Tool bassist Justin Chancellor has offered a rare update on the band’s long-awaited new material, revealing that the group has been writing “on and off for a couple of years” and remains committed to letting the creative process unfold naturally.
Justin Chancellor comments about new Tool music
Ahead of 2025 Australian tour headlining Good Things festival, Chancellor spoke to The Australian and acknowledged that he’s often asked about new music — and admitted it’s a question he understands but doesn’t exactly look forward to. Alternative Nation transcribed his remarks.
“It’s fine. I mean, the fact is, you know, I’ll tell you—we’re working on new music. I don’t know when we’re going to finish it. We’ve been working on stuff on and off for a couple of years, you know, and we’re always working on new music.”
Chancellor revealed that he was recently in the studio with Danny Carey, developing new ideas. Still, he emphasized that Tool refuses to rush the creative process.
“I was in the studio with Danny last week, banging out some ideas. But we don’t— you know, 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.”
According to Chancellor, Tool’s writing sessions depend heavily on timing, chemistry, and giving each member the freedom to explore outside projects. Guitarist Adam Jones, drummer Danny Carey, and bassist Justin Chancellor all remain involved in various creative endeavors, while vocalist Maynard James Keenan continues balancing Tool with his other bands and winemaking commitments.
He said, “I think especially in our band, it’s just the way it works. It’s a different kind of alchemy. And I think we’ve all learned… Manny’s got his side projects, Danny does a bunch of different stuff, Adam does different things, and I’ve got my stuff.”
“We’ve learned to sort of pare out the time when people need that space by busying ourselves with other things, which actually influence what we do when we come back together as well. So it kind of gives us a little headroom that speaks to the new stuff we do when we come back together.”
While Chancellor offered no timeline for a follow-up to 2019’s Fear Inoculum, his comments confirm that new Tool music is in motion.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit Alternativenation.net for transcription
