In a recent interview with NME, Tool’s bassist Justin Chancellor hinted at a departure from the traditional album format, suggesting that the band’s new music could be released as a series of individual singles rather than a cohesive album.
When asked about the possibility of the next Tool album being an EP, an idea previously mentioned by drummer Danny Carey, Chancellor revealed that the band, including frontman Maynard James Keenan, is seriously considering this option. He noted the evolving landscape of music consumption, emphasizing the prevalence of single releases in today’s industry.
Tool new album will be EP
He stated: “Looking at how things are released and consumed by the public these days, it’s more common to release even just a single,” Chancellor stated. “That’d be an interesting approach for us because we’ve always waited until we’ve created a whole body of work and made it polished and refined and perfect.”
He elaborated on the potential benefits of releasing singles, highlighting the flexibility it offers in terms of timing and presentation. He went on: “So it’d be an exciting idea to go, ‘Well, every time we finish a song, we could just record that and release it.” However, Chancellor also acknowledged the importance of maintaining Tool’s artistic integrity and cohesive vision.
He continued: “The way that we like to do stuff is to present a whole package with the art and with a theme to it… so an EP would be a good compromise between an album and a single. To get a couple of really juicy tracks together and release them on a shorter version of an album.”
He further proposed an alternative approach where singles are released individually, eventually culminating in a full album release once a sufficient number of tracks have been accumulated. This method would allow for the inclusion of physical formats like vinyl, complete with artwork and thematic elements.
Despite the potential shift in release strategy, Chancellor emphasized the value of the album format in fostering a deeper connection with the music. He said: “I still think that by writing a whole album, you get really deep into the vibe of the piece and it turns into something further reaching and makes your work a little deeper.”
Ultimately, Chancellor emphasized the flexibility and adaptability of Tool’s creative process. He closed: “For now, it’s pretty flexible, which is exciting,” he said. “As soon as we’ve got something ready to go, there’s a choice of different outlets.”
As Tool fans eagerly await new music from the iconic band, Chancellor’s comments hint at a potentially innovative approach to releasing their highly anticipated material, reflecting both the evolving landscape of the music industry and the band’s commitment to artistic excellence.
