Fear Inoculum

It's hard to explain or describe a TOOL album. You have to listen to it for yourself and you have to listen to it multiple times at that to truly understand it. There are a lot of complaints that Fear Inoculum is too derivative of their previous works, and it's true that you will find distinct glimmers of past albums in the songs (eg. 7empest has an unmistakable Undertow influence, and Pneuma sounds kin to something off of Lateralus) but I don't see this as anything to criticize. There is nothing wrong with a band invoking their own sound and the songs still have plenty of their own flavor to add to the mix. I admit I didn't love the album the first time I heard it, but even with TOOL being my favorite band I can't honestly say I've loved ANY of their albums on a first listen (except for Ænima, that album killed right out of the gate). It takes time and patience and openness to let their music sink in and take hold. Now I adore this album. I wouldn't say it's their very best work, but at no point did I expect or need it to be. They've already hit that benchmark (again, Ænima). I just needed this to be good and to be TOOL. And it is most definitely both. Maynard's role takes a bit of a backseat on this outing, which can be a difficult adjustment at first. The lyrics are good (great, in a couple of spots) but overall, he has held back quite a bit compared to previous efforts. I don't know if this was intentional (or just a lack of interest on his part) but in return, you'll get to see other members like Danny Carey and Justin Chancellor really shine and get some long overdue spotlight. The songs are definitely long, even by TOOL's standards (the shortest proper song on the album clocks in at about 10:05) but as is typical with this band, they are so engrossing and engaging that once they've fully wrapped around your brain, you'll barely notice. The only exception to this, I feel, is 7empest. While I genuinely love this song, it may be the first track from TOOL that I've ever felt was longer than it needed to be. Not egregiously so, by any stretch, but I still find myself briefly zoning out somewhere in the middle of it. The one element that I feel truly falls flat on this album is optional "interlude" tracks. In TOOL's past catalogue, most of the albums have contained segue tracks that are usually soundscapes or short instrumentals of a sort that provide a connective tissue between the main tracks, either serving as an intro or outro to an actual song, or simply a transition from one song to the next. This creates a cohesive listening experience when you put the album on and play it through from start to finish. Most of their albums feel like they were meant to be listened to as one complete work, rather than a collection of songs. But Fear Inoculum is not like that. The songs feel separate and, for the most part, do not flow from one into another. In and of itself this is ok, but this time the included interludes feel extremely tacked on. They each feel like the band was just messing around in the mixing booth and then said "Hey, this is neat. Let's throw it on the album." Even Chocolate Chip Trip, which on the first couple of listens turns into a surprisingly fun three-minute Danny Carey drum solo, begins to wear thin after a short while. These interludes do not hurt the overall production, exactly, but they really don't feel necessary at all and I often find myself skipping over them. If you're trying to scale all of TOOL's albums on a self-contained best-to-worst spectrum, Fear Inoculum may actually be one of their worst albums. But any band that can claim THIS as their worst album, is clearly one of the greatest bands to ever exist. It is a phenomenal effort, especially after 13 years, and miles above anything else out there right now. If you are new to this band, this MAY not be the best place to start (*cough* Ænima) but if you already love TOOL, I think this album will assuredly find a place in your heart.

Tool fans are a protective bunch, and I am a fan. I know from experience as a King Crimson fan as well just how protective we fans can be. I once saw a KC fan yell at a tourist for taking Robert Fripp's photo during one of his famous soundscapes performances. That was the Winter Garden at the World Financial Center (called Brookfield Place today) in 1999. I get it. Don't criticize our favorite bands. They are critic-proof. Tool are back and they have met our expectations. Fear Inoculum is great. I can't really put together a cohesive review, but I wanted to share my notes. I have thought about this since 2001, and I think it has to be said that the band has been going easy on us this century. They haven't been as challenging or revolutionary as they were in their first six years. Tool, even when not smashing through walls, is impressive. Parabola is one of the most incredible tracks I've heard this century, yes. And I love Invincible, self-reflexive as it is. But overall, Tool has mellowed a little into an art rock band that impresses with their musicianship, but doesn't quite reach the heights of the albums of my infancy. I came into this world in 1973. You know that year. Houses of the Holy. Dark Side of the Moon. Selling England. Tubluar Bells. For Your Pleasure. Larks' Tongues in Aspic. Brain Salad Surgery. The following year had The Lamb and Starless and Bible Black. As much as we want to place Tool with them, we can't. Tool are influenced by some of these greats. And it seems more apparent than ever on Fear Inoculum. Most of the main tracks are spaced apart by instrumental tracks that quote some of their earlier works. And I agree - ambitious, epic songs should have space between them on an album. So bravo to the boys for making an album. If you play it all the way through, there will be chances to take a breath. But I still think it is an accessible album, despite the length. 10,000 Days is not the easiest of listens. Fear Inoculum is really smooth and easy by comparison, like an irish whiskey on the rocks. The compositions tick all the boxes: time changes, strong solos, Maynard's impeccable vocals, and one of the best drummers and bassists in rock. The lyrics, as usual since Lataurus, are not all that great, but they are fine. And the songs this time out have a more consistent tempo. There aren't many fast sections here (nothing like Bottom or Grudge). No need to dive into the photos and lyrics like this is a Rush album. Not many hidden meanings. It's just four amazing musicians making their work seem easy. And that is not a negative criticism. When I listen to Fear Inoculum, I hear a band that has composed and prepared for so long, recording the songs must have been a relief. I hear a relaxed art metal band. Is that nuts? I get it. I'm past the age of giving a crap, and so are these four talented guys who are decade ahead of me. They slaved over these compositions, looked back, realized that a lot of them are in odd numbered time signatures (involving a lot of 7s), and said screw it, they might be slower but they are all up to our standards. And that's really what I want to stress here. This is a Tool album. Like every other studio record they put out, it lives up to the hype and their high standards. We can't take that for granted. Despite my gripes about this album being accessible, I'm having a very hard time deciding if it is better than Lateralus. If it is, it's their third best full length album. If not, it's their second weakest. This? Weak? I gave it five stars. Time for another listen.

For the first time EVER, the album booklet contains printed lyrics! Notably in the print version, various words are capitalized in contradiction to normal grammar rules, which you won’t see in the X-ray lyrics on Amazon. Yes, the segue tracks are not included in the physical CD version. Also, there is a musical/ambient track that plays with the video in the physical CD package that you don’t get in the download version. Given that the album was 13 years in the making, and the nature of the band we’re discussing, I think we can safely assume that ALL these decisions were made with purpose and intention. One can easily imagine there is some puzzle-like significance to one or more of these elements, yet there is no mystery to the sprawling musical odyssey TOOL has bequeathed to the world in this mature and considered album. A true review of this album requires time, reflection, and multiple listens - not just to hear the instrumentation and arrangements, but to approach it from different points of view and frames of mind each time. At first blush, however, I’m very happy with the album; “Descending” and “Pneuma” are masterpieces. I am seeing lots of criticism of the lyrical content, but I didn’t mind the minimalist approach that was taken this time. In true TOOL fashion, many of the lyrics could hold multiple meanings. Yes, “Invincible” seems - and likely is - very straightforward and autobiographical commentary on aging. But is it also about a declining American hegemony? Or more broadly the decline of humankind? As per usual, there are probably several correct interpretations, or no “correct” interpretations at all, just what we make of them. Critically, the vocals themselves are more nuanced and richer than earlier works. This album’s vocals build on elements of 10,000 Days and now heavily features multi tracked vocal harmonies that work brilliantly with the musical textures laid down by the rest of the band. Lastly, I have no issue with the length of the songs, but in fairness a lot of my favorite TOOL songs tended to be the longest ones (Flood, Pushit, Reflection, etc.). Where does it rank in the TOOL album pantheon? No one can answer that question yet. We’ve had 13 years to mull over those rankings and dissect the other albums back-to-front (and all other oblique angles) to arrive at our own conclusions. It’s safe to say it’s going to take more than 13 days to digest and make the call on the latest one. At this point I can only confidently say that this album clearly reflects a group of musicians who have no interest in seeking validation. It’s TOOL making an album they wanted to make; it’s our job to decide what to do with it. If that doesn’t define a true artist, I don’t know what does. Happy listening!

I am honestly pissed about this situation. I have waited patiently for 13 years for this, pre-ordered this album at the first day of availability, paid a premium price for the product without blinking (4x the price of what an album should be priced at) and it only came with 7 out of 10 tracks on the CD (11 if you count the track that plays when you open the cd case). Track 3 - Litanie Contre La Peur is not present on the CD, nor is Track 5 - Legion Inoculant, nor is Track 10 - Mockingbeat. These tracks ARE found on Amazon Music along with other streaming services I am sure. For Tool always being so adamant about physical media only, no recordings of their live shows with phones, this is a bit of a slap to the face. The CD when plugged into my computer even says "Fear Inoculant - CD Version". Do you really expect me to listen to Tool on a streaming service? If I am listening to Tool digitally, it is going to be in nothing but ALAC, FLAC or WAV. But thanks for the crappy MP3 card I guess? Maybe those will have the three missing tracks. The album artwork and visual experience are spectacular. Alex Grey, as always, does an amazing job with his art. However, I am here for the music first and foremost. Have not even listened to the album yet, waited all day to get the CD so I could listen to it pure rather than off of Amazon Music. What a rip-off. Edit: I have since given the album a listen. I'm going to change my review from a 1 to a 5. The music is amazing. I'm still livid about having to listen to the 3 (4 if you count the music that plays when you open the CD case) in a less than ideal format. I honestly view it as Adam selling out to the digital era because I'm sure he was worried about album performance otherwise. Adam, Danny and Justin, as always, provide some sublime instrumentals, Maynard's voice is still amazing but his lyrics aren't as good as previous albums, too much time working on Puscifer I think. I get that I'm in the 1% of the 1% that actually cares about physical media, high fidelity, even knows what the difference is between CD and streaming, have both a loud speaker setup and headphone setup to really make this album shine, but I still don't like getting only 70% of the full experience, especially when I paid top dollar. I'm an audiophile snob. I'm a Tool. I'll admit it.

The album is fantastic. This is Tool almost a decade and a half since 10,000 Days. It’s not exactly what they did before, and that’s a good thing. They’ve grown and changed and the music has too. Tool is a an Album band, not a singles band, so sit back and listen to the whole thing all the way through. It works as an a album. You’ll have favorites, I already do, but as I listen more I don’t I know if those will change. Take time with it. I look forward to taking more time with it. The CD packaging is really interesting. The book and video are fantastic. However the packaging is not the only difference. The CD is 7 songs, not 10. The other three songs (Litanie contre la Peur, Legion Inoculant, and Mockingbeat) are “bonus” content according to the band. If you buy the CD the download code gets you the 10 song version which is the same as the regular digital version. Since Tool is an Album band, it makes me wonder if the two different versions are intentional, to give two different listening experiences. If you have the digital version it might be worth making a playlist version without those songs to experience the CD version. Mockingbeat as the final song on the digital version struck me as odd, since it’s more of a sound collage than a song. I’m curious if the idea is that the album is really a never ending cycle where the last song leads back to first. Pink Floyd did this on Animals & The Wall. After a couple of listens, if I'm being honest, I'm skipping the those three tracks a lot of the time. The music that accompanies the video on the screen that's part of the CD packaging is called Recusant Ad Infinitum according to internet. Unfortunately there is no way to download it, so the only way to hear it is on the tiny speaker that part the special packaging. I'd like to hear it properly as more of curiosity than anything else at this point. I'm still taking in the whole album. Regardless, put it on, sit back... enjoy. You'll be really happy with this album.

Yes everyone has waited a very long time except those of us who found Tool by way of a cover of their work or through A Perfect Circle. Add Pucifer and life, and it's not a surprise that it took so long. What was a surprise is how "right" all the tracks feel and how it is so Completely Tool, the 13 year gap bridge as far as I'm concerned (hardcore Tool fans will most certainly disagree). That said - the limited release is sold out. Unless you missed it, and no Tool fan did (I went to see Smashing Pumpkins 8/31/2019 and of each concert goer wearing a Tool shirt I asked "did you get your disc" and they said "yes" and proceeded to describe the unboxing experience), it is a shame that the disc is being resold for 4 times the original retail price by sellers. I'd encourage anyone including those new to Tool to use the band's website and your preferred digital media store/source to buy the MP3s and add them to your library rather than giving someone who is reselling the limited edition special package cash that the band will not see. Any way you serve these songs up is good - and if the LP is toured the tickets will be hard to get. I will let the true fans get the tickets, and the next show I go to (and after my digital download) I will bring my limited release CD package and give it (free) to a Tool fan who missed out either because of cost or some other set of circumstances. Because of the screen battery and charger it is not something that can be donated to the library. If I don't find a Tool fan who missed out it will go into a small fire proof safe by itself. Yeah, that package was so good it made me wonder how Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails had not already thought of it. Maybe with the Machina reissue in 2020 (nudge nudge Billy) ! Well Done Tool, Well Done Maynard, WELL DONE AND CONTRACTS TO THE TRUE BELIEVERS, THE TOOL FANS. If you have any or all of Tool's catalog, adding these tracks to your library is a no brainer - just do it.

Tool has been gone a long time. Sort of. They tour like madmen. Hardly a year goes by when you couldn't see them in concert. But as far as recording new music it's been a while. All the reasons are acceptable. New wives, new children, other bands, vineyards, lawsuits, counter lawsuits, counter-counter lawsuits. Seriously. We get it. You're busy. You have lives. We understand. The struggle is real. That's why this album is so unexpected. I expected something rushed, incomplete. I was expecting they'd put out an album just because they needed to like Boston's Don't Look Back or Metallica's St. Anger. Nope. This is one of the finest crafted albums ever. They have simply evolved into their own genre. Tool has showed classical music influences before by writing songs with movements before but this time they're molding an entire symphony. Plenty of Prog Rock in there as well. Danny is amazing as always and Adam is at a level we haven't seen before. If you are a fan of Tool's longer works like Pushit, Eulogy, Reflection, Lateralus or Flood then this album is right up your alley. The new songs are all over 10 minutes and they all demand your attention. There are 10 Tracks. 4 are the typical weird Tool interlude between songs but the other 6 are some of their best work ever. While the songs on Billboard are getting shorter and shorter Tool drops songs so long you may never hear them on the radio. While the music industry is going all digital Tool releases the greatest CD box ever. A beautiful trifold work of art with an embossed lyric book and a rechargeable video screen. They can give them the Grammy for Best Recording Package right now.

After an absence of 13 years TOOL is back, and in a big way. From the title track opening to the closing "notes" of the coda Mockingbeat this CD delivers. My first take away is that this us TOOL, but not TOOL. I mean this as a compliment. The sound is all TOOL, but lyrically the band has matured. The songs seem less straight forward and lend themselves more to interpretation. I see this CD as a natural progression from 10,000 Days. Maynard's voice is more refined but still powerful while Justin and Adam continue to show just what accomplished musicians they are. Danny on percussions is the standout though. I would love to hear a master recording of just his drums from this album. He shines. Others will probably break this CD down track by track so I won't, but suffice to say all of them are great. Maybe it was the wait of 13 years which is making me so ecstatic over this music, but I don't think so. TOOL has always been a band of accomplished musicians, and this CD proves they still are. They still retain that skill and craftsmanship which they've brought to every one of their album's, but they seem to have grown and moved forward with Fear Inoculum. This is what great bands should do. Is it a masterpiece? Only time will tell, but I do think it demands a listen. Multiple listens in fact. I think TOOL fans will love it, and it may even convert some of those who aren't.

I’ve been waiting years for this release. Initially reluctant to pay the price but I imported one from the USA at a considerable saving over the UK/European price. I also had the day off work to listen it fully on the day of release. So I’ve now had several weeks of listening to it. There are few albums that ever truly lift me and really make the hairs stand up on your neck, but this is one of them. I love longer songs that take a while to develop. Whether it be Led Zep, Deep Purple, Type O Negative, Elder, or Jethro Tull etc - I like to sit down and just absorb their craft. Tool have just nailed it with this release. All 4 musicians are at their peak here. DC produces the most amazing display of polyrhythms (as always), JC works in tandem with him to be what I believe is the best rhythm section in any band at the moment, AJ produces riff after riff of drop D goodness (and some nice solos) and MJK goes through a range of emotionally charged vocals (although never quite reaches the intensity of earlier works eg Sober). The production is absolutely top notch. This isn’t an album to just dip into, you need to sit down, give it time with no distractions, and you’ll be richly rewarded. I was driving home today and got stuck in a traffic queue on the M62. But I didn’t care as it meant that I got to listen through the whole album again. I’ve often found myself sitting in the car park at work refusing to go in until the current track finishes. I thought Agent Frescos A Long Time Listening was going to be my album of the decade but it may now be a tie with Fear Inoculum. Just amazing.

Después de varias escuchas para asimilar la música que estaba escuchando (sorprendiéndome a cada momento del virtuosismo de Tool) puedo decir que de momento es el disco que más me mete en la espiral de Tool. Madurez compositiva, genialidad a raudales y un cuidado por el más mínimo detalle. No quiero comparar con otros discos anteriores porque todos son únicos. Y afortunadamente después de 13 años de espera se confirma la altura musical de Tool. Mucha espera pero hay canciones en este disco que por ellas mismas lo valen. En cuanto a la edición especial me parece muy cuidada, preparada para el disfrute de todo fan de Tool. En fin, lo único que puedo recomendar es escuchar la música de Tool sin prejuicios, dejarse llevar por la aventura musical de sus canciones y gozar de una experiencia tan sublime.

Ca fait 13 ans qu'on l'attend donc forcément on a la dalle! Déjà le packaging, c'est beau! (c'est très cher aussi, 80€ pour 50$ outre atlantique ça fait cher le voyage en avion...). Je m'attendais pas à un aussi beau coffret. C'est dans la lignée des packages originaux depuis Aenima mais cette fois avec un écran au milieu qui se recharge par USB (pas très utile mais ajoute définitivement à l'ensemble. Le livret est super beau. Téléchargement inclus mais seulement en MP3 malheureusement. Que dire de l'album, un peu déçu au premier abord. Je connaissais déjà Descending et Invicible (un concert US sur Youtube et le Hellfest), j'aimais beaucoup ces deux chansons mais je n'avais pas écouté Fear Inoculum en entière. J'ai écouté l'album sans être attentif aujourd'hui au travail et j'étais un peu mitigé. Puis j'ai pris le temps de l'écouter comme il se doit ce soir... C'est simplement fantastique, je trouve. C'est du tool aucun doute mais cet album apporte une vraie évolution sur le son de Lateralus et évidement 10,000 Days puisque le son n'avait pas vraiment évolué. Cet album se bonifie au fur et à mesure des écoutes. C'est pour moi un vrai plaisir d'avoir enfin du nouveau Tool dans les oreilles! Ya que Tool en mettant leurs albums sur les plateformes de streaming pour prendre la 1ère place du Billboard rock pour Aenima sorti en 96, la 2ème place pour Lateralus sorti en 2001, la 4ème place pour 10,000 Days sorti en 2006 et la 5ème place pour Undertow sorti en 1993! Tout ça la 1ère semaine!

随分と在庫が安定してきたのか、11月24日時点で、北米のAmazonなら38.90ドルで購入可能です。送料含めても5000円するかしないかで買えるので、HDプレーヤー付きが欲しいのであれば、こちらで購入をオススメします。 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VGTYTBF/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_AaI2DbH4Z8033 内容については言わずもかな凄まじいです！

De los mejores trabajos de la banda. Si eres fan de Tool no puedes dejar de poseer éste disco, es una joya. Musicalmente, para mí está en el top 3 de los discos de la banda. El arte del disco es excepcional, el concepto de incluir una pantalla que reproduce material audiovisual en cuanto abres la portada es maravillosamente genial. Tool nos tiene acostumbrados a darnos las mejor experiencia no solo con su música sino con todo lo relacionado a su arte. En cuanto a la presentación de éste cd me parece que ha sido el mejor concepto dentro de todos los trabajos de la banda. Musicalmente será cuestión de gustos y cada quien juzgará cuál es el mejor trabajo de Tool. Una parte escencial de la colección de cualquier amante de Tool y de la música en general.