A busy day today for us Tool website administrators, with a doubly whammy of Fear Inoculum news coming out while I’m firmly ensconced in my office.
First up is the official confirmation of the Fear Inoculum track listing. This appeared on the @toolmusic Instagram account a few hours ago, and contains some interesting titles:
Also out there today is a range of Fear Inoculum reviews from an assortment of media outlets. It sounds like these reviews are based of a single listen as opposed to a more considered opinion, so are interesting reads but to be assumed there’s a bit of hyperbole happening here. That said, the reviews are largely glowing. Below are a few snippets:
Note: spoilers aplenty below for those who care about such things!
From the Revolver review “Tool’s ‘Fear Inoculum’ Is a Masterpiece to Be Dissected for Years to Come:
“Pneuma” is all tension and release, guitars stately and crushing amid a mountain of beats, as Keenan wails: “Wake up! Remember: One breath! One word! One spark!”
https://www.revolvermag.com/music/review-tools-fear-inoculum-masterpiece-be-dissected-years-come
Next up is Metal Injection who sent two reviewers along and had the following to note about one of the segues:
Frank: The album leaves us with jungle sounds, and monkey noises. In usual Tool fashion, I feel like I’m being pranked by sitting here listening to this, but also wonder if there is something hidden I’m supposed to look for. Why are they doing this to me…or am I doing it to myself!?
https://metalinjection.net/reviews/tool-fear-inoculum-review
Finally, Loudwire gives us some thoughts on the closing epic 7empest:
This thing is BRUTALLY heavy and there’s no breathing room at all. No little soft transitions to connect crucial landmarks, just vicious and relentless metal. How can a band string together so many gigantic parts without taking a breath? Tool give absolutely no fucks.
https://loudwire.com/tool-fear-inoculum-full-album-what-to-expect/