Fear Inoculum
by Tool
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Aug 30, 2019
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 733 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 581 out of 733
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 733
  3. Negative: 109 out of 733
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  1. cyman
    Feb 3, 2020
    10
    YES! It's here and it's amazing. Let's get them out of the way and say that the interludes are really cleverly and creatively made and they do have a creepy, trippy, nice vibe. Now, the 7 tracks that Fear Inoculum comes with are really amazing as they come up with different vibes than the other seen before, although 7empest and Invincible do share lots in common with the older Tool tracks,YES! It's here and it's amazing. Let's get them out of the way and say that the interludes are really cleverly and creatively made and they do have a creepy, trippy, nice vibe. Now, the 7 tracks that Fear Inoculum comes with are really amazing as they come up with different vibes than the other seen before, although 7empest and Invincible do share lots in common with the older Tool tracks, they have completely different meanings and vibes and are of other complexity. So in my opinion all 7 tracks are great and I'm going to put them in my order (best to worst) even though I like them all and I can't really rank them (I'm also going to exclude Chocolate Chip Trip as it is just a great and complex drum solo). So we got Descending as my personal favorite, then Pneuma, Invincible both in second place, Culling Voices is damn right amazing, eerie and Justin ripps, 7empest being the complete Tool Jam with meaning, complex patterns, lots of solos, kick-offs and bassy bass riffs. Least but not last is Fear Inoculum which is really great but I can't really up it any higher amongst the others. Loved it, can't wait to get deeper into the meanings of the lyrics.… Expand
  2. JuanLuisGG14
    Mar 11, 2020
    7
    this album is a progressive beast . It is long and complex. While that could be a diminishing factor in accesibility, it does work brilliantly in good hands.
    The album is made of 6 real songs and 4 interludes (one of these is a battery solo). The songs are long and heavy, they're complex and have the time to breathe, morph and develop
    The band is on its best performance: Danny is a    this album is a progressive beast . It is long and complex. While that could be a diminishing factor in accesibility, it does work brilliantly in good hands.
    The album is made of 6 real songs and 4 interludes (one of these is a battery solo). The songs are long and heavy, they're complex and have the time to breathe, morph and develop
    The band is on its best performance: Danny is a complete beast!!! In fact, this might be one of the best drumming albums ever made, it's just brutal. Songs tend to develop into extended jams, those might be good if you're in the right mindset .
    As for the cons... MJK is well past its prime, he does it ok here, but not as outstanding at he was before
    Clean vocals are mellower they´ve ever been, and agressive vocals are just limited to one track
    As of today, i feel this might be a 7 for me, but it may change (as all Tool albums)
    Highlights: Pneuma, Invincible, Descending, 7empest    … Expand
  3. blarry21
    Jun 5, 2020
    9
    I previously had this album at a 3, however, I have given it more listens and definitely more dedicated listens. Trying to rate a Tool album in pieces is just not fair. It must be ingested in one full sitting to fully appreciate. If you are a fan of Tool then you’ll like this newest release.
  4. ethanmorris36
    Jul 6, 2020
    8
    Not a bad album, but for 13 years to make music, the album feels like it lacks much of its originally, most of the music feels like it's been taken from Lateralus and lengthened, and some riffs are reused, like the riff from Jambi is used in invincible, just slowed down. The songs definitely aren't aren't bad, but some of them feel like they drag on. I'm certainly disappointed, but it'sNot a bad album, but for 13 years to make music, the album feels like it lacks much of its originally, most of the music feels like it's been taken from Lateralus and lengthened, and some riffs are reused, like the riff from Jambi is used in invincible, just slowed down. The songs definitely aren't aren't bad, but some of them feel like they drag on. I'm certainly disappointed, but it's not bad at all. It's still a solid album, it's just not Tool solid.

    Update (07/06/2020): After almost year of listening, I'd have to say these songs have grown on me quite a bit. A few of the songs have worked their way up as some of my favorites. Descending for example has arguably the best bass-line of any Tool song. Updating from 7/10 to an 8/10.    … Expand
  5. Seven155
    Oct 1, 2020
    10
    Amazing album full of psychedelic pieces. The level of musicianship is at an all high.
  6. movingpictures
    Apr 25, 2020
    7
    Tool has given the world some of the finest progressive music since the drum was invented. However, they went too technical here. It's missing something. This is an album that's all head and little heart. I wish it had the energy of their earlier work. The last track, 7empest, comes closest to that energy. There are some fine moments that appear in a few other songs too. It will beTool has given the world some of the finest progressive music since the drum was invented. However, they went too technical here. It's missing something. This is an album that's all head and little heart. I wish it had the energy of their earlier work. The last track, 7empest, comes closest to that energy. There are some fine moments that appear in a few other songs too. It will be interesting. But don't expect it to be moving.… Expand
  7. Geffen
    Jun 23, 2020
    9
    Tool's comeback is widely welcomed. And this album is really immersive from start to finish.

    Some parts are a little repetitive, but that is no major problem.

    fantastic album!
  8. ViceAVersa
    Feb 12, 2021
    8
    Although in 2019 I had a great listen, now I can tell why this album wasn't that received well with fans. It is their most uninspired record to date, but like with any TOOL record, I like this record as much as the next.
  9. blackattack54
    Jul 1, 2021
    10
    i am a big proghead, and this album is a wet dream for someone like me. Other people needed to sit on this album for a bit in order to actually start to appreciate it, but when i first listened to the album i knew this was going to be my favorite album of all time immediately, which it did become. This album is pretty much perfect. The digital release's linking tracks are kind ofi am a big proghead, and this album is a wet dream for someone like me. Other people needed to sit on this album for a bit in order to actually start to appreciate it, but when i first listened to the album i knew this was going to be my favorite album of all time immediately, which it did become. This album is pretty much perfect. The digital release's linking tracks are kind of irritating, but the actual tracklist is an absolute eargasm. I'm fairly certain Invincible's bass solo made me cream my pants lol… Expand
  10. Ffaj
    Apr 11, 2022
    8
    Хороший альбом, в духе старых Tool. Конечно это не лучшая их работа, слышны наработки Lateralus/10 000 Days, до уровня темного звучания моего любимого альбома у них – Ænima он конечно не дотягивает. Но Fear Inoculum совсем другой альбом. Альбом мужиков за 50, которые прожили большую часть жизни, они больше ушли в философию "Reflection", чем в драйв "Stinkfist" и это можно понять. Tool неХороший альбом, в духе старых Tool. Конечно это не лучшая их работа, слышны наработки Lateralus/10 000 Days, до уровня темного звучания моего любимого альбома у них – Ænima он конечно не дотягивает. Но Fear Inoculum совсем другой альбом. Альбом мужиков за 50, которые прожили большую часть жизни, они больше ушли в философию "Reflection", чем в драйв "Stinkfist" и это можно понять. Tool не пытаются сделать что-то новое, но всё же это хороший альбом, он монолитен, содержит их проверенные и цепляющие ходы. Стоили ли эти 13 лет ожиданий? Думаю, что да, но в силу стольких лет, ожидания фанатов были явно завышены, поэтому и оценки настолько полярные. Если воспринимать это на холодную голову – альбом удался, но несколько затянут. Вещи вроде culling voices не настолько сильны, явно могли бы быть короче.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Most Discussed Album of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Chicago Tribune
    Oct 9, 2019
    63
    The album plays like an extended mood piece that bends and drifts, with a shortage of the crushing hard-rock crescendos and riffs that defined the band’s work on “Lateralus” (2001) and before.
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  2. Slant Magazine
    Sep 19, 2019
    60
    Sadly, there’s nothing on Fear Inoculum as immediately accessible or anthemic as past Tool glories like “Sober” or “The Pot,” but what is here will reward repeated spins, even if listeners initially find themselves waiting for those mammoth riffs to show up, a la “7empest,” or for Maynard to finally kick into high gear, as in the rousing refrain of “Descending.”
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  3. Exclaim
    Sep 10, 2019
    70
    Musically, Tool have taken the best of Lateralus's dynamism and the heaviness of 10,000 Days to explore the middle ground with great length on Fear Inoculum. Those who stuck it out through the decade-plus wait won't mind hanging around a little longer until the album's close.
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