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7empest
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"7empest"
Song by Tool
from the album Fear Inoculum
ReleasedAugust 30, 2019 (2019-08-30)
Recorded2018
GenreProgressive metal
Length15:43
Label
SongwritersMaynard James Keenan, Adam Jones, Justin Chancellor, Danny Carey[1]
ProducerTool

"7empest" (pronounced "tempest") is a song by American rock band Tool. At over 15 minutes in length, it is the final song on the band's fifth studio album, Fear Inoculum. The song peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart and was cited by critics as a standout track from the album. It later won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.

Background

[edit]

The song was first released on August 30, 2019, with the rest of the Fear Inoculum album; while some songs had been teased or played live over the course of the 13-year wait for the album's release, "7empest" had not been revealed prior. Upon release, the song charted and peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart.[2] The song made its live debut at the band's Sydney performance on February 18, 2020.[3]

Composition and themes

[edit]

"7empest" is 15 minutes and 43 seconds in length, moving through many different segments, time signatures, and structures.[4][5] The song opens with around 80 seconds of softer, clean guitar work before moving into a heavier, distorted guitar riff.[4][5] While the guitar riffs are described as reminiscent of Lateralus or Ænima, the vocals that kick in from Maynard James Keenan are noted for sounding aggressive, similar to the band's earlier work, kicking in with the lines "Keep calm...keep calm...Fuck, here we go again!" in the opening lines.[4][6] Keenan sings through two verses of vitriolic lyrics, condemning an unnamed person with lyrics of "acting all surprised when you're caught in a lie/ We know better, we know your nature!"[6] From there, the song enters an extended instrumental interlude, with guitarist Adam Jones going through many guitar riffs and guitar solos; with publications like Metal Hammer noting that, while many bands would build entire songs around the riffs, Tool instead runs through them once or twice and then moves on to the next one.[5] Keenan breaks up the instrumental interludes to aggressively chant the phrase "A tempest must be just that", before the song breaks back into more instrumental interlude, including some squealing "Jimi Hendrix-esq solos before returning to softer, clean guitar notes reminiscent of the intro are played again as an outro.[7]

Neither Keenan, the band's primary lyricist, nor the rest of the band have shed any light on the lyrical meaning of the song, though Rolling Stone theorized that it may allude to William Shakespeare's final play The Tempest.[7]

Reception

[edit]

The song was singled out as the best song of the Fear Inoculum album by a number of different publications, including Esquire,[8] Loudwire,[4] Metal Hammer,[5] Radio.com,[9] MetalSucks,[10] and Alternative Press.[11] The song was declared the number one song of 2019 from Revolver.[6] Esquire praised the song for fitting in the best aspects of every single one of Tool's prior studio albums, and felt the song alone made the 13 year wait for the album worth it.[8] Loudwire deemed the song "the greatest achievement of guitarist Adam Jones' entire career.[4]

In 2020, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.[12][13][14]

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 117
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[16] 6

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
"7empest" is a by the American rock band Tool, serving as the closing track on their fifth studio album, , which was released on August 30, 2019. Running for 15 minutes and 43 seconds, it is the longest composition on the album and exemplifies Tool's intricate style through polyrhythmic drumming, layered guitar riffs, and atmospheric production. The song's title is a stylized rendering of "tempest," reflecting themes of chaos, , and societal in Maynard James Keenan's , which confront manipulative influences and call for awakening. Guitarist Adam Jones contributed a central chorus riff that he had developed over two decades prior, making "7empest" a culmination of the band's evolving musical complexity. Bassist noted that the chorus riff originated over two decades ago, possibly before he joined the band, contributing to the song's blend of elements from Tool's earlier eras. Upon release, "7empest" received acclaim for its ambitious scope and technical prowess, including a win for Best Metal Performance at the 62nd in 2020, with critics highlighting it as one of the album's standout pieces and a pinnacle of Jones's guitar work. The band debuted the song live during their February 18, 2020, performance in Sydney, Australia, captivating audiences with its full-length rendition. As part of , which marked Tool's return after a 13-year hiatus, "7empest" underscores the group's enduring influence in progressive and .

Background

Development

Following the release of their 2006 album 10,000 Days, Tool entered an extended hiatus, marked by extensive touring, side projects, and legal disputes that delayed new material for 13 years. The band gradually resumed creative work in the mid-2010s, with instrumentalists Adam Jones, , and beginning informal jamming sessions around 2014–2015 before formal songwriting for intensified in 2017. As the album's closing track, "7empest" emerged from these sessions as an ambitious, multi-section epic exceeding 15 minutes, designed to encapsulate the record's expansive and introspective scope. Guitarist Adam Jones initiated the song's framework with developed during 2018 band jams, including a prominent chorus he had composed over two decades earlier—potentially dating back to before bassist joined in 1995—and which the band had previously attempted to incorporate into 10,000 Days. Drummer contributed polyrhythmic patterns that added layers of rhythmic complexity, drawing from his expertise in odd time signatures and intricate grooves central to Tool's sound. Chancellor layered in bass lines subsequently, enhancing the track's dynamic interplay among the rhythm section. The title "7empest"—pronounced "tempest"—employs the number 7 in keeping with Tool's longstanding aesthetic of numerological symbolism, as seen in prior works like the in Lateralus. This stylization aligns with vocalist Maynard James Keenan's conceptual input tied to the number seven during the album's development. The track's themes of turmoil and transcendence reflect broader motifs of personal evolution and overcoming explored throughout Fear Inoculum.

Recording

The recording sessions for "7empest" formed part of Tool's broader work on their fifth studio album , commencing on March 10, 2018, at several Los Angeles-area facilities, including United Recording Studios, The Loft in Hollywood, and Henson Recording Studios. Tool self-produced the project, reuniting with recording and mixing engineer , who had previously collaborated with the band on their 2006 album 10,000 Days. Barresi's approach prioritized the band's live interplay, focusing on direct tracking to retain the raw energy of their performances while employing restrained overdubs to enhance clarity without artificial embellishment. The track's expansive structure, featuring prolonged instrumental sections that highlight rhythmic and textural evolution, culminated in a finalized runtime of 15 minutes and 43 seconds. Following initial tracking, refinements—including mixing at Barresi's Joe's House of Compression—extended into 2019, with mastering completed by at Gateway Mastering Studios in .

Composition

Musical style and structure

"7empest" exemplifies with pronounced influences, a hallmark of Tool's oeuvre that blends intricate compositions with heavy riffing. The track incorporates complex time signatures, including 4/4, 7/8, 11/8, and 13/8, alongside polyrhythmic elements that underscore its rhythmic sophistication. These unconventional meters create a disorienting yet deliberate flow, enhancing the song's thematic intensity without overt lyrical ties. Spanning 15 minutes and 43 seconds, "7empest" unfolds in layered phases: it opens with an atmospheric, clean introduction featuring drifting leads that establish tension, transitioning into verses driven by thick, groove-oriented riffs reminiscent of Tool's earlier works. A mid-song breakdown intensifies with militant, unified rhythms from bass and , leading to solos around the 8-minute mark, including a bluesy, Hendrix-inspired around the 3-minute point with bends, squeals, and arpeggios. The composition resolves in a climactic surge around 11 minutes, reinforcing the central motifs through escalating dynamics. Central to the track are recurring variations on the "tempest" riff—a potent, electric motif that anchors the structure and evolves from subtle iterations to aggressive outbursts—coupled with stark dynamic contrasts between ambient interludes and explosive sections. These odd-meter progressions and polyrhythmic overlays evoke a palpable sense of chaos, mirroring the song's turbulent energy while maintaining mathematical precision akin to . The epic architecture of "7empest" draws from Tool's influences, evident in its sweeping, experimental scope and interlocking textures. Similarly, elements appear in the riff-driven grandeur and blues-infused soloing, fused with Tool's distinctive rhythmic exactitude.

Instrumentation

In "7empest," Maynard James Keenan's vocal performance spans a , beginning with whispered, introspective verses that build tension before escalating to intense screamed choruses, enhanced by reverb effects to create an immersive atmospheric depth. Adam Jones handles the guitar parts primarily on his vintage Silverburst , utilizing its thick frets and Super Distortion pickups to deliver aggressive riffs through Marshall Superbass and Diezel VH4 amplifiers; the song opens with clean tones before transitioning to distorted electric layers, culminating in solos featuring effects for bluesy, expressive phrasing. Justin Chancellor provides the low-end foundation on his 6-string bass, tuned down for a heavy, aggressive drive that locks symbiotically with Jones's riffs, incorporating techniques during extended passages to add melodic complexity and rhythmic propulsion. Danny Carey anchors the track with his expansive , featuring multiple toms, cymbals, and percussion elements for intricate fills and polyrhythmic grooves in odd time signatures, such as 7/8 and 11/8 patterns that underpin the song's hypnotic, cyclical structure. The instrumentation relies entirely on the core , with no session musicians contributing to the recording.

Themes and lyrics

Lyrical content

The lyrics for "7empest" were credited to the full band—, Adam Jones, , and —but primarily composed by Keenan during the extended creative sessions for the album , involving revisions to accommodate the track's 15-minute runtime and evolving musical structure. The song begins with an urgent, almost spoken : "(Keep calm, keeping it calm, keep calm. / , here we go again)", immediately evoking a cycle of suppressed frustration erupting into chaos. This sets the stage for verses that dissect a facade of , as in lines like " flash, but don't blink / Misleading tranquility ruse" and "Trying to lull us in / Before the havoc begins / Into a dubious state of serenity". These build through accusations of deceit—"Acting all surprised when you get caught in the lie / We know better / It's not unlike you"—culminating in a direct rebuke: "No amount of wind could begin to your petulant stench and demeanor". The narrative flow advances from this initial confrontation and exposure of falsehoods to a resigned acknowledgment of consequences, with recurring phrases like "Calm before the torrent comes / Calm before the tempest comes" heightening the sense of impending release. Midway, the lyrics shift to introspection on control and —"Control, your / Insane and striking at random / Victim of your / And therefore your doubt's not an option"—before resolving in an extended, mantra-like outro: "A tempest must be just that" repeated over a dozen times, emphasizing inevitability without resolution. This progression—from warning and turmoil to repetition—aligns with the track's dynamic vocal delivery, blending sung verses with more rhythmic, chant-like sections during the expanses. Stylistically, the employ abstract, poetic such as "Shame on you / Shame on you now" and "Disputing intentions invites devastation" to convey emotional intensity, relying on repetition and fragmented phrasing for rhythmic emphasis rather than linear .

Interpretations

Interpretations of "7empest" often center on the of chaos and calm, portraying the song as a for internal emotional storms that individuals must navigate. Critics have noted how the track embodies cycles of destruction and renewal, with its dynamic shifts reflecting the turmoil of personal struggles and the potential for growth through confrontation. This ties into broader themes of and overcoming , as the urge listeners to maintain composure amid and self-doubt, emphasizing resilience against inevitable adversity. A prominent interpretation draws a connection to William Shakespeare's The Tempest, where the song's title evokes the play's central storm that strands characters and exposes themes of and chaos. The stylized "7empest"—replacing the 'T' with the number 7—has been seen as alluding to symbolic completeness, though the band has not confirmed this inspiration. This literary reference aligns with the song's depiction of an uncontrollable force disrupting order, mirroring the play's exploration of human frailty. Other allusions include influences from , evident in the guitar solos' bluesy, improvisational style that evokes emotional intensity and burning passion. The song also extends Tool's recurring motifs of and ego dissolution, interpreting as a catalyst for shedding illusions and achieving higher awareness amid ego-driven conflicts. Fan theories frequently highlight , viewing the number 7 as a sacred of and spiritual cycles, reinforced by the album's emphasis on this digit in timing and structure. Some interpret as an environmental , representing humanity's self-inflicted global crises through unchecked actions. Additionally, enthusiasts connect the song's themes of prolonged struggle to the band's own pre-album legal battles, seeing the track as a reflection of endured chaos leading to renewal. Fan discussions also often frame the as a of political and manipulation, with references to a "pathological liar" interpreted as targeting figures like .

Release and promotion

Album release

"7empest" serves as the closing track on Tool's fifth studio album, , which was released on August 30, 2019, through the labels Tool Dissectional, , and . The album marks the band's first full-length release in 13 years and features "7empest" as its tenth and final track in the expanded digital edition, positioned after instrumental interludes to provide an epic, over-15-minute conclusion that encapsulates the record's intricate progressive structure. This placement highlights the song's role in delivering a climactic finale. The album became available in multiple formats, including digital download, standard , and vinyl editions, allowing fans immediate access upon release. Unlike the title track "," which was issued as the earlier in , "7empest" was not released as a standalone single but was prominently featured in promotional materials and reviews as one of the album's standout highlights for its ambitious composition and length. Digital and streaming versions of were made accessible worldwide on the release date, coinciding with the physical rollout and enabling broad immediate consumption of the full tracklist, including "7empest."

Promotion and media

The promotion for "7empest" was integrated into the broader marketing campaign for Tool's fifth studio album, Fear Inoculum, which emphasized cryptic teasers shared via the band's official social media channels. Fans engaged with puzzle-like images and posts that gradually revealed album details, building anticipation for the record's August 30, 2019 release. In press coverage, "7empest" was frequently highlighted as the album's ambitious finale and a "masterpiece closer," praised for its over 15-minute runtime and intricate composition that encapsulated Tool's progressive style. The song received its audio premiere exclusively on Tool's official YouTube channel on August 29, 2019, garnering millions of views shortly after upload. Unlike many tracks from the album, no official music video was produced for "7empest," leading to the emergence of numerous fan-generated visuals and lyric videos that circulated widely on platforms like YouTube. Interviews surrounding the album release delved into the song's creation, with guitarist Adam Jones and drummer Danny Carey discussing its length and structural complexity in outlets like Rolling Stone and Kerrang!. Carey reflected on the challenges of the album's production timeline. Promotional clips from 2019 included studio snippets of the track to tease its dynamic shifts and guitar work.

Reception

Critical response

"7empest" received widespread critical acclaim for its ambitious composition and technical prowess, with reviewers praising its execution as a culmination of Tool's style. described it as the standout track on , encapsulating "Tool's entire musical trajectory in one song" and delivering fifteen searing, unforgiving minutes that justified the long wait between albums. highlighted its riff mastery, calling it the "greatest work of Adam Jones' career" for featuring the album's biggest riff and most powerful leads within its expansive 15-minute structure. Similarly, deemed it the album's highpoint and heaviest moment, reminiscent of the band's early raw energy with embittered vocals and a Thin Lizzy-inspired twin-guitar lead. The song garnered specific accolades for its replay value and innovation despite its length. Revolver ranked "7empest" as the #1 song of 2019, lauding its progressive structure, Jones' "most crazed solo," and array of shifting suites that channeled the band's raw vitriol. Kerrang! placed it 9th on their list of the 20 greatest Tool songs, noting it as a "crowning achievement" that builds from subtle into a "powerful storm of sound," offering a thrilling rollercoaster ride with pulse-quickening . Some reviews offered mixed assessments, acknowledging its indulgence while appreciating its boldness. referred to it as the album's final "titular tempest" that might "obliterate us all," praising its intense, immersive conclusion amid polyrhythms but critiquing the overall record's self-indulgent length. "7empest" significantly contributed to 's positive reception, helping secure a score of 79/100 and establishing the album as a prog metal triumph through its demonstration of the band's peak musicianship.

Awards and recognition

"7empest" won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on January 26, 2020. This victory marked Tool's first Grammy in the category since their 2002 win for "Schism," and only their third overall in Best Metal Performance, following "Ænema" in 1998. At 15 minutes and 43 seconds, the track holds the record as the longest song to win in this category. During the acceptance speech, delivered primarily by drummer with contributions from bassist , the band highlighted their collaborative process. Carey remarked, "My bandmates Justin, Adam and Maynard, who I couldn’t do anything without," underscoring the essential teamwork behind the song's creation. The win was celebrated as a milestone for , renewing appreciation for extended compositions in the genre. The song received no further major award nominations beyond its Grammy category. It was featured prominently in end-of-year recognitions, including Billboard's ranking of standout tracks from , where "7empest" placed third among the album's songs for its intricate structure and intensity. Post-2020, the track has been referenced in discussions of Tool's enduring influence on , with retrospectives noting its role in bridging the band's hiatus and reaffirming their artistic innovation.

Commercial performance

Chart performance

"7empest" achieved notable chart success as an album track from Tool's , which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in September 2019, marking the band's third consecutive album to top the ranking. The song's performance was primarily driven by streaming and download activity from the album, with all ten tracks from entering the Billboard chart upon release. In the United States, "7empest" peaked at number 6 on the chart in 2019. Its chart longevity received an additional boost following Tool's win for Best Metal Performance at the in 2020. Internationally, the track entered the Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart in the , where it peaked at number 19 in 2019.
Chart (2019)Peak position
(ARIA)117
US (Billboard)6
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)19

Sales and certifications

"7empest" contributed to the debut performance of Tool's album Fear Inoculum, which sold 270,000 album-equivalent units in its first week in the United States in 2019, including 248,000 in traditional album sales. As of November 2025, the track has garnered approximately 51 million streams on . It has maintained steady streaming presence, appearing in playlists on major platforms. The song itself has not received any standalone certifications from the RIAA or other major industry bodies. However, its parent album was certified by the RIAA in the United States on August 12, 2020, denoting 500,000 units shipped, and in by the on August 29, 2025, for 15,000 units.

Personnel and credits

Musicians

"7empest" features the standard Tool lineup, consisting of on lead vocals, Adam Jones on guitars, on , and on drums and percussion. This core quartet has performed together since 1995, when joined the band. No guest musicians appear on the track.

Production staff

The production of "7empest" was credited to the band Tool as a . , often referred to as "Evil" Joe Barresi, served as the primary recording and mixing engineer, working on analog tape before digital transfer. The track was mastered by at Gateway Mastering Studios in . Additional recording engineering support was provided by Tim Dawson (guitar technician) and Mat Mitchell. Other additional recording engineers included Andrew Means. Assistant engineers were Jun Murakawa, Morgan Stratton, and others. Recording took place at The Loft, Henson Recording Studios, and United Recording Studios in Hollywood, .

Live performances

Debut

The world premiere of "7empest" occurred on February 18, 2020, at Qudos Bank Arena in , , during Tool's Tour. The song closed the setlist, following "Invincible," in a complete 15-minute that captured the track's intricate and dynamics. Adapted for the stage, the rendition featured elaborate visual projections, including storm imagery to evoke the song's thematic tempest, alongside laser lights and recurring motifs from artist Alex Grey's visionary artwork that define Tool's live presentations. The debut elicited strong enthusiasm from the audience, who embraced the song's complexity despite its length and technical demands, marking a memorable highlight for attendees. This performance came shortly after "7empest" won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.

Subsequent tours

Following its debut, "7empest" was performed approximately seven times during the 2020 legs of the Tour, primarily in and , as the band refined the song's extended structure for live execution. The track's 15-minute length, featuring intricate time signatures and a prominent solo by , allowed for tighter pacing in subsequent outings, with fan recordings capturing its evolving dynamics. In 2022, Tool incorporated "7empest" into four additional shows across and , including a notable rendition at in on May 19, amid the tour's international extension. These performances highlighted variations such as abbreviated intros to fit setlist constraints, while emphasizing Carey's improvisational drum section, as evidenced in audience-filmed videos that showcase the song's atmospheric buildup and resolution. The song was not performed during the 2023 and 2024 tours due to its duration, for example not appearing at events such as Power Trip Festival in October 2023 or in January 2024. As of November 2025, "7empest" has not been played live since 2022, despite Tool's ongoing tours in 2025, though the band offers "7empest" VIP packages that provide premium seating and exclusive merchandise to enhance fan access. These packages, available through the band's official site, underscore the song's enduring appeal in live contexts.

References

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