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. coolcrowe
    Sep 6, 2019
    10
    Listen to this album at least three times before coming to any conclusions. The first time I was unsure, but by the third listen I was grinning and joyfully following along with the songs. Once your mind knows what to expect the whole thing is an extremely enjoyable experience, probably the most sonically pleasing Tool album. It's true that Maynard's vocals a little more subdued that inListen to this album at least three times before coming to any conclusions. The first time I was unsure, but by the third listen I was grinning and joyfully following along with the songs. Once your mind knows what to expect the whole thing is an extremely enjoyable experience, probably the most sonically pleasing Tool album. It's true that Maynard's vocals a little more subdued that in other albums but it actually works for the best, his lyrics and vocals mix with the other elements of the band better than ever before. The group sounds completely in their element and everyone does a fantastic job throughout, though Danny can't help but steal the show at times. It stands up to the band's reputation and can easily sit alongside their other albums as a wonderful and awe-inspiring work of art. The lyrics here also carry an urgency and desire for change that wasn't always present in past works... it's obviously written to move you and inspire action and change within, to remember where we come from, where we're going and how precious the time between is.… Expand
  2. eleventy4
    Sep 1, 2019
    10
    Exacting perfection. The most Tool Tool album ever. They doubled down on what they do best.
  3. Boban
    Sep 2, 2019
    10
    13 years of wait is well rewarded. I listened Fear Inoculum more then 50 times before album was out and it is perfect song. 10 minutes feels like 2. Sam is with album. It has everything I wanted from Tool album but more mature. When you have such recognizable sound like Tool it is very hard to create something new but not to fat away from the sound that everyone expect from you. And Tool13 years of wait is well rewarded. I listened Fear Inoculum more then 50 times before album was out and it is perfect song. 10 minutes feels like 2. Sam is with album. It has everything I wanted from Tool album but more mature. When you have such recognizable sound like Tool it is very hard to create something new but not to fat away from the sound that everyone expect from you. And Tool did just that. Great album in every aspect… Expand
  4. mintlo
    Sep 4, 2019
    10
    I'm a TOOL fanboy and I love the album. I get that they're an acquired taste. I think it's great.
  5. Mr_Connecticut
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Absolute perfection. Classical tool but with a new and more mature feel. The production is great and the talent displayed from all of the guys is astounding. The absolute star is Carey on drums, he achieves things with 2 arms and 2 legs that a trained octopus couldn't hope to emulate. The guitar and bass are powerful and Maynard's vocals chilling and poignant. Simply must be heard to be believed.
  6. twaddle
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    It's been a long time coming and it's been worth the wait. 'Fear Inoculum' is the best album of this decade.
  7. Jes1310
    Apr 16, 2020
    10
    Fear Inoculum sounds like TOOL, the feeling, the sounds, the production, the visuals are all TOOL. I do not think this will make the TOON fanbase grow, because this is not their most accessible album. But then again the hype surrounding this record has been overwhelming, and that might lead new followers to TOOL.
    Fear Inoculum demands a lot from the listener, and the 10+ minutes song are    Fear Inoculum sounds like TOOL, the feeling, the sounds, the production, the visuals are all TOOL. I do not think this will make the TOON fanbase grow, because this is not their most accessible album. But then again the hype surrounding this record has been overwhelming, and that might lead new followers to TOOL.
    Fear Inoculum demands a lot from the listener, and the 10+ minutes song are all capable of mesmerizing the listener if the person listening is patient. Patience might be not be the thing in 2019, but try it, and you will be rewarded.

    Personally I think the songs are awesome and much better than I had hoped and for me it adds a lot to the legacy of TOOL.    … Expand
  8. JokerInTheGame
    Sep 2, 2019
    10
    Unlimited power! Has been and always will be my favorite band. Perhaps that makes me bias, but Tool is just genius.
  9. Jugmonkey
    Sep 2, 2019
    10
    Outstanding from from to back. If you're a Tool fan it definitely delivers. One of the greatest bands to ever deliver the hard rock goods. 7empest is 15:43 of head crushing goodness.
  10. BryanFurysMom
    Sep 4, 2019
    10
    Fear Inoculum is a masterpiece. It's a Tool album that fits in nicely with the rest of their discography and certainly as a proper follow up to 10,000 Days. Even 13 years later is sounds like they never missed a beat, never lost their sound or their skills, or their vision. Maynard James Keenan's lyrics are as sharp and mysterious as ever; his voice is still spectacular. The combination ofFear Inoculum is a masterpiece. It's a Tool album that fits in nicely with the rest of their discography and certainly as a proper follow up to 10,000 Days. Even 13 years later is sounds like they never missed a beat, never lost their sound or their skills, or their vision. Maynard James Keenan's lyrics are as sharp and mysterious as ever; his voice is still spectacular. The combination of Adam Jones' unique guitars, Justin Chancellor's booming bass, and Danny Carey's carefully controlled chaos on the drums still give me chills after all these years. It doesn't feel Tool's been gone for 13 years. It feels like they've still been here all along. If you hate this album, if you can't listen to it...then you're not a Tool fan. You never were. THIS IS TOOL. THIS IS WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE.… Expand
  11. Panhodny
    Sep 7, 2019
    10
    As usual not first listen friendly (hence some of the negative reviews) but incredibly rewarding with time.
  12. Crais
    Sep 1, 2019
    10
    This is a triumphant 13 year return to form for TOOL. This isn't like Undertow, 10,000 days or any other album so, if you were expecting to rock out to some “Stinkfist”, "Sober" or “Ænema”, you’ve absolutely have come to the wrong place. This is a epic and soulful musical journey. The words sung by M. J. Keenan are a lot to digest, and dissect on this record. "Stay the grand finale
    Stay    This is a triumphant 13 year return to form for TOOL. This isn't like Undertow, 10,000 days or any other album so, if you were expecting to rock out to some “Stinkfist”, "Sober" or “Ænema”, you’ve absolutely have come to the wrong place. This is a epic and soulful musical journey. The words sung by M. J. Keenan are a lot to digest, and dissect on this record. "Stay the grand finale
    Stay the reading of our swan song and epilogue" sings Maynard on "Descending" hinting that this may not be the end, but if it is, TOOL surely ended on a high note.    … Expand
  13. Juneauz
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    Another masterpiece from the gods of alt-prog. Rich, layered, profound, Tool is an esoteric experience that will stick with you for the rest of your life. The best to ever do it.
  14. guitarpete987
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    This is the best way I can put it. Tool has delivered with Fear Inoculum. It doesn't suck. To what degree you love it depends on a few factors.
    1. If you're a fan with an open mind to their evolution and accepting of them creating art that is reflective of where they are right now in life, you will love it. They're acting their age and doing it splendidly.
    2. If you're a fan who longs    This is the best way I can put it. Tool has delivered with Fear Inoculum. It doesn't suck. To what degree you love it depends on a few factors.
    1. If you're a fan with an open mind to their evolution and accepting of them creating art that is reflective of where they are right now in life, you will love it. They're acting their age and doing it splendidly.
    2. If you're a fan who longs for their earlier more aggressive sound, and already thought the songs were starting to get too long and samey sounding on Lateralus and 10,000 Days, then you will like this album but will probably feel like "what?! That's it after 13 years?" and wonder how all the people who love it are feeling so strongly about it. But you'll probably still play it all the time.

    The only people I see online who say it "sucks" sure seem to be (based on the way they act toward others) trolls. As a fan since nearly the beginning, I'll say this: it doesn't suck. It's practically delusional to consider something this finely crafted and performed as sucking. But your degree of loving it will depend DEEPLY on what YOU expect from it.    … Expand
  15. Killabytz
    Sep 4, 2019
    10
    Best album ever! Only sheep that never understood Tool hate on this album, it’s absolute perfection..change my mind??
  16. BrushedRed
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    While I was too young to listen to Tool's early stuff, I really began getting into Tool a little after Lateralus released, thanks to my cousin. Years later, 10,000 Days entered the picture, and I for one, thought it was just as good as their older material, even though a lot might disagree. Well fast-forward 13 years later, I see they're announcing a new tour. I'd always wanted to seeWhile I was too young to listen to Tool's early stuff, I really began getting into Tool a little after Lateralus released, thanks to my cousin. Years later, 10,000 Days entered the picture, and I for one, thought it was just as good as their older material, even though a lot might disagree. Well fast-forward 13 years later, I see they're announcing a new tour. I'd always wanted to see them, but they never seem to come near me; I go to the show and low and behold, they announce the new album there! Was quite an experience and memory. Well the day is finally here, and how do I feel?

    I feel quite floored. I knew Tool wouldn't let us down, but I did have a few concerns due to myself not caring too much for Eat the Elephant, A Perfect Circle's newest album from last year. I was hoping it didn't rub off too much on this, and thankfully, it did not. Each song feels like the old Tool, but in a new way. Each track is long, and winds through many different movements, but if you've been a fan of the band for this length of time, it should come as not quite much of a shock. It feels like the perfect evolution from their more experimental and abstract 10,000 Days, but it doesn't stumble along the way.

    I think "Invincible" and "Descending" could definitely go down as the best songs in Tool's catalogue, which is already an impressive feat itself, but even the weird and off-the-wall "Chocolate Chip Trip" even felt natural in this album, and of course "7empest," which a lot cite as one of their best songs, too.

    I get that a lot of people may not appreciate this album as much as I have, and it's certainly not for those who are more casual and want more hooks (this album is kind of devoid of them), but if you want some good, moody, atmospheric, and abstract music played by one of the best bands that's ever existed, then grab your headphones and sink into this monster.    … Expand
  17. metal666
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    Best album ever its all your time woth ;)
    This is the prog gods finest work
  18. djangojimi
    Sep 2, 2019
    10
    Tool is best at being Tool; they are always supremely idiosyncratic and true to their own sound as the classic 4-piece band in the mold of Sabbath and Zeppelin (and keeping the flame alive for the sound they created and which has been emulated countless times since Opiate/Undertow). Regardless of their absence or a casual fan’s opinion about A Perfect Circle or Puscifer, this album isTool is best at being Tool; they are always supremely idiosyncratic and true to their own sound as the classic 4-piece band in the mold of Sabbath and Zeppelin (and keeping the flame alive for the sound they created and which has been emulated countless times since Opiate/Undertow). Regardless of their absence or a casual fan’s opinion about A Perfect Circle or Puscifer, this album is another perfect crystallization of Tool’s ethos: heaviness, thoughtfulness, turning dismay or confusion into beautiful art. Favorite tracks of mine are 7empest, Pneuma, Fear Inoculum, one of the coolest drum solo songs put down as a studio album track (Chocolate Chip Trip)...aw hell, the whole album. Users or “fans” who express boredom or dismay that Tool haven’t fulfilled some fantastical expectations from a 13 year studio album hiatus should ask themselves this: what did you expect? Tool to all of a sudden sound like Gojira or Meshuggah? I’m definitely puzzled by how people would expect Tool to metamorphose into something they’re not.… Expand
  19. litbright
    Nov 2, 2019
    10
    It took quite a few spins but I suddenly found myself loving Fear Inoculum. Listening from start to finish, not skipping the interludes, and out of nowhere it became a magical experience every bit as wonderful as previous Tool albums. Listen with the best headphones you can find or go to the quietest space available, and just allocate some time to sit and listen properly withoutIt took quite a few spins but I suddenly found myself loving Fear Inoculum. Listening from start to finish, not skipping the interludes, and out of nowhere it became a magical experience every bit as wonderful as previous Tool albums. Listen with the best headphones you can find or go to the quietest space available, and just allocate some time to sit and listen properly without interruption. Worth every day of the 13 year wait.… Expand
  20. MilkXy
    Sep 2, 2019
    10
    I never write reviews. So Since I'm here Best to grab a copy of this Gem. It's truly a Masterpiece. I really hope TOOL continues to write music!
  21. Markitoz
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    It's Tool, Danny Carey is excellent, Adam Jones and Justin Chancellor in the best form of their career, and Maynard, without screams, takes a rol more like a narrator of the songs, but in the end, you have that feeling of satisfaction.
  22. vagman
    Dec 25, 2019
    10
    Never being a tool fan until now.Have heard some of their most knowned songs and liked them but never gone through listening a complete album.This one made me revisit their oldest work.Can easylly say its thei best and an amazing album.Its being since my early 20s that i find myself captivated by an lp and listening it over and over again.With a good set of headphones its a magicalNever being a tool fan until now.Have heard some of their most knowned songs and liked them but never gone through listening a complete album.This one made me revisit their oldest work.Can easylly say its thei best and an amazing album.Its being since my early 20s that i find myself captivated by an lp and listening it over and over again.With a good set of headphones its a magical experience best think ive listened as far a production.… Expand
  23. DieMyDarling
    Sep 3, 2019
    10
    I feel like there is always a cultural barometer that exists for every music release: where does it fit in in the current geopolitical climate? How does it capture the attention of the youth? To say that such barometers are meaningless in considering this album feels almost too obvious, yet it is so singular that it cannot be overstated. This album exists in a space encompassing 13 longI feel like there is always a cultural barometer that exists for every music release: where does it fit in in the current geopolitical climate? How does it capture the attention of the youth? To say that such barometers are meaningless in considering this album feels almost too obvious, yet it is so singular that it cannot be overstated. This album exists in a space encompassing 13 long years and in doing so does not even try to comment on the present. It speaks in sweeping gestures lyrically, encompassing such universal beliefs that life is ruled by fear, or that we all struggle to remain relevant while constantly heading toward obsolescence. Musically this album does not give a flying **** about what the kids are into. There are no sing-along choruses. There are no pleas to a disenfranchised youth. There are no BASS DROPS. There is only a sonic landscape that requires effort to indulge in and comprehend.

    As always, TOOL is using complicated time signatures and polyrhythms to keep the listener on their toes throughout plodding passages that would otherwise be snoozefests. Trying to figure out what Danny Carey is even doing is always one of the great pleasures of listening to a TOOL album and this one is as far from disappointment on that front as you could imagine. Adam Jones even gets to go nuts, as 7empest is a monolithic riff crucible that does not stop delivering for nearly 16 minutes. Pneuma - like Parabola before it - asks us to sit back and comprehend what a beauty life could (and should) be if we can only get out of our own way.

    If there is something negative to be said about the album, it's that the vocals are too tame. Even spots where it feels like Maynard should be cutting loose (the end of Invincible and Culling Voices, for example) he just sits back. Even if you don't care if he is getting aggressive, he is also way too shy about his vocal range. Parts of Fear Inoculum (the song) and Invincible really could have been sung much more dynamically (he proved he can do it on The Pot) but he just rests on his laurels.

    The fact that such an album could even exist let alone be embraced in 2019 is something to be celebrated. For people who long for the "old" TOOL, they are gone and thank god, because we needed this album more than we ever knew.    … Expand
  24. Venussbrc
    Sep 16, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wow, this album is just amazing. 80 minutes traveling in my mind and soul. Open your ears… Expand
  25. PhillsAcer
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Great LP. Layered an mysterious. Every time you play the album, other details appear. Real masterpiece.
  26. Mement0
    Sep 5, 2019
    10
    This album is another masterpiece they've produced.

    It's so clinical yet chaotic but disciplined. A perfect blend. The musicianship is otherworldly. Jones has produced his best work to date. All the tracks challenge you as a listener and require your full attention to genuinely appreciate and enjoy. After each listen it grows on me more and more. Layered beautiful album. This    This album is another masterpiece they've produced.

    It's so clinical yet chaotic but disciplined. A perfect blend.

    The musicianship is otherworldly. Jones has produced his best work to date.

    All the tracks challenge you as a listener and require your full attention to genuinely appreciate and enjoy. After each listen it grows on me more and more. Layered beautiful album.

    This album is not for the impatient and people looking for quick easy melodies. Be patient!!!    … Expand
  27. jburrelluk
    Sep 9, 2019
    10
    A majestic beast of a record that people will be exploring for years to come. Nothing particularly new here but when it comes to this band, how is that a bad thing? Sits beautifully in their catalogue. Hope its not their last release!
  28. ioneil1
    Sep 9, 2019
    10
    At first listen I would have said 8/10, but in classic TOOL fashion this gets better with each successive listen. The details in each of these records is staggering. All members were on top of their game on this one. Phenomenal album. Welcome back TOOL!
  29. martinileemart
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    It grows like fine wine. I rated it after 10-20 listens but it’s perfection.
  30. PhillipD
    Sep 4, 2019
    10
    13 years in the making, those who are worried that time would perhaps deliver something other than exceptional need not worry, this is a truly majestic piece of work. Layered and textured, like previous Tool albums, this album deserves your attention with nuances that become apparent upon further listening, a feast for the ears. The music is different to previous albums in that it is13 years in the making, those who are worried that time would perhaps deliver something other than exceptional need not worry, this is a truly majestic piece of work. Layered and textured, like previous Tool albums, this album deserves your attention with nuances that become apparent upon further listening, a feast for the ears. The music is different to previous albums in that it is softer in parts (these guys are 13 years older) a little of the anger has gone but still the quiet gives way to chugging guitar and machine like drumming, the bass drum sounds like a Harley motorbike starting up, insane. A great clean mix with bass guitar to the forefront with the drums over this rather than behind gives it a freshness, Adam's technical licks give it that high end, and Maynard's signing transcendent, forced at times, but still restrained, sublime. 10/10 for a Tool fan, 8/10 for a non fan that must appreciate the fine craft, scores of 0? That's not really fair on what is in my opinion their best work.… Expand
  31. Deadman-aus
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    How do you come back after 13 years and deliver a masterpiece like this? Simply amazing
  32. whitewulf
    Sep 14, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I am completing my 30th - 40th listen of this album at the moment. I can't stop wondering about this album and everything else that isn't TOOL just feels bland because of this album, It's how I felt when I fell in love with Lateralus. When I heard TOOL for the first time I couldn't stand it, and my girlfriend at the time just couldn't stop listening to them. I just didn't get it. "Why would anyone like this band? Lamb of God is way better" I had thought at the time. But then something just clicked. I guess it started to grow on me and since then it just hasn't stopped. Understanding this band can be frustrating for some, as this album. I see this album as a reintroduction to TOOL's activity, their way of saying that were official out of our light hiatus.

    Like many in the negative reviews section, I felt overly underwhelmed with this album when I first listened to it. I didn't truly listen to it, I judged it and wanted it to do what I wanted but that's not what TOOL is about, They were never about that. They've always reflected on their lives at the time and tried to get to the next evolutionary step. "Patience is required" I am paraphrasing Maynard here and it's what a lot of people excessively lack in our time and age. You don't need to force yourself to like it, don't like it now? Don't worry about it, be angry or upset if you must and hopefully tomorrow or 5 years from now you'll try this album and it'll make sense to you. This isn't the first time this has happened to TOOL, fans were divided with 10,000 days ( I know I was).

    Now to the nitpicking in this album, IF YOU WANT MY HONEST OPINION AND FEEL LIKE SKIPPING THE PART ABOVE THEN START HERE. This album is repetitive, uninspired and lacking of various "TOOL" features. It is repetitive at first glance and it feels so familiar, until you find the other TOOL song that you think it is copying and realized that it is different, way different. It's different to the point it is hypnotic. Adam, Danny and Justin take their **** time but just like anything in life, the good **** the really good **** is right in front of your eyes but you don't see it since your so occupied with your own ego. I know, I do it all the damn time. The synchronization of the instrumentals are impeccable and masterful with Adam's ability to enlighten all in riffs that are soft, twisted yet organized and aggressive without any excess. Justin's hypnotic grooves foretell past and future as always with lovecraftian essence and superb flux but what's to say about Danny? Danny's inter-connective beats that make love to the universe in it's calm, chaotic states and everywhere in between; A **** kraken on the drums.

    TOOL is almost a religion to me and like all "good" religions we need some words to understand it. They felt forced and kept reminding me of APC (Note: past tense) which isn't a big problem but I didn't like it. And then I realized that this isn't Maynard... Well, not the Maynard I was expecting which was a 36 to 41 year old Maynard. This is a matured 55 year old Maynard and how he as aged like a fine wine, or vineyard. Fear Inoculum, A vaccination for our fears in our world of fears. Reflective lyrics that criticize the world aren't new to Maynard, but the way he looks at it now is peculiar and illusive at times, I swear I felt them super forced the first time around but I had learned my lesson with 10,000 days and knew that I had to keep trying, I still am trying but god **** damn it are these lyrics still good even though I understand maybe half of it. It reminded me of when I was 16 and shouting out the lyrics to Prison Sex good. Goosebumps once it lost that sense of being forced... Or was I the one forcing something? Trying to force something out of my reach because I'm a spoiled brat and everything needs to please my selfish desire. This album is criticizing me, you, us, we. "Free fall through our midnight. This epilogue of our own fable. Heedless in our slumber. Floating nescient, we". The opening lyrics to "Descending" make a critic of us, we humans. Instead of going with the flow and seeing where the river takes us we struggle and when we get irritated we drown in our own negativity. Just take a deep breath and try again.

    In the end, This album is all I can think about and I feel it unnecessary to listen to anything else for the moment. There is so much sweat and energy put into this album with pure ingenuity and awareness. My favorite that always give me chills is in "Descending" at 6:55, god damn that soulful Duet of guitars that reflect yet don't match as if they were copulating.

    Well, I tried to keep it short but I'm almost reaching the limit here on Metacritic. For those of you read it all, I'm happy you took the time and know that it means a lot to me since I tend to keep my opinion to myself but I just couldn't with this album and If you didn't like the album well then that is perfectly fine. Just try to give it a chance in your approximate future.    … Expand
  33. harry909
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Tool managed to pick up exactly where they left off with a masterpiece. On the level of Lateralus, Dark Side of the Moon and In Rainbows but better.
  34. stevenr868
    Sep 1, 2019
    10
    The modern day progressive rock album I've been longing for. Each song is an adventure and this album makes 85 minutes fly by faster than any album I've listened to
  35. chbckyle
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    A less restrained 10,000 days, and better for it. This record, like so many classic prog records, is able to take you on a journey through your psyche. In the future this album will be a touchstone for prog going forward.
  36. robomovies
    Sep 11, 2019
    10
    A true work of art, well worth the wait. Longtime Tool fans will get it and love it, while those just hopping on the bandwagon will complain about the length of the songs, the interludes, etc....same as it’s always been with Tool albums. Hoping for more new music relatively soon.
  37. Xaire
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    I'm a giant tool fanboy, so I was going to like this album no matter what. But, with music this good and the band being this tight. This became one of my favorites.
  38. kaspito
    Sep 5, 2019
    10
    Initially, I wasn't very impressed. But because of the complexity, the differences in their sound and the way they use dynamics that's something that can be a seminar alone, I needed some time to synchronize with their universe. Oh boy, what a place to be. 10/10 they're driving music forward.
  39. drksl92
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    These tracks are creatures that come to life and grow to be monumental. Majestic album, with a crystalline production, the typical Tool’s sound that we didn't want to lose and a superfine contrast between delicacy and heaviness of the instruments. We needed it.
  40. petrovich_zfx
    Sep 8, 2019
    10
    Tool new album is like a bottle of good vine. Let it breathe a little, before you will experience all the taste. In the end it doesnt matter if this vine will be worth 13 year waiting, what does matter is an understanding that still no one can createaomething like that. Only TOOL can. And for that I am gratefull!
  41. SpoonHound
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Worth the wait. Classic Tool sound, but new and brilliant in every dimension.
  42. dkcoffey
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Sounds like Tool. Enjoy the change Maynard did with the vocals, and Danny, Justin and Adam all have their moments to shine on the album per usual. Album is just going to get better as I spin it around more and more. Great stuff. Worth the wait.
  43. Coastal2009
    Sep 2, 2019
    10
    Amazing album. I can’t say worth the wait because I never want to wait 13 years for another Tool album again.
  44. demoncleaner666
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Impressive effort by Tool, and a worthy addition to their discography. They take the sound and style they developed through Aenima and Lateralus to its logical conclusion: long, complex, winding compositions build from compelling melodies to bone-crunching climaxes. They've eschewed pretty much all semblance of traditional song structure, and it gives the songs an epic and organic feel:Impressive effort by Tool, and a worthy addition to their discography. They take the sound and style they developed through Aenima and Lateralus to its logical conclusion: long, complex, winding compositions build from compelling melodies to bone-crunching climaxes. They've eschewed pretty much all semblance of traditional song structure, and it gives the songs an epic and organic feel: each unfolds like a story. With each song clocking in at well over 10 minutes, this is some of Tool's least accessible music to date, probably more for the diehard Tool fan than the uninitiated, but if you give it a chance there's something here that any fan of good music can enjoy. Just a great album, and a feat of musicianship of the highest order. 10/10, easy.… Expand
  45. Omniscient7
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    Fear Inoculum nailed every one of my expectations besides one. I don't know if I can say it's better than Aenima or Lateralus, but it certainly tops 10,000 days, Undertow and Opiate. They didn't necessarily change all too much (Adam's lead work has progressed as have the vocal/string section dynamics), but they have refined everything that makes them great and came out with a record that'sFear Inoculum nailed every one of my expectations besides one. I don't know if I can say it's better than Aenima or Lateralus, but it certainly tops 10,000 days, Undertow and Opiate. They didn't necessarily change all too much (Adam's lead work has progressed as have the vocal/string section dynamics), but they have refined everything that makes them great and came out with a record that's not lazily done, nor is it compromising them as artists. Fear Inoculum is a culmination of Tool creating music as a form of art to tell complex stories in a progressive manner. They succeeded in matching the hype, which is no easy feat. It's not the best album of their career, but it certainly has what I'd consider a few of the best songs of their career. Overall 10/10 due to it surpassing everything I expected with minimal disappointment. I'd give it 9.5/10, but I can't so I'll round up :)

    The bad: No MJK screams. Little aggression in his vocals. If you expected classic Tool vocals, you won't really get em here. MJK does a fantastic job vocally and does get aggressive on one track, but his singing is very tame and well kept. It's almost APC-ish, which I am cool with, it fits most songs. Some areas I was expecting a riff to get bigger and bigger then Danny to hit the cymbals then get into a groove while the riff plays at full aggression, but it didn't happen. Instead the riff switched or Adam started playing very large space-occupying chords which then led into an area that blew me away, negating my disappointment.

    The good: Danny freaking Carey folks. The man is an absolute monster on this album from start to finish. Chocolate Chip Trip is a drum solo track, backed by synths (which you may hate the synths but I actually enjoyed them). 7emptest is the best song on the album, top 5 Tool song of all time. For the first time in Tools lifespan this song is less of the Danny Carey show and more of the Adam Jones show. He is just slinging heavy riff after heavy riff here. Around the 10:35 mark, Tool releases the heaviest section of music they have made in their career. It will become a classic to headbang to. Jones showcases some great lead work here too, which accumulates to several minutes on this 16 minute behemoth.    … Expand
  46. Rajsankardey
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Adds an entire different dimension to music. I love this new album. Especially Invincible and 7empest♥️
  47. Tiphareth
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    A triumphant return, all the boxes are checked. The guys managed to improve and refine what was already a well oiled machine. Danny is superb, Adam took a giant leap forward in terms of variety and good riff writing, Justin has the surreal capacity of being aggressive and measured at the same time and Maynard seems much less interested in showcasing his never aging voice and much moreA triumphant return, all the boxes are checked. The guys managed to improve and refine what was already a well oiled machine. Danny is superb, Adam took a giant leap forward in terms of variety and good riff writing, Justin has the surreal capacity of being aggressive and measured at the same time and Maynard seems much less interested in showcasing his never aging voice and much more focused on having it be of service to the songs and to the message. A well deserved 10… Expand
  48. Ellet
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Breathtaking art. The thirteen year wait disappears in this aural masterpiece.
  49. Bonzorro
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    I was in highschool when a friend gave me a black casette with white tentacles. My music taste shifted that day. Now my son is in highschool and he's going to get Fear Inoculum. It has everything I missed on 10,000 Days, and all the pieces of previous albums' craftsmanship. Long awaited friends have finally come to visit us and they're more than welcome to stay.
  50. Kennethaakonsen
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Wow, that was amazing! Been a Tool fan for some time and was really excited for this album. It's something special about them. The creativity, vibe, the heavy parts with these crazy Tool loops, the odd time-signatures, everything was very clever. This made me even a bigger fan. They all did an INCREDIBLE job - I was blown away by Danny. Invincible was insane. Can't wait to listen more toWow, that was amazing! Been a Tool fan for some time and was really excited for this album. It's something special about them. The creativity, vibe, the heavy parts with these crazy Tool loops, the odd time-signatures, everything was very clever. This made me even a bigger fan. They all did an INCREDIBLE job - I was blown away by Danny. Invincible was insane. Can't wait to listen more to this album in the future.
    For a prog-metal fan and music lover this was a really cool experience.    … Expand
  51. chkekt
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Titanic masterpiece completely smashing all wannabes & shows who's the daddies! Every track is super catchy!
  52. soonerkevin
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Their best work to date. This album was worth the wait. I’m not even a huge Tool fan but this album is incredible.
  53. Jupi13
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    This body of work is pure art. Otherworldly mind-blowing and mind-expanding experience.
  54. Elkasiero
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    A masterpiece for Tool fans,
    but not for everyone.
    You can't listen to a 15 minutes track and enjoying it without having the experience of listening to progressive songs .
  55. Trey_Weddle
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Tool's Fear Inoculum is an absolutely fantastic album. Every song is utterly brilliant and it's just a pure masterpiece through and through. 13 years was definitely worth the wait.
  56. m4570d0n
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    A masterpiece. They have truly transcended to an entirely new level with this album. Danny Carey in particular has become a possessed madman behind the drums in the best way possible.
  57. Gnarly_Sarley
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Worth the wait. I didn't think it was possible for any album to be worth waiting 13 years, but I will happily wait another 13 if their next album is this good.
  58. MoxRyan
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    This was a great album. It's hard to compare to their older material but stands on it's own. There are definitely some interesting production choices but just because it doesn't perfectly resemble their older material doesn't mean this wasn't intentional. Once again this is an album that sounds ahead of it's time. Tool's work is usually like that, a brilliant portent of our collective evolution.
  59. Soundwizard
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Absolutely fantastic. Understanding that with their internal issues, media, songwriting and art, the child rearing and other personal matters we all experience and can relate to, it only makes sense that this album took 13 years. I'm not even mad. The best way I find myself enjoying this album is through having a knowledge and a degree of understanding of the more esoteric things. As wellAbsolutely fantastic. Understanding that with their internal issues, media, songwriting and art, the child rearing and other personal matters we all experience and can relate to, it only makes sense that this album took 13 years. I'm not even mad. The best way I find myself enjoying this album is through having a knowledge and a degree of understanding of the more esoteric things. As well as the history of the events that led up to making this album (just like all their albums, their lives coincide with the music). The odd time signatures and music theory with the instruments and vocals weaving through each other reaching cathartic unison. The lyricism and poetry and emotion strongly correlated to much of world today and the situation many people today face. All this requires the listener to have a deeper understanding to fully immerse yourself in the artwork that is Fear Inoculum. Try and see for yourself. They are masters of their art.… Expand
  60. Jayansh
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Fear Inoculum is the Avant-garde/Prog Metal juggernaut that the fans of Tool had been waiting for over a decade. It's a dense, multi-layered record that requires patient, multiple listens for it to unravel its many mysteries and subtleties not so easily identifiable/discernible in the first go.
  61. don268
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    This album is not a destination, it is a journey. It is a road trip with so many things to experience along the way; so many places to pause, get out of the vehicle and just gaze at what's there to be seen. At times the road is jarring and your mind reaches for the handle to make it still. Moments later, serenity takes over and the road passes through a seemingly endless, seeminglyThis album is not a destination, it is a journey. It is a road trip with so many things to experience along the way; so many places to pause, get out of the vehicle and just gaze at what's there to be seen. At times the road is jarring and your mind reaches for the handle to make it still. Moments later, serenity takes over and the road passes through a seemingly endless, seemingly impossibly peaceful place. For a moment, you realize that you are in a bit of a trance, a relaxing place less like sleep and more like meditation. You are held there for a while only to be reminded that the world can never be only full of peace, for to know peace you must know war; to know the quiet, you must know the noise, to know serenity, you must know suffering. This album is one of the most balanced collection I've ever heard. Nearly 90 minutes after leaving on this journey, you realize that you've arrived at the end. And, if you listened.. if you paid attention during the ride, you are entirely grateful for the whole of what you've just experienced. And if, like a child, you've spent the ride waiting for that one destination, looking only forward to that one place, you are likely disappointed. If this is you, I recommend taking that journey one more time. Don't stop for a burger and don't stop to piss along the way. Just drive it in one straight shot. And, spend each moment listening with your ears, with your mind. There is no other way for this journey to be experienced.
    This    … Expand
  62. dmiranda
    Sep 7, 2019
    10
    Fear Inoculum's seven songs - which in digital format come with three more songs: "Litanie contre le peur", "Legion Inoculant" and "Mockingbeat", in practice three climatic and instrumental interludes - feature pretentious, original and hypnotic work . Six of the seven tracks exceed ten minutes (with the exception of "Chocolate Chip Trip", another instrumental interlude) and featureFear Inoculum's seven songs - which in digital format come with three more songs: "Litanie contre le peur", "Legion Inoculant" and "Mockingbeat", in practice three climatic and instrumental interludes - feature pretentious, original and hypnotic work . Six of the seven tracks exceed ten minutes (with the exception of "Chocolate Chip Trip", another instrumental interlude) and feature chords, harmonic progressions, rhythmic scales and predominantly ascending melodies, which makes the album have a very strong sound magnetism. In practice, this translates into a hearing that causes a kind of hypnosis as the songs unfold. The choice to construct the songs using sister chords and notes, coupled with Keenan's mostly ethereal vocal melodies, intensifies this mind-numbing sensation while opening new untapped songs in the listener's brain.

    The rhythmic part remains one of the highlights, with unconventional movements and an approach that talks with fusion, always supported by the univiteline union between bass and guitar. Chancellor's instrument, always a highlight, continues to play an almost percussive role and fills the spaces omnipresently. Drummers will still love Carey's work, while Jones maintains a guitar playing that, especially in Fear Inoculum, is much more interested in creating sound atmospheres than riffs.

    However, the weight comes. And when it comes, it arrives beautiful. The apexes of the songs, with instrumental explosions full of rhythmic turns, are chilling to even the most bald of fans. It's an original, unique and beautiful song that could either be defined as a hypnotic prog metal or a meditative fusion.

    The fact is that in Fear Inoculum the Tool requires a listener partnership so that what the band is proposing is effectively assimilated. This means that in a world where urgency predominates and anxiety is no longer an exception and has become the company of most individuals, a disc that is over 70 minutes long and tracks that are over ten minutes need some effort. from most listeners. Fear Inoculum is not one of those albums made for occasional and occasional listening. It demands an immersion, it takes time from those on the other side of the headset. But in doing so, it rewards you with creative delivery, a song that is totally out of the box and delivers incredible sensations.

    Among the tracks, highlight the sensational song that beats the album, "Invincible", "Descending" and the incredible "7empest", the longest and heaviest of the album and where the full protagonism goes to the guitar of Adam Jones.

    Fear Inoculum makes up for the thirteen year long wait for a new Tool album with a complex, extremely immersive, musically rich work that carries both the seal of quality and the original aura the band has always possessed. One of the biggest albums of 2019 and one of the best albums of the quartet's career.    … Expand
  63. Eke666
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Simply the best album I have heard in decades. Recording is out of this world, sounds unbelievable.
  64. Montenegro
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    It wasn't an instant connection. When listening for the first time a few minutes after its release I found it a little strange. Now I am listening the album for the third time and it sounds so familiar. I must say it surpassed my expectations. I might be biased by the excitement of finally listening to a new Tool album after 13 years of wait, but I feel their musicianship is more evidentIt wasn't an instant connection. When listening for the first time a few minutes after its release I found it a little strange. Now I am listening the album for the third time and it sounds so familiar. I must say it surpassed my expectations. I might be biased by the excitement of finally listening to a new Tool album after 13 years of wait, but I feel their musicianship is more evident in this album than in any of the previous. So glad to be living this moment.… Expand
  65. Aphexxx1978
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Best tool album...................................
    .................................
  66. laar1907
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Carey and Chancellor stood out in a superb way. All the songs have amazing build ups to it and the time signatures just fits perfectly. Maynard vocals are really good and melodic.
  67. wildmuffin
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    After listening to the album 5 times today on releaseday, I can only say that it is amazing! After the first time I would probably have given it a 8/10 but the songs really grow on you and I am now rating it a 9.5/10.

    Maynard's lyrics is no longer so intimate as we are used to from some of the old stuff, and the double meanings of the lyrics that we so love to analyse is not really    After listening to the album 5 times today on releaseday, I can only say that it is amazing! After the first time I would probably have given it a 8/10 but the songs really grow on you and I am now rating it a 9.5/10.

    Maynard's lyrics is no longer so intimate as we are used to from some of the old stuff, and the double meanings of the lyrics that we so love to analyse is not really there, but he delivers vocally for sure. Danny's drumming is of the chart, I would say that this is the big takeaway from this album..the drums. It is not their best album, but a very, very good one for sure. Lets hope it does not take another 13 years for the next one..    … Expand
  68. dssquirrel
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Does it have the raw angst of Opiate and/or Undertow? No. Is it the metaphysical and often cynical, hook laden pure progressive rock of the last three? No. Is the mature madness of skilled musicians who are comfortable exploring new boundaries with little to no regard for popular musical edict? Hellya. The new album is a journey 13 years in the making and one well worth waiting for.
  69. MorriganDax
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Earth, the final frontier
    These are the voyages of your brain
    Its 13 years delay To explore strange new worlds
    To seek out new life
    And new civilizations
    To boldly go where no man has gone before
  70. Vedderman81
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    How do you review an album as layered, intricate and powerful as Fear Inoculum in a few words. A beautiful masterpiece from a band that stretch the parameters musically, lyrically and artistically. It’s been a long 13 years but this album was definitely worth the wait.
  71. Mferraz
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Melhor álbum do ano! Cada detalhe, Maynard James Keenan é um monstro sagrado, bem como todos os integrantes dessa banda maravilhosa… Expand
  72. f0ntain3
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Imho their best work to date, these guys have outdone themselves, so loose, live, psychedelic and REAL. Thank you Tool for the amazing effort, this album is a work of beauty across the board.
  73. BasePrimeMover
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    13 years it took to get to this moment and now the moment is here and well worth the wait! I'm not ready to hail it as their magnum opus yet as with every tool album it requires weeks to dig through the songs and get to the root of it all. With that said the first play through astounded me, the album feels like a natural progression of 10,000 days with sweeping guitar riffs, crazy and13 years it took to get to this moment and now the moment is here and well worth the wait! I'm not ready to hail it as their magnum opus yet as with every tool album it requires weeks to dig through the songs and get to the root of it all. With that said the first play through astounded me, the album feels like a natural progression of 10,000 days with sweeping guitar riffs, crazy and spectacularly drumming, bass lines that smack of thunder and deliver lightning and of course Maynard… Expand
  74. Hurricanev8
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Brilliance, feels like you’ve been invited into the greatest jam session of all time.
  75. Sklo17
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    I absolutely love it. 10,000 days (tools last album) came out in 2006, it’s been 13 years. The first I remember that I started listening to them was around 8 years ago, so I’m not going to sit here and act like I’ve waited the full 13 years like others have. But for the 8 years that I have, I’ve built the biggest love for them, and they’re now my 2nd favorite band, and have been for years.I absolutely love it. 10,000 days (tools last album) came out in 2006, it’s been 13 years. The first I remember that I started listening to them was around 8 years ago, so I’m not going to sit here and act like I’ve waited the full 13 years like others have. But for the 8 years that I have, I’ve built the biggest love for them, and they’re now my 2nd favorite band, and have been for years. And I think this album was well worth the wait. As soon as it came out at 12am last night I listened to it fully through immediately. I absolutely loved Fear Inoculum and there are no complaints I have about it. I think it’s one of the best albums of the decade in my opinion. Fear Inoculum, Pneuma, Invincible, Descending, Chocolate Chip Trip, Culling Voices, and 7empest are all amazing tracks, and the 3 segues are like always are awesome but a bit mysterious. And everyone’s performance is just astounding, Danny Carey was just absolutely phenomenal as usually, especially obviously during CCT, Justin Chancellor of course crushed it with the tone and just the amazing riffs that usually compete with the guitar, and add a different texture to the song. And of course Maynard James Kenenans voice sounds amazing, and then Adam Jones, he was absolutely phenomenal during this album. I think this album has some of the hardest/ complex guitar riffs and just some of the best guitar playing overall I’ve ever heard. I would review the tracks individually but I have stuff to do so I’m just gonna leave it at saying all the tracks kick ass and are amazing. I think if give it a 9.5-9.8 out of ten but I’m just gonna round it up to 10. There’s nothing I can really think of that I didn’t like, or that they didn’t do. It’s just that I like some of their other releases better. Rock on hope this review helps … Expand
  76. Geesus
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    Perfect. These are real musicians not fake pop singers that don’t write their own music.
  77. RamblingDavey
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    This is a sonic marathon. A steady trot through varied landscapes. The ears glide along a smooth, darkened path before being slammed to the ground by an abrupt tremor and eventual quake in blinding brightness. Keep traveling, keep moving forward and you’ll arrive at the end weary and worn but mesmerized and euphoric.
  78. LoudMusic
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    This album is everything i was waiting and more. A true masterpiece. Instant classic.
  79. mahmoudagn
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    To all the people who didn't like this album, it needs time to really sit in, all tool albums are like that, yet this one needs it more than the others, So give it time guys, it gets better with each listen. All members of the band have really pushed themselves, except maybe for Maynard and that is absolutely fine because the result is fantastic, it's a masterpiece from beginning to theTo all the people who didn't like this album, it needs time to really sit in, all tool albums are like that, yet this one needs it more than the others, So give it time guys, it gets better with each listen. All members of the band have really pushed themselves, except maybe for Maynard and that is absolutely fine because the result is fantastic, it's a masterpiece from beginning to the end. It feels like the next chapter of the voyage that was Lateralus, combined with the Raw emotions of 10000 days. It is an evolution of their sound and the next logical step for the band/… Expand
  80. Dpjb
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    Incredible. Pure skill and passion. Time takes all. Completely worth the wait.
  81. Reductio
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    The production and the sound-stage is the very best I have ever experienced on a “rock” or progrock album. (I really don’t know how to define Tool). Compare Fear Inoculum to Lateralus on a proper stereo, and the latter sounds like it is recorded in mono.

    I like the songs very well, and I honestly don’t think they are boring/lame at all – as stated by some of the “keyboard warriors”    The production and the sound-stage is the very best I have ever experienced on a “rock” or progrock album. (I really don’t know how to define Tool). Compare Fear Inoculum to Lateralus on a proper stereo, and the latter sounds like it is recorded in mono.

    I like the songs very well, and I honestly don’t think they are boring/lame at all – as stated by some of the “keyboard warriors” rating it to 0. But, I don’t listen to Fear Inoculum, Lateralus and 10K days the same way as Ænima and other more “straightforward” rock albums. Every Tool-album has different footprint, and this one is less available and more complex compared to the others. Still, it is pretty easy to like IMHO.

    Some old fans are disappointed that it doesn’t sound like their records from the 90s. Other fans are disappointed that it is too similar to earlier work. Obviously, it’s not easy to be Tool.

    I understand that old fans from the Ænima-era doesn’t necessary like Lateralus and later albums. However, I don’t understand why this is an issue in 2019. It maybe was in 2001 for some people. For me Tool became a different kind of band with Lateralus.

    If there is anything to pinpoint it may be that the vocals could have been more present. This problems vanish when the record is played on a proper hi-fi stereo, but I recognize that the soundstage vanish on less sophisticated earphones, earplugs, or just average stereos. Some of you also complain about that the bass is not present. It couldn’t be more far from the truth, but again, you need equipment that handle the whole bandwidth. Hence, maybe they underestimated how the albums sounds for most people (or maybe they didn’t care).

    My favorite is Pneuma, but the best experience is to just play the whole album. The biggest surprise is Culling Voices, which is something completely new. It makes me wonder how the band will evolve in the future. (This doesn’t sound like a farewell album.)

    I liked the album arts at first, but.. I am not sure.

    (The album is not over hyped, but it is a nice way to calibrate metacritics definition for a 10 or a 100 rating :D )    … Expand
  82. bradfrd12
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    Exquisite. Sublime. Ethereal. And exactly what we've been waiting for. Listening to all of the albums without stopping on a long road trip was a trip! The path forged by Tool throughout the years is a lifelong project. Pink Floyd had concept albums....Tool IS a concept. Soak it in. Breathe it. and enjoy the experience. I can only hope there is at least one more chapter to this saga....
  83. Loveemote
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    It lived up to the hype in my opinion. I was not disappointed. It was like Tool providing the best orgasm you’ve been waiting 13 years to have.
  84. Mrkrinkle4753
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    This is the album that we’ve wanted forever from this band. There are sounds on the record that I’ve never heard anywhere else before. The percussive techniques and rhythms employed are a treat for the listener and while this album is clearly different than those in the past you can hear elements from previous works like Opiate or Lateralus that will put a smile on your face or being aThis is the album that we’ve wanted forever from this band. There are sounds on the record that I’ve never heard anywhere else before. The percussive techniques and rhythms employed are a treat for the listener and while this album is clearly different than those in the past you can hear elements from previous works like Opiate or Lateralus that will put a smile on your face or being a tear to your eye. Tool went all out on this one. Let’s do these guys right and give them the recognition and appreciation they’ve earned. Bravo fellas. Spiral out.… Expand
  85. Mittal90
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    Like with any Tool album it’s going to take many listens to fully understand and appreciate what they have created. However, as with any Tool album, this stands head and shoulders above anything in the genre and beyond. Tool are one of only a handful of artists that can illicit such a wide range of emotions when listening to music. While perhaps it does not quite reach the heights of theirLike with any Tool album it’s going to take many listens to fully understand and appreciate what they have created. However, as with any Tool album, this stands head and shoulders above anything in the genre and beyond. Tool are one of only a handful of artists that can illicit such a wide range of emotions when listening to music. While perhaps it does not quite reach the heights of their magnum opus, Lateralus, it is still a masterpiece in its own right. I can not wait to go further down the spiral and feel so grateful for more music from this life changing band.… Expand
  86. metalbangg
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Marvellous Album! worth to wait after 13 years, remember "13 YEARS", once again remember, "13 YEARS"… Expand
  87. MarquitosBR88
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Simply a masterpiece!
    Album of the year!
    If you put 0 on this album,go get a life    … Expand
  88. Defmatt
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    A triumphant return and worth the wait. Fear Inoculum somehow manages to live up to the near impossible hype.
  89. zilt0id
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    Magnificent! Incredible work, totally introspective and marvelous. Maybe the best metal album of the last 10 years.
  90. Anodynum
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    This album is an absolute masterpiece. Tool has never sounded better. Yet again, they have transcended any genre and made their music into something that must be experienced.
  91. Abbiepup44
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    This is maybe the album of the decade. From start to end it’s one hell of a journey. The talent level is unparalleled with the “rock” being put out today. Perfection, I have literally no clue how a tool fan gives this album a zero, it’s mind boggling.
  92. Psychokrunk
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    Only album I’ve ever cried to. Wasn’t anything specific that made me cry, just happened. It’s a masterpiece.
  93. gpt56
    Sep 1, 2019
    10
    The 13 year wait was worth it! Each band member shines on this album and its truly a wonderful experience from start to finish.
  94. Timekilla
    Sep 1, 2019
    10
    A masterwork of intelligent technical symmetry.

    Danny Carey and Adam Jones both have an individual song that focuses on their amazing talent. This album is thick with Opiate/Undertow vibes and as I listen I can somehow see the 30-year evolution of this band unfold into this album.

    ABSOLUTE 10/10. If you have ever liked or loved the unique sound of Tool, this is their pièce de résistance.
  95. t2dc
    Sep 1, 2019
    10
    An incredible return by an incredible band. Building on their catalogue, it's all here but with even more depth, song after song. Will happily wait another 13 years for something this good. The most TOOL, TOOL has ever been.
  96. rarekly
    Sep 1, 2019
    10
    Masterful. Greatly rewards multiple listens. May not be to everyone’s individual taste, but the musicianship on display here cannot be denied. The world is a better place with this music in it.
  97. BreadCondiments
    Sep 1, 2019
    10
    Overall just fantastic album. Their progression as a band only gets better.
  98. Fizo
    Sep 4, 2019
    10
    For me the album is amazing. I think that many people have problems with their unreallistic expectations. Through masterpiece.
  99. Distortionist
    Sep 1, 2019
    10
    Absolute masterpiece of musicianship. Such a treat in this day and age of 10 second attention spans. TOOL are messengers. The music transcends and if you spent time with it you'll see this as well.
  100. 61jh
    Sep 1, 2019
    10
    Incredible album. 13 years in the making and real true artistry. Best album of the decade, by far. Take a listen and enjoy.
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Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Most Discussed Album of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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.”
    Read full review
  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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