Tool - “Fear Inoculum” (Review)

Tool “Fear Inoculum”
(Volcano/RCA)

 Release Date - Friday 30th August 2019

 No dear reader, your eyes AREN’T deceiving you! This is a NEW Tool album!! Not quite hitting the “10,000 Days” target set by their last studio album of the same name, it’s been 4869 days since a new Tool album was released. That’s thirteen years and 2 months. Tool actually make Rammstein look prolific. So what does a thirteen year wait get us? 

The numbers are worrying at first glance – seven new tracks (ten if you get the digital download, although the extra three are instrumental interludes), and a running time of just shy of eighty minutes which is the maximum time a single CD can hold. So far so “WHAT?” Take a deep breath and relax, this is Tool we’re talking about here. A quick word of advice before i go any further – if “Fear Inoculum” is your first foray into Tool land, DO NOT PRESS PLAY! I am deadly serious here. Go back and work your way through their catalogue, that way you will appreciate “Fear Inoculum” better as you will know where it’s come from. 

If, like me, you’ve been (im)patiently waiting for this release, dive straight in. Tool really are a strange band indeed. If you’re looking for “whoa whoa baby” choruses and party tunes, then you’ve definitely come to the wrong place! If you seek thought provoking, emotion stirring soundscapes then there aren’t many better at that than Tool. The lyrical content of this album deals broadly with looking back at where we came from and looking at the here and now. The number seven is dominant throughout the album, whether in time signatures or even using the number itself as a substitute letter t in the title of album closer “7empest”. 



Maynard James Keenan’s vocals have matured wonderfully in the past thirteen years since “10,000 Days” but the star of “Fear Inoculum” is drummer Danny Carey. That’s not to say that bassist Justin Chancellor or guitarist Adam Jones are slouches, far from it. Musically, Tool have never sounded better than they do on this album, it’s just the plain fact that Danny Carey is the guiding sound in this twisted, beautiful, puzzling, wonderful and incredible collection of songs. 

A quick word regarding the “deluxe limited edition cd” of “Fear Inoculum” if i may? Most bands idea of a deluxe edition is adding a few substandard ‘bonus’ tracks, or a t-shirt or some other piece of merchandise. Not so with Tool. If you are fortunate enough to get a copy of their deluxe limited edition cd of this album, you will find contained within – a 4” HD rechargeable screen featuring exclusive video content, a charging cable, 2 watt speakers, a 36 page booklet, the cd and a digital download card! Now THAT’S a deluxe edition!! In summary, “Fear Inoculum” is the ultimate Tool album. Please don’t make us wait another 13 years until your next album lads!
10/10 (Robert Adams)

Available: CD, Deluxe Limited Edition CD, Digital Download

“Fear Inoculum” tracklisting:
Fear Inoculum
Pneuma
Invincible
Descending
Culling Voices
Chocolate Chip Trip
7empest

Tool are:
Maynard James Keenan – vocals
Adam Jones – guitars
Justin Chancellor - bass
Danny Carey - drums

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