Efficiency in the Works: Justin Chancellor Shares Optimistic Update on Tool’s Timely Approach to New Album

In an exclusive interview featured in the latest issue of Metal Hammer, Tool bassist Justin Chancellor sheds light on the band’s proactive approach to avoid another extensive gap between albums. Chancellor acknowledges the significance of time, particularly considering drummer Danny Carey’s age of 62, emphasizing the need for increased efficiency in their creative process.

“Danny is 62 now, so there’s no thought of taking 13 years if we’re gonna do it,” Chancellor states. “We’re gonna have to be more efficient, and we’ve been talking of ways that we can do that. Maybe taking a leaf out of how me and Peter [Mohamed, Justin’s bandmate in side project MTVoid] work with MTVoid – instead of staring at each other going ‘Come on! Get it out of ya!’ maybe we could do a bit more at home. We’ll see!”

Acknowledging the vast amount of material the band already possesses, as mentioned by Carey in 2019, Chancellor reveals that writing sessions for the new album have commenced in earnest. “We put a little work in before this tour,” he shares. “We gave it a stab for a couple of months. When we’re done with Europe, we’re gonna dive back in during the second half of the year.”

This aligns with Chancellor’s earlier statement on The Vinyl Guide podcast in October 2023, where he expressed the band’s intention to utilize non-touring periods for focused writing sessions.

Despite the band’s busy tour schedule in 2024, with ongoing US dates and upcoming headline shows in Europe and the UK in May and June, Chancellor remains optimistic about their commitment to advancing the album’s production. The band aims to strike a balance between touring commitments and dedicated creative periods, signaling a renewed sense of urgency in delivering new music to their eagerly awaiting fanbase.