Tool are still in the writing phase of their forthcoming record. However, the band are making progress as indicated by this post made to the band’s Facebook recently:
“Starting the New Year off on a positive note, ADAM arrives at the LOFT with an ending for a new TOOL arrangement and gets the nod of approval by the others. As long as they don’t start with the ending, that’s good news!”
Then there was also this post made to Toolband.com:
“…when I asked him [Danny Carey] about how things were going with the band, he told me that a couple of days ago Adam had come into the loft with an ending for a particular song that everyone really liked. So, perhaps the musical arrangement for another Tool song is finished… unless they sometimes write the end of the song first?”
So, even though it is taking longer than people would like, it is Tool after all, at least the band are making progress.