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US-based fans of heavy metal titans Tool have been given the welcome news that Maynard James Keenan and co. are hitting the road for two weeks in May.

The first of a ten-show run is happening in Jacksonville, Florida on 5 May. They then travel to various huge venues across the vast country – including a stop at the excellently moniker KFC Yum! Center in Kentucky on 8 May, and a wrap up show at Chicago Open Air festival on the 19th. System Of A Down also play that festival.

In June, the band tour Europe and play mostly festivals. They have a headline show at the mighty Download festival that'll be worth every penny.

The flurry of dates announced by Tool come as the formidable band are preparing to release their first studio album since 2006’s 10,000 Days.

No official date or information has been announced thus far, but we’ve not been short on speculation.

Last month, a fan attending the tech-event NAMM in Anaheim, California slyly videotaped a casual conversation with Tool’s drummer Danny Carey at the autograph table. Carey was caught saying to camera: “Yeah, it’s gonna be out in mid-April. That’s the plan, anyway.”

MORE: The best Tool songs so far.

But Maynard James Keenan rebuked the comments, firstly in response to a fan who quizzed the frontman on Twitter:

@mjkeenan Is the rumors true about the new album dropping in April?

— jason lucas (@jasonlucas724) February 4, 2019

Then adding a more clear response to speculation the singer came forward with a Tweet on 8 February saying:

“Update- Midway through mixing. Most likely be a few recalls. Then some arguing. Then Mastering, Artwork, Video, Special Packaging, etc. Best Ballpark Guess- Release date somewhere between Mid May and Mid July. More focused updates to follow as we progress. @tool #simplemath””

Last year, the frontman’s other band A Perfect Circle earned the top spot in the Gigwise albums of the year. The technical, artistic might of any band Maynard James Keenan is involved in cannot be overstated.

The album will be worth the wait.

See the band’s US and European tour dates below

MAY

05 – Jacksonville, FL, Welcome To Rockville Festival
07 – Birmingham, AL, Legacy Arena at The BCC
08 – Louisville, KY, KFC Yum! Center
10 – Hampton, VA, Hampton Coliseum
11 – Concord, NC, Epicenter Festival
13 – St. Louis, MO, Enterprise Center
14 – Kansas City, MO, Spring Center
16 – Lincoln, NE, Pinnacle Bank Arena
17 – Des Moines, IA, Wells Fargo Arena
19 – Bridgeview, IL, Chicago Open Air Festival

JUNE

02 – Berlin, DE, Mercedes-Benz Arena
04 – Prague, CZ, O2 Arena
05 – Vienna, AT, Wiener Stadhalle
07 – Nurburg, DE, Rock Am Ring Festival
09 – Nuremberg, DE, Rock Im Park Festival
11 – Krakow, PO, Impact Festival at Tauron Arena
13 – Florence, IT, Firenze Rocks Festival
16 – Donnington, GB, Download Festival
18 – Amsterdam, NL, Ziggo Dome
20 – Copenhagen, DK, Copenhell Festival
25 – Zurich, CH, Hallenstadion
30 – Madrid, ES, Download Festival Spain

JULY
02 – Lisbon, PT @ Altice Arena

More about: simplemath