This is crazy how long it takes between albums. I remember the reasons for the time between Aenima and Lateralus, which was label issues which is understandable. But these days, come on! I do realize that THEY probably realize the legacy Tool has, and it's a big one, so i can kinda see why they don't do a new one every 2 years, This was it makes a new Tool album a big event, just like a new Metallica, and in the circles I'v gravitated around, a new Linkin Park album (although their last one didn't make a very big splash. Then again i don't listen to radio anymore or talk to many into that stuff).
I'm sure we will get a new album within the next 2 years...but obviously 2 years is still waaay too long. I'm hoping within the next year it will be announced that they've finished a new album. If that does not happen, then it will destroy my already deteriorating opinion of the band. And i actually realize it's not Maynards fault, as i read where he himself said that they take too long to make new albums so he has to do other stuff like Puscifer, APC etc. It was in that big spread on Tool in that magazine a few years ago. Maynard said he get's frustrated by how much time it takes the other guys to complete the songs.