Alternative rock’s most enigmatic, platinum-selling studio partnership is officially firing up its creative engine for a monumental return. Following the shocking, surprise release of their dark and atmospheric new single “Starless” in late May, global music markets instantly began speculating whether a massive long-form project was looming on the horizon. Now, those suspicions have been completely verified by the source.
Checking directly into Minneapolis’s iconic 93X radio station for an exclusive feature with broadcast host Kevin Kellam, founding guitarist and sonic architect Billy Howerdel blew the lid off A Perfect Circle‘s secret operations—confirming that the direct follow-up to 2018’s Eat The Elephant is actively being written, tracked, and engineered under an intense, fire-lit deadline architecture driven by legendary frontman Maynard James Keenan.
THE STARLESS STUDIO MATRIX
- Lead Architect: Billy Howerdel (Guitars, Bass, Production)
- Mastermind: Maynard James Keenan (Lead Vocals, Lyricism)
- Engine Room: Josh Freese (Studio & Live Drums)
- Sonic Mix: Matty Green (U2, Florence + The Machine, TV On The Radio)
- Base of Operations: Lankershim Ranch Studio (Studio City, CA)
Tracking on the Highway: Howerdel Balances European Tour Pressures
The revelation of a new studio effort lands at a highly chaotic time for the alternative rock icons. In early June, A Perfect Circle launched a major, highly anticipated European summer tour block in London. Striking a delicate balance between the grueling exhaustion of international travel and the precise, isolated headspace required for elite songwriting has proven to be an immense challenge for Howerdel.
“There’s more [music] underway,” Howerdel directly confirmed to 93X. “And in the spirit of soft deadlines, I’m not gonna give you the date, but we’re working toward something… We’re on tour. It’s hard to get solid things done when you’re out here.
“I sometimes optimistically think that’s gonna happen, and, like today, we’re six shows in, so we’re about two weeks in, and this is the first day I really slept, even though I might not look like it. I just slept, went to the gym, ate a meal, got on with you, and it’s not been like that. So to get real cracking on to the new album, it’s gonna be… I need a couple more of these days to line up over the next tour.”
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Inside the Chemistry: The Incomparable Work Ethic of Maynard James Keenan
A major pillar of Howerdel’s confidence in the impending record stems from his legendary, uncompromised creative shorthand with vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Beyond his duties steering A Perfect Circle, Keenan operates as the iconic voice of progressive metal titans Tool and the avant-garde multimedia collective Puscifer.
Howerdel admitted that his creative velocity reaches an entirely different tier when working alongside Keenan, characterizing the singer as a tenacious visionary who refuses to let studio tracking enter a state of stagnation.
“I feel more creative with him [than I do with other musicians],” Howerdel confessed. “I mean, you’d have to ask Maynard, but I feel like when it’s time to work, it’s time to work for him… He’s got a great work ethic. I don’t know anyone — I mean, he’s at least in the top three hardest-working people I know that have real vision, conviction, a vision that he’s gonna execute and be tenacious about it. And he’s like that with music. Once the train starts rolling, it, it’s rolling.”
Addressing how they keep themselves accountable without a major corporate label breathing down their necks, Howerdel explained their unique tactical use of psychological strain: “We’re gonna set soft deadlines, which I guess they can be hard deadlines, but our soft deadlines are pretty intense. They’re meant to be hit.
“Anything could happen, but when we’re underway, it just feels, like, ‘Okay, we’re moving in the right direction.’ Now, you can’t force the greatest idea to come out, but you can get yourself motivated to go, ‘If I don’t hit this deadline, then bad shit’s gonna happen.’ So it’s a fire lit under your ass.”
Physical Media Alert: “Starless” Hits Limited 7-Inch Vinyl
While the global community tracks the tracking parameters for the full-length record, die-hard collectors can immediately secure an exclusive physical piece of the band’s current history. A limited-edition “Starless” seven-inch vinyl single has officially deployed via Revolver.
Tracked earlier this year at Howerdel’s private Lankershim Ranch Studio in Studio City, California, the stunning A-side composition features the thunderous drum tracking of long-time collaborator and current Foo Fighters timekeeper Josh Freese, wrapped in a pristine, massive mix delivered by elite engineer Matty Green.
The physical release boasts an elegant B-side custom etching of the band’s historic crescent emblem alongside a custom 7-inch record adapter, dropping on two highly sought-after aesthetic variants: a sleek silver/black blend, and an eye-catching white with sea blue and black splatter.
BILLBOARD BLUEPRINTS: THE HISTORIC CATACOMB RUN
- 2000 – ‘Mer De Noms’ (Debuted at No. 4 | Highest Rock Debut of Its Era)
- 2003 – ‘Thirteenth Step’ (Debuted at No. 2 | Certified Platinum Landmark)
- 2004 – ‘eMOTIVe’ (Debuted at No. 2 | Political Cover Masterpiece)
- 2018 – ‘Eat The Elephant’ (Debuted at No. 3 | Critical Comeback Blueprint)
FAQ: A Perfect Circle’s 2026 Studio Album Updates
Is A Perfect Circle releasing a new album?
Yes. Guitarist and co-founder Billy Howerdel has officially confirmed that a brand-new, full-length studio album is currently underway and actively being written alongside vocalist Maynard James Keenan.
Who plays drums on the new A Perfect Circle song “Starless”?
The drum tracking on “Starless” was executed by legendary rock session musician and current Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese, who has collaborated extensively with APC since their 1999 inception.
Where can I buy the new A Perfect Circle vinyl?
The limited-edition “Starless” 7-inch vinyl single, featuring custom color variants and a crescent logo B-side etching, is available for public purchase immediately via the Revolver Magazine official online shop.
The Architectural Timing of APC
When evaluating the operational history of A Perfect Circle, their structural release cadence has always favored meticulous artistic calculation over rapid, assembly-line content creation. Launching in 2000 with the multi-platinum triumph of Mer De Noms, Howerdel and Keenan successfully engineered a distinct alternative rock template that seamlessly married the heavy, syncopated time signatures of progressive metal with pristine, radio-friendly melodic hooks.
By taking multi-year, strategic hiatuses to allow Keenan to navigate the massive touring engines of TOOL and Puscifer, A Perfect Circle has maintained an incredibly pristine legacy free of creative burnout. Returning to active studio tracking in 2026 ensures that their sound arrives completely revitalized, leveraging decades of mature musical evolution to secure immediate, front-page authority across global streaming registries and chart metrics alike.
Now that Billy Howerdel has officially verified that the next era of A Perfect Circle is actively charging forward under intense studio deadlines, the floor belongs to the Loaded Radio global assembly. Do you think the dark atmosphere of “Starless” indicates a return to the heavy styling of Thirteenth Step, or are you anticipating a completely new sonic landscape from the duo? Fire off your theories, tracklist predictions, and tour reviews in the comments section below!
TL;DR
- The Long-Awaited Sequel: Guitarist and chief songwriter Billy Howerdel has officially confirmed that a brand-new A Perfect Circle full-length studio album is actively underway.
- The Fire is Lit: Speaking on Minneapolis’s 93X radio station, Howerdel revealed that while they are keeping release dates under wraps, he and vocalist Maynard James Keenan are working under intense, structured “soft deadlines” to execute the tracking.
- Tracking From the Road: The band is currently six shows into a massive 2026 European summer tour block, with Howerdel using rare days off to piece together the record’s foundational tracking matrices.
- Physical Media Drop: The news arrives alongside a limited-edition Starless 7-inch vinyl release via Revolver, featuring a custom etching of the band’s iconic crescent logo and legendary timekeeper Josh Freese on drums.
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The post A Perfect Circle Guitarist Confirms New Album Is Officially Underway, Teasing Intense Deadlines with Maynard James Keenan appeared first on Loaded Radio.
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