In a post on social media last night Maynard James Keenan revealed that he has completed lyrics and melodies for 10 of 11 finished new Tool songs for their long-awaited next album, reportedly coming out this year.

“Started getting music files from the boys w the word FINAL in the title a few months ago after 11 years of begging,” the singer tweeted Friday night. “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.”

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

Started getting music files from the boys w the word FINAL in the title a few months ago after 11 years of begging. 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,

— Maynard J Keenan (@mjkeenan) February 17, 2018

This is the first time Maynard has acknowledged himself personally advancing work on the new album in a long time, and also that there will be at least 11 songs with vocals on the new album. The band premiered a new instrumental track ‘Descending’ several years ago at the Monster Mash Music Festival in Arizona in 2015 and performed it on every subsequent tour. Keenan has been notoriously coy about revealing information and has purposefully misled the media and fans into believing new albums were further away from being completed than there were. Hopefully, this means more new tool music soon.