A PERFECT CIRCLE has more music on the way, and guitarist BILLY HOWERDEL is just cryptic enough about it to keep fans hungry for more.
"There's more underway," he told Minneapolis radio station 93X. "And in the spirit of soft deadlines, I'm not gonna give you the date, but we're working toward something."
The statement arrived weeks after the band released "Starless" — their first new music in several years and a track that immediately reminded listeners why A PERFECT CIRCLE occupy a singular space in alternative metal. The song was recorded at Howerdel's own Lankershim Ranch Studio in California, featuring drummer JOSH FREESE and produced by Howerdel himself. Matty Green handled the mix, and a limited-edition seven-inch vinyl of "Starless" is available through Revolver magazine.
The challenge of making consistent studio progress, Howerdel explained, comes down to the realities of touring. The band launched a European tour in early June, and the constant travel makes it difficult to carve out the extended, uninterrupted stretches that meaningful songwriting demands.
On his long-running creative partnership with vocalist MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN — one of the most celebrated and enigmatic figures in heavy music — Howerdel was effusive in his praise: "When it's time to work, we're kind of in it... He's got a great work ethic."
A PERFECT CIRCLE formed in 1999 when Howerdel assembled a remarkable lineup around Keenan to record material he had been quietly developing for years. Their 2000 debut "Mer De Noms" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, went multi-platinum, and permanently altered the landscape of heavy music. Their most recent full-length, "Eat The Elephant" (2018), debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
The band's fanbase has long been accustomed to waiting. Given the transcendent quality of "Starless," every reason exists to believe that patience will be rewarded again.