It has been six years since Tool ended a legendary thirteen-year drought with the release of their chart-topping fifth studio album, Fear Inoculum. While the band famously championed a quicker turnaround for a follow-up in the immediate aftermath of that 2019 release, the timeline has naturally elongated, leaving fans eager for a status report.
In a new interview with The Australian, bassist Justin Chancellor provided a candid update on the band’s current creative process. While he confirmed that the sonic architects are indeed active in the studio, he cautioned that the quartet—comprising himself, drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan—has adopted a philosophy that prioritizes organic growth over deadlines.
“We’re working on new music. I don’t know when we’re going to finish it,” Chancellor admitted (as transcribed by theprp). “We’ve been working on stuff on and off for a couple of years, you know? And we we’re always working on new music. I was in the studio with Danny [Carey] last week, banging out some ideas. But we don’t… I always say this, art doesn’t really have a schedule, you know what I mean? Like, you can’t force it. And if you do, it tends not to work out so great.”
Chancellor, who has previously been one of the more vocal members regarding the desire to release music more frequently, seems to have settled into a more relaxed rhythm. He attributed this patience to the band’s unique chemistry and the necessity of their various side ventures.
“I think, especially in our band, it’s somehow it’s just the way it works with our band. It’s a different kind of alchemy,” Chancellor explained. “And I think we’ve all learned, you know, Maynard’s got his side projects, Danny does a bunch of different stuff, Adam does different s**t, and I’ve got my my stuff. And we’ve learned to sort of pare out the time when people need that space with busying ourselves with other things, which actually influence what we do when we come back together as well.”
The bassist noted that this time apart provides “headroom” that ultimately benefits Tool‘s collective output. He also pushed back against the criticism regarding the band’s glacial pace, specifically the gap between 10,000 Days and Fear Inoculum.
“Everyone’s always taking a piss like, it takes so long for us to make music, but I’m proud of everything we’ve done. And I don’t like 13 years. They always talk about 13 years. It seems like a week to me. When we were working on that stuff every day, we were grinding away at it. And it doesn’t really matter in the end. If you do anything that’s decent, even if it’s one thing, it’s worth it.”
For Chancellor, the long gestation periods are a necessary counter-balance to an industry focused on rapid-fire content. He contrasted Tool’s method with the pop music machine, emphasizing the pursuit of uniqueness over formulaic success.
“I think it’s more interesting to take a long time to find something unique than just to keep repeating yourself. No offense to anyone that, you know, I guess we… let’s just call it pop music, right? They just keep churning out the hits,” he said. “We’re into trying to create something unique that hasn’t been heard before as musicians, as a band… There is no formula. And if anything, the formula is just to carry on living life and exploring and letting it come in from your life experiences.”
While acknowledging that fan demand is a “compliment,” Chancellor reiterated that quality remains the sole dictator of their timeline.
“We just don’t want it to be on a schedule. We want it just to be good. We want to be proud of it, and we want to all agree that this is what we want to share.”
Tool is currently on the road, having recently stunned fans in New Zealand by performing deep cuts like “Prison Sex” and “Intension“. They continue their trek through Australia, Japan, and Hawaii in the coming weeks.
Tool Winter 2025 Tour Dates
- 11/28 – Adelaide, AUS – Adelaide Entertainment Centre (feat. Headsend)
- 11/29 – Adelaide, AUS – Adelaide Entertainment Centre (feat. Headsend)
- 12/01 – Perth, AUS – RAC Arena (feat. Headsend)
- 12/04 – Melbourne, AUS – Flemington Racecourse (‘Good Things Festival‘)
- 12/05 – Sydney, AUS – Sydney Showground (‘Good Things Festival‘)
- 12/06 – Brisbane, AUS – Brisbane Showground (‘Good Things Festival‘)
- 12/11 – Kanagawa, JPN – K-Arena Yokohama
- 12/13 – Hyogo, JPN – Glion Arena Kobe
- 12/19 – Honolulu, HI – Blaisdell Arena
- 12/20 – Honolulu, HI – Blaisdell Arena
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