It’s been 4,311 days since Tool released their last album, 10,000 Days, back in 2006. Now, after years and years of back and forth between members about the status of the new record, we’ve received one of the most positive updates in a long time from the one person we least expected good news to come from.

Just two months ago, Tool drummer Danny Carey dropped the bombshell revelation that the group’s long-awaited fifth studio album will be dropping in 2018. “Yes. I’m saying definitely. We’ll probably have it done in the first half [of the year] if things go as planned,” Carey admitted.

“There’s setup times and manufacturing – I can never predict all that, it seems like it’s constantly evolving. [What time of year it will be out] I can’t tell you.”

Of course, with all the broken promises over the years, Tool fans often take this news with a grain of salt, choosing only to believe when they have a tangible record within their hands. But now, the group’s own frontman has offered a rare update on the happenings of the record.

Taking to Twitter yesterday, Maynard James Keenan shared an oft-requested update as to the happenings of the new record.

“Started getting music files from the boys w the word FINAL in the title a few months ago after 11 years of begging,” he began. “That in theory means the tracks wont change out from under me while I’m trying to write stories and melodies to them. In theory. Still waiting for the FINAL on 1, but way ahead.”

“Words & Melodies 100% DONE on all but 1. Someday we’ll track them. Long way from the finish line, but at least we’re closer.”

Keenan then finished off his Twitter comments with a quick bit of self-promotion for A Perfect Circle’s new album, Eat The Elephant, which is due on April 20th, before adding in a rather snarky hashtag of “#theresyourupdate”, in response to the fans who relentlessly hound him for news.

Sadly, every time that good news comes forth in regards to a new Tool album, Maynard is often ready to shoot down the news, dismissing it as having been exaggerated by the music media, and often offering a far more realistic insight as to what has been happening. So for Maynard himself to be giving this good news, well, take from that what you will, but to us it sounds pretty damn promising.

Check out Tool’s most recent single, 2006’s ‘Jambi’:

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