Fear Inoculum by TOOL, released in 2019 many years after the previous 10,000 Days from 2006. To date, their most recent studio album.
A monumental work, a triple LP with five engraved sides and the last one beautifully screen-printed (as shown in the photo).
As Chancellor explained, “Fear Inoculum” means «to vaccinate yourself against the things that scare you [...] When you grow up you want to learn, you want to change and evolve, but you don't want to live in fear. Fear annihilates thought».
I personally agree with this reflection; fears in this sense help you to change, and without change (as master Zappa said) there is no evolution.
A complex album and an excellent performance by all the band members, with the exceptional drumming of Danny Carey (whom we recently saw in the beautiful live album BEAT stepping out of his comfort zone with great mastery) with his complex polyrhythms and great technique, the splendid bass of Justin Chancellor, and the great guitar technique of Adam Jones.
Top-notch production quality and Keenan's voice is clearly in a state of grace.
A style that masterfully blends art rock, psychedelic rock, alternative metal, and progressive rock, with splendid compositions and atmospheres.
Long and complex tracks with the beautiful 7empest, which is the TOP track of the album, and Chocolate Chip Trip with a beautiful drum solo, but also Fear Inoculum and Pneuma" with splendid grooves and great complexity.
A great comeback with an ambitious progressive metal work, I love this band, maybe I'm biased, but I consider this work one of TOOL's TOP albums.
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS below the article title or on the "Artists" page
Tracklist
1. Fear Inoculum (10:20)
2. Pneuma (11:53)
3. Invincible (12:44)
4. Descending (13:38)
5. Culling Voices (10:05)
6. Chocolate Chip Trip (4:48)
7. 7empest (15:44)
LineUp
- Maynard James Keenan - vocals
- Adam Jones - guitar
- Justin Chancellor - bass
- Danny Carey - drums and percussion
With:
- Brian Lustmord - sounds and effects (6)
