of it, of course, they are going to use Grey for album artwork. I’m just hoping they use Granov as well. It’s time to freshen things up a bit.
An August release makes sense. Gives them time to get all of that vinyl ready, plus all of the digital release stuff. I’d also assume they are planning plenty of bundles to be available for purchase as well.
Also going to say with how lazy the lyrics AND the writing has been thus far it’s going to be a self-titled album…or simply Tool MMXIX.
Official announcement from Tool via Twitter. 12:16am May 8th 2019
stop the whining. for the first time in 13 years we have a definite date to look forward to.
Exactly. Hard to criticize writing and such when the lyrics aren’t even properly heard yet by the majority of us. After 13 years we are finally getting a new Tool album and people still complain!!
So who won the album prediction comp?
A forum user called PimPle. I got the heads up of the announcement before the show (I was asked to sit on it) but did drop a hint in the forum that a date was coming, as at the time no one had guessed it yet (we’re largely optimists).
Maynards no longer ducking straight backstage, but actually coming out front as shown at the end of this video from the Birmingham show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2L_I2gzGBU
Maynardism of the night: (After the intermission reveal) “So…heard any good news lately?”
Rightchosis 🤘🏻
My prediction for 7/27/2019 was pretty close. That date was 10,000 days after Opiate was released. I was close.
I’d rather see Alex Grey artwork than this Roman themed art. So tacky and passe’. I’m sure Tool is working on art, packaging, music video, possibly website redesign, deluxe box set for new album. They’ll probably really try to cash in on this album. I’d like to see a Vinyl release in 45 RPM for higher quality sound. Anyone see any promotional material for August 30th? Stickers, posters, subliminal telepathic insertion from Devo Keenan while high on DMT as he listens to the new album?
This is a bummer going to see them in Amsterdam really expected to hear the new album by then seems a bit off. As for people on about the lyrics I have to agree seem a bit crap but lets face it his lyrics since Laterlaus where Tool are concerned have not been the best seems to keep his best lyrics for his other projects. If the title off the album is MMXIX it’s also a bit crap and the fact that Killing Joke beat them to it 7 years ago MMXII. If the album is finnished why not release… Read more »
What about a new logo? Might be a long shot, but is this luminous golden thing which appears at the end of “descending” to be considered as the new tool logo?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZJIldL5TZU
Pointing at (9:12)
That’s a bizarre sight!
Hopefully there will be a digital release that can be preordered, with the immediate downloads of the 2 songs they’re playing.
That’s a great idea. Since those songs are already “out there” it would make sense. Plus all the speculation about vinyl, they could release that whenever and people would eat it up.
I’m not seeing any Roman theme at all. Maynard is not dressing up as a Roman, he’s just wearing an extreme mohawk. He looks more like Yondu than a roman soldier. Roman numerals don’t really mean anything either. Lyrics to Invincible could relate to any type of warrior type figure.
There’s not a super strong theme going on, and i doubt we’re actually going to have a Roman album or anything, but there is enough there to make the discussion worthwhile. There’s certainly a bunch of elements that hint at some form of ancient history:
The use of roman numerals to show the year (and perhaps album title) MMXIX
The use of the broken Greek statue in Adi Granov’s poster design
The olympic torch motif in Alex Grey’s work
Pyramids in the video during Descending
Lyrics invoking a warrior on Invincible
Pyramids are Roman how?
Oh never mind… you said “ancient history”. My bad.
All good my friend. I don’t think we’re going to see a special edition coming in an amphora or something, but certainly some commonality between bit’s and pieces released so far.
Pyramids are Roman in the sense of when Rome conquered Egypt after the death of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony. No, they didn’t build them, but it goes along with the Roman, warrior, conquering motif they seem to be awash with as of late.
Frost… I like it.
I’m thinking this could all be along the lines of “empires fall,” but meanwhile, it’s a time for the human Spirit to rise from its death…
I think from Undertow, all the way up through the newest album, is a representation of the transition and Transcendence/enlightenment of the human spirit…? (Chakras)
Isnt it what i said in a previous comment ?
Romanian numerals,
Warrior thèmes,
Pyramid,
Granovs artwork,
Kings chamber.
The descending of anciant era,
Echoing the ending of ours.
Is it possible they still don’t have a title confirmed for the album? That wouldn’t surprise me.
Either that or it’s part of this slow drip release of new info. Maybe a title, then a tracklist, or snippets of album artwork/cover over the next few weeks etc.
I don’t reckon they would have announced a release date if it wasn’t “in the bag” so to speak. I suspect the album, art, tracklist and title are all now more or less locked in, and should be a matter of time until they start confirming.
Does nobody else get the vibe from the 98 tour while watching Descending I keep expecting the Reverend Manyard to appear lol
Probably ain’t gonna happen.
I’m really pulling for Reverand Maynard to appear on The Righteous Gemstones.
Ok I agree.
I’m still surprised, not so much disappointed anymore, that the release date has been pushed back to August 30.
I can only think there are more October arena shows to be announced in the coming months. A fall tour (mid-October to mid-December) in the USA to support the new album makes sense if you’re doing an August 30th release.
These current US shows and the Euro trip a like a warm-up.
Hellboy, thank you for keeping this site going through the years. And thank you for all of the updates especially as we have been getting closer to new material. It has been nice to have some place to go after Kabir shut down toolshed.. I personally am very excited that the album is going to happen at all. While 4 months seems like a long time. It will go quickly. And since it sounds like this is going to be their “swan song” I don’t mind letting the anticipation grow some before the album is leaked in July lol. I… Read more »
Thanks for the kind words nails – I appreciate it!
Hellboy,
Do you think this will be their final album? Not counting best of, or live albums. I have read and heard a lot of talk over the years that this album will fulfill their contractual obligations and they would be hanging up their respective hats for Tool at that time. It would be sad, but I understand their age and other projects.
Who can say? My belief is that they aren’t treating this as a final album, and on that basis wouldn’t rule out another.
But I think we can be assured that if there is another, it’s highly unlikely to take 13 years.
I dunno… he’s singing about their “swan song” and “epilogue”
Wonder what costume Maynard could wear at 68yo….. Diapers ?
Keenan said something to the effect that Tool would continue to make music together “until one of them was dead”. I wanna day spin article in 2007 or so.
While I don’t think we’re getting a Roman themed album, it does appear that some ancient history is creeping into their new material.
The Granov direction is a bit corny, but I suspect it’s just poster material.
On the same topic, Ulver’s Assassination of Julius Caesar was quite successful with its roman ties, especially with the live laser show.
Ya’ll do know the album will be leaked before August 30th right? We will all be hearing this thing in its entirety well before then. Too many assholes in this world.
Not sure what you define as “well before” but leaks are much rarely these days than they used to be. I think we’ll be lucky if we’re hearing to a leak of the whole album even a week in advance.
I would say that most albums these days aren’t as anticipated as this one. Things like this that have a huge spotlight on them I believe will be leaked. Just my opinion though of course.
Maybe the disbelief of this actually happening will prevent leakers from looking.
But on a serious note, I’m now finding myself wondering the response this will get. To myself and my immediate friend group, this is a big deal. But 13 years is a long time and I am curious what the true anticipation level for this release is outside of its close fanbase.
I thought I was dreaming last night when I saw this. Finally!!!!
CANNOT wait.
I am super excited for what’s to come. I assume eventually will get more announcements: hopefully for the track titles, album name (cannot see it being titled MMXIX), singles (hopefully), and how it will be released (streaming services, too?)…
Hellboy1975, do you think this new album will be leaked???
No, I don’t reckon it’ll leak, and if it does not very far in advance. Record labels and bands are quite competent at preventing leaks these days
y’all are dicks lol
It feels surreal!
I’m curious to see how Adam innovates the digital platform. Each release tends to push the envelope with its art and packaging. I suspect that the move to digital will bring something we’ve never seen before. I can’t imagine they’ll just put MP3s on itunes, stream on spotify, and call it good. Perhaps this accounts for some portion of a late summer release, perhaps not. But I am excited to see how they explore the possibilities of today’s technology… and the vinyl will still be the best version
Harvest time for Arizona wine grapes runs mainly June-August. The August 30th release date makes ridiculously perfect sense for Maynard’s world.
It looks like Euro tour ends early July, just in time for MJK to come back and stomp a few grapes before putting his final 1/4-share stamp of approval on the finished release.
See you all in Hampton on Friday!
P.S. Keep your pie-holes SHUT during the show! I want to hear the music.
pff. they’re an arena rock metal band now. he HOLDS THE MIC OUT for people to sing now. it’s over.
Am I the only one that thought the first solo at about the 7 min mark in Invincible was Adam and not Justin?
Wondering if the band playing just two new songs is why Blair (rather adamantly) suggested that we (as listeners) try and listen to just a few songs from the new album at a time, stretch it out.
That opening groove to ‘Invincible’ is pretty damn good, found myself dancing and hopping along to it like I would at a Disco Biscuits show.
Also agree with a poster above, the two songs have eerily similar beats to them, could possibly be linked as a greater whole, a short movie might accompany? Adam’s old production still with that severed arm???
I’m pretty sure he made the same comment years ago about 10K days.
long time visitor, first time commenter. Thanks for the site and the updates over the years.
Are you able to find out if there will be a single released before the album drops from your source?
Get the feeling these songs are linked, maybe in the way D/R/T are a set
Also maybe at the end of the album, particularly descending. The instrumental finale, with the kind of epic sounding guitar riffs at the end seems like a closer
Definitely an ancient history theme, but not specifically Roman.
Yeah the broken statue face on the shirt looks Greek to me. Also the formation beneath the face and skull look like a scarab beetle. It may not be the cover if the album but I bet it’s at least part of the album art.
Glad to hear this announcement. At first I thought the same as most. Why so late? But, the truth is no band in history has ever owed the fans any new music. The fact that they’ve been making albums since 92 and are still going strong is amazing and it’s just as likely that this new album wouldn’t happen than would. I mean think about it. The teasers of descending back from around 2014 and all the anticipation and hype. And we now know we are getting brand new music on August 30. Pretty awesome!