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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.
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Customer Review: Every Tool fan should have this album
Jules
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Customer Review: Patiently Waiting 13 Years...Worth It!!!!!
Jonathan V.
Reviews with images
Good Album in a Phenomenal Package
To begin, I’m focusing this review on the physical package of this item. Music reviews always seem disingenuous and uber subjective, so I’ll leave that to the “experts.” All I’ll say about the album is that I like it, and I’ve been listening to it on repeat since I got it. I may’ve liked 10,000 Days more, but that’s not a knock on Fear Inoculum. It’s a good album of prog rock.Now that that’s out of the way. My 5 star review focuses on the physical package for F.I. It’s incredible. The screen is top quality and the picture is amazing for such a small screen. The video is exactly what you’d expect from Tool, a visual accompaniment that fits the style of music well. There’s a charge cord that’s easy to use, and the trifold stands up by itself for optimal viewing.The lyric book is also top notch. Very easy to read font and interesting pictures, mostly from the video. It serves as a great companion art book to the album. Every page feels and smells like quality product.Overall I’m just so impressed by this package. Most bands are hardly thinking of physical releases any more, and it’s a shame. I hope more bands follow in Tool’s footsteps.
Top reviews from other countries
Neftali Guerrero
Imoresionante
Reviewed in Mexico on May 24, 2020
Neftali Guerrero
Reviewed in Mexico on May 24, 2020
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.
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Mikkel S. Nielsen
Something familiar yet different in a matured and expanded light
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2019