Since the release of 2006's 10,000 Days, speculation about the release of new Tool music has been tireless.
Recent comments from singer Maynard James Keenan made in February point to a release date somewhere between mid-May and mid-July — so it seems the speculation will soon be coming to an end. But, in the meantime, Metallica shredder, and friend of Tool guitarist Adam Jones, recently added a bit of fuel to the fire when he revealed news that the trippy, progressive-metal outfit are in the final stages of figuring out album art and that means production is nearly a wrap.
"I talk to Adam Jones quite a bit," Hammett revealed to New Zealand radio show The Rock, "and the last thing I knew, he was dealing with artwork. So that is a good sign. If they're dealing with artwork, it must be close."
The last hint Tool gave fans about the hotly anticipated record's aesthetic came in the form of psychedelic visuals shared on the band's official website in January, a colorful loop of biomechanical animations that gave no details but set a mood for the group's first release in 13 years.
Ahead of the release, the band recently expanded their list of performance dates to fill out the month of May, which will see them embarking on a 10-show run in the American South and Midwest.
See below for a photo shared on the group's official Facebook page on March 7th featuring Jones, bassist Justin Chancellor, drummer Danny Carey, and producer Joe Barresi with mastering engineer Bob Ludwig, who previously worked with the band on 10,000 Days.
