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Fear Inoculum
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Fear Inoculum
Studio album by
Tool
ReleasedAugust 30, 2019 (2019-08-30)
RecordedMarch 2018 – January 2019
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 79:10 (CD)
  • 84:29 (vinyl)
  • 86:43 (digital)
Label
ProducerTool
Tool chronology
10,000 Days
(2006) 		Fear Inoculum
(2019)
Singles from Fear Inoculum
  1. "Fear Inoculum"
    Released: August 7, 2019
  2. "Pneuma"
    Released: April 4, 2020

Fear Inoculum is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Tool. It was released on August 30, 2019, through Tool Dissectional, Volcano Entertainment, and RCA Records. It is the band's first album in 13 years, due to creative, personal, and legal issues band members encountered since the release of 10,000 Days. It was released to critical acclaim, with reviewers generally agreeing that the band had successfully refined their established sound. The album topped the US Billboard 200 chart, their third in a row to do so, selling over 270,000 album-equivalent units. The album topped five other national album charts in its opening week as well. Two songs off the album received Grammy nominations, the first single "Fear Inoculum", for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song, and "7empest",[1] for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance, with the latter winning the award.

Background

[edit]

Writing

[edit]

In 2006, Tool released their fourth studio album, 10,000 Days.[2] It topped the US Billboard 200 album chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA, indicating more than one million units sold, a month later.[2][3] The band toured heavily in support of the album, playing more than 200 shows through 2007.[4] After this, frontman Maynard James Keenan mentioned that he saw Tool breaking up in the near future, and focused on his side project, Puscifer.[5] However, by early 2008, at the 50th Grammy Awards, Keenan announced to MTV that the band would begin writing new material for their fifth studio album "right away".[6]

The band was quiet over the next few years, only with Tool's website announcing that guitarist Adam Jones, bassist Justin Chancellor, and drummer Danny Carey were working on instrumental material while Keenan focused his efforts on Puscifer.[5][7] The approach was consistent with what the band had done in the past, with Keenan waiting to write vocals and lyrics until instrumentals were completed.[8] In 2012, the band's website was updated again, with the webmaster writing that he had heard instrumental material that had "sounded like Tool…some of it reminiscent to earlier Tool stuff, with other parts pushing the envelope" and that he estimated that the album was around half done.[5][9]

Outside problems slowed progress on the album over the following years. In 2013, it was reported that two separate scooter accidents injured two undisclosed members of the band, eliminating nine days of planned “jamming” time.[10] Carey later revealed himself as one of the involved members, noting that he had been involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in multiple cracked ribs, which caused him pain that further slowed recording.[5] Keenan summed up the album's progress at the time in a cooking analogy, explaining that "Basically right now it's a lot of ideas. There's no actual songs…It's still kind of noodles in a big basket. Lots of noodles, just no dishes."[5] In 2014, Jones and Carey revealed that complicated legal issues and court battles stemming from a 2007 lawsuit had been slowing down the process as well.[11] The issues stemmed from a lawsuit from a friend who claimed credit for artwork the band had used, but escalated after an insurance company involved sued the band over technicalities, leading to the band then counter-suing the insurance company.[11] The constant court battles and delays, coupled with other life obligations, limited the band's time for working on music, and drained members of their motivation to be creative and write music.[11] At the time, Carey stated that only one song was “pretty much done”, an untitled ten-minute track.[11] In 2015, Jones announced that the legal issues were completely over.[12]

The four of us are a lot of fucking work, just to get anywhere, oh my god. Everything’s a fucking committee meeting and it always gets shut down. [The hurdle is] success. When you get successful, you think you’re right about everything and you’re pretty sure as that individual — ‘I am right and you are wrong, because I’m successful and we’re successful because of me, not because of you.’ It’s not that bad with us, but there’s a dynamic of like, ‘I want this and I’ve always gotten my way and that’s why we’re successful, because I don’t compromise on this or that.’ I’m the same way. I’m totally the same way.[13]

Maynard James Keenan, on the creative struggles on writing Fear Inoculum.

Work on the album continued to progress through 2015 "slowly", according to Keenan.[5] Jones reported that the band had 20 different song ideas being developed.[14] The band toured, and debuted a new track, "Descending", in a shortened, incomplete form, according to Jones.[5] Jones also reported that instrumentals had been completed and passed on to Keenan to work on, though he hesitated to call any of the work "done".[5][14] While it was reported in early 2016 by the band's webmaster that it was largely just a few shorter songs and interludes that needed finishing,[15] by the end of the year, Chancellor described the band's status as still "deep into the writing process”.[16] He explained that while main themes and a loose "skeleton" had been established, Jones, Carey, and he were continually creating and reworking new instrumental content.[16] This work on the album continued throughout 2017. At the time, Carey predicted finishing and releasing in mid-2018,[17] while Keenan countered these claims, stating it would likely take longer than that to finish.[5] Jones, Chancellor, and Carey continued to work on the album while Keenan returned to A Perfect Circle in late 2017 to work with Billy Howerdel to record and release their fourth studio album, Eat the Elephant, in early 2018. By February 2018, Keenan announced that he had received rough music files from the rest of the band members containing instrumentals labeled "FINAL" for all but one track on the album in the prior few months, and had since started writing lyrics and vocal melodies.[18]

In retrospect, Keenan recounted that the band constantly second-guessing themselves was a reason for the album taking so long, and that he believes the version of the album the band had going eight years ago in 2011 would have been "fantastic" too.[19] Chancellor noted that one of many guitar riffs used in the track “7empest” traced back to musical ideas written by Jones back in the mid-1990s. The band had tried to implement the riff into 10,000 Days without success as well.[19][20] Carey notes that there were no completed songs that were left off the album, but that there were many partial guitar riffs and jam sessions that went unused from the sessions.[21]

Recording

[edit]

On March 10, 2018, Tool entered a major recording studio to start recording sessions with Joe Barresi, with whom they had worked on 10,000 Days.[8] On May 11, it was reported that all drum parts had been tracked.[5] In September, Keenan announced he had finished recording scratch vocals, but had not started final vocal takes.[8] Keenan recorded his vocals during the 2018 wine harvest at his Caduceus Cellars winery, resulting in him having to fit in his recording hours around his winemaking. Barresi and engineer Mat Mitchell traveled to his Arizona home for the recording process.[22] In January 2019, Keenan announced that he had finished his final vocal recording sessions "months ago", but that the album would still likely require lengthy mixing sessions.[23] In the same month, Carey stated that they aimed to release the album in April 2019,[24] though Keenan countered that this was unrealistic, instead pointing to a release between May and July.[25] The band was in the studio with Bob Ludwig in March 2019; Ludwig had also mastered 10,000 Days.[26][27]

Composition and themes

[edit]

The album consists of seven main tracks of music, and a run time just short of 80 minutes, the maximum runtime of CDs.[28] The digital version of the album contains three short interlude tracks, stemming from Carey's scrapped plan to have the album be entirely one long song.[29] Jones and Carey described the songs as lengthy, but containing multiple movements within each track.[30] The concept of seven is a recurring theme of the album both musically and conceptually; Chancellor and Jones wrote guitar riffs in unusual time signatures related to the number seven, while Keenan introduced ideas related to seven as well.[28] Music videos also covered the theme.[28] The album also explores the concept of growing "older and wiser".[31] Keenan explained that the album covers the idea of "embracing where we are right now, acknowledging where we've come from and some of the things we've gone through."[31] Keenan also advised that patience and multiple listens were required in understanding the album, comparing it to a slowly developing movie.[31] Jones described it as very different from their prior album 10,000 Days.[32] Music critics and journalists have described the album as progressive rock,[33][34] progressive metal,[35] and alternative metal.[33]

Release

[edit]

The album was released on August 30, 2019, through the band's own Tool Dissectional imprint as well as Volcano Entertainment and RCA Records.[36][37] Prior to release, the band toured in May 2019 in North America.[38] It was reported in March that Jones had been working on album artwork, generally one of the last steps in the process.[39] The band began pre-album release touring in May, kicking it off with a headlining show at Welcome to Rockville, where they debuted two new songs, "Descending" and "Invincible".[40][41] The title was announced on July 29, 2019.[42] On August 2, 2019, the band's back catalog was added to digital download and streaming outlets to promote the release,[43] with Tool being one of the few holdouts among major artists.[44] The album's cover art, revealed on August 5, was created by Alex Grey, who also created the art for the band's prior two albums.[28] The album's opening track and first single to be released from the album, also titled "Fear Inoculum" was released on August 7.[45] The song charted at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100, and with its 10:21 runtime, became the longest song to ever enter the chart.[46][47][48]

Packaging and artwork

[edit]

A deluxe edition of the album, which includes a full 4-inch (10 cm) HD screen (featuring original video material), a 2-watt speaker (featuring an additional song called "Recusant Ad Infinitum") and a 36-page insert book, was made available for pre-order on the same day as the digital edition of the album.[49] The band's European distributor Napalm Records has this available as well.[50] In November 2019, an "expanded book edition" of the album was announced containing all of the songs on the deluxe edition but without the electronic screen, speakers, etc. This edition included lenticular lens graphics, a book of lyrics and additional artwork, links to download the video experience and bonus song from the deluxe edition, and the audio CD.[51][52]

Reception

[edit]

Critical

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.6/10[53]
Metacritic81/100[54]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star[55]
Clash9/10[56]
Consequence of SoundA−[34]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[57]
Financial TimesStarStarStarStar[58]
The GuardianStarStarStarStar[59]
Kerrang!5/5[60]
NMEStarStarStarStarStar[61]
Pitchfork5.4/10[62]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarHalf star[63]

Fear Inoculum received acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 81 out of 100, which indicates "universal acclaim" based on 23 reviews.[54] NME gave Fear Inoculum a perfect score, singling out Keenan's work as "perhaps the best collection of vocals that singer Keenan has ever committed to tape, with many lines exiting the vocalist's lips closer to the honey daubed croon of Keenan's ... A Perfect Circle than the coarse rasp of yore" and concluding that the album was "worth the wait".[61] The Boston Globe agreed with the sentiment, praising the album for being "an 80-minute prog-metal fever dream that proves the band is back and better than ever."[35] The Atlantic praised the album for being as good as prior releases, describing it as "precise and devastating as it has always been" containing a "nearly unhandle-able amount of that Tool feeling."[64] Spin praised the album "continu[ing] to blur the lines between art, psychedelia, alt metal, and prog rock with undiminished curiosity and skill" while "remain[ing] defiantly contrary to the auto-tuned, digitally-quantized world in which we now live."[33]

Loudersound (formerly Metal Hammer) praised the album's density and layer of sound, and singling out Keenan's "grandiosity" and "emotional" vocals and the album's heaviest track, "7empest", as album highlights.[65] Wall of Sound and Loudwire also singled out the track as one of the best of the band's career, with the former concluding that with the album on a whole, the band had "not so much reinvented the wheel, as they have refined everything about this band that makes them so special in the first place."[66][67] AllMusic noted that all four band members sounded like they were performing at the peak of their career so far.[55] Clash felt the album was a good entry point for new fans if they had patience for the album's long song lengths, which they praised, but conceded were not in line with musical trends.[56] Rob Halford[68] and Mike Portnoy[69] called it one of their favorite albums of 2019. The band Post Animal called it one of their favorite albums of the decade.[70] "7empest" was later nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance, as was "Fear Inoculum" for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.[71] “7empest” would go on to win the award, while “Fear Inoculum” lost to Gary Clark Jr.[72] At the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, the album won Top Rock Album.[73]

The album was not praised by all critics. Pitchfork noted that "You get what is expected of an album over a decade in the making: a more mature, sometimes exciting collection that feels both overworked and undercooked ... It is hard to parse the difference between which choices here are wise and which are stale."[62]

Commercial

[edit]

In the United States, Fear Inoculum debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 270,000 album-equivalent units, of which 248,000 were pure sales, earning Tool their third number-one album in the country. The album was marketed in two different formats: a digital download album, and a CD package that includes a HD screen with video footage, a speaker and a 36-page booklet. The CD package sold out at retail immediately, making Tool announce an additional set of CD/download combinations through their website.[74] In the UK, Fear Inoculum debuted at number four.[75]

Accolades

[edit]

Year-end rankings

Publication Accolade Rank
AllMusic Best of 2019
–[76]
BrooklynVegan Top 50 Albums of 2019
8[77]
Consequence Top 50 Albums of 2019
10[78]
Consequence Top 30 Metal + Hard Rock Albums of 2019
5[79]
Contactmusic.com Top 10 Albums of 2019
6[80]
Exclaim! 10 Best Metal and Hardcore Albums of 2019
8[81]
Gigwise 51 Best Albums of 2019
8[82]
Good Morning America 50 of the Best Albums of 2019
3[83]
The Hindu 15 Rock 'n' Roll Albums of 2019
2[84]
Impose Best Albums of 2019
–[85]
Kerrang! The 50 Best Albums of 2019
2[86]
Louder Sound Top 20 Rock Albums of 2019
19[87]
Loudwire The 50 Best Metal Albums of 2019
–[88]
Revolver 25 Best Albums of 2019
1[89]
Sputnikmusic Top 50 Albums of 2019
12[90]
Ultimate Classic Rock 10 Best Rock Albums of 2019
6[91]
Ultimate Guitar 20 Best Albums of 2019
1[92]

Decade-end rankings

Publication Accolade Rank
BrooklynVegan 141 Best Albums of the 2010s
96[93]
Consequence Top 25 Metal Albums of the 2010s
20[94]
Good Morning America 50 Notable Albums of the Past Decade
36[95]
Guitar World 20 Best Guitar Albums of the Decade
10[96]
Kerrang! The 75 Best Albums of the 2010s
13[97]
Louder Sound The 50 Best Rock Albums of the 2010s
2[98]
Loudwire The 66 Best Metal Albums of the Decade
10[99]
Revolver 25 Best Albums of the 2010s
3[100]
Ultimate Classic Rock Top 50 Classic Rock Albums of the '10s
24[101]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Tool.[102]

CD version
No.TitleLength
1."Fear Inoculum"10:21
2."Pneuma"11:53
3."Invincible"12:44
4."Descending"13:37
5."Culling Voices"10:05
6."Chocolate Chip Trip"4:47
7."7empest"15:44
Total length:79:10
Digital version
No.TitleLength
1."Fear Inoculum"10:20
2."Pneuma"11:53
3."Litanie contre la peur" (French for "litany against fear")2:14
4."Invincible"12:44
5."Legion Inoculant"3:09
6."Descending"13:37
7."Culling Voices"10:05
8."Chocolate Chip Trip"4:48
9."7empest"15:43
10."Mockingbeat"2:05
Total length:86:43
Vinyl version
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Fear Inoculum"10:20
2."Pneuma"11:53
Side B
No.TitleLength
3."Invincible"12:44
Side C
No.TitleLength
4."Legion Inoculant"3:09
5."Descending"13:37
Side D
No.TitleLength
6."Culling Voices"10:05
7."Chocolate Chip Trip"4:48
Side E
No.TitleLength
8."7empest"15:43
9."Mockingbeat"2:05
Total length:84:29

Personnel

[edit]

Credits taken from the album's liner notes.[102]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Fear Inoculum
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[145] Gold 40,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[146] Platinum 15,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[147] Gold 10,000‡
United States (RIAA)[148] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Fear Inoculum

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Fear Inoculum is the fifth studio album by the American band Tool, released on August 30, 2019, through Tool Dissectional, , and . It marks the band's first full-length release in 13 years following 10,000 Days (2006), featuring ten tracks—including three brief ambient interludes—with a total runtime of 86 minutes. Produced by and self-produced by the band, the album was recorded primarily at The Hideout in and emphasizes intricate rhythms, extended song structures, and themes of , personal , and the gained through aging. The album achieved significant commercial success, debuting at number one on the chart with 270,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, the largest opening week for any since 2016. It became the highest-selling of 2019 in the United States, surpassing 344,000 pure sales for the year, and was later certified gold by the RIAA for shipments exceeding 500,000 copies. Internationally, Fear Inoculum topped charts in several countries, including , , and , and received two Grammy nominations: Best Rock Album and Best Metal Performance for the 15-minute track "," which the latter won at the in 2020. Critically, Fear Inoculum garnered widespread acclaim for its ambitious songwriting, sonic depth, and the band's technical prowess, with reviewers highlighting tracks like the title song and "Pneuma" for their hypnotic grooves and philosophical lyrics. However, some critics noted its lengthy compositions and repetitive elements as potential drawbacks, though overall it solidified Tool's reputation as innovators in progressive metal. The album's elaborate artwork by Alex Grey and its limited-edition packaging, including a video screen brochure, further enhanced its cult appeal among fans.

Background

Writing process

Following the release of Tool's fourth studio album, 10,000 Days, in 2006, the band did not issue another full-length release for 13 years, during which members pursued individual endeavors. Vocalist focused on his side projects and , while guitarist Adam Jones and the others engaged in personal creative outlets amid ongoing legal challenges. This period was marked by a 2007 stemming from a friend's claim of artwork credit for album , which escalated into a dispute with the band's insurance company over coverage and stalled collaborative efforts until its settlement in March 2015. Initial songwriting sessions for what would become Fear Inoculum commenced in 2013, primarily involving Jones and drummer , who experimented with intricate rhythms and guitar riffs to lay the groundwork for the album's evolving structures. Keenan's involvement in lyric development began around and continued through , with his contributions shaped by reflections on events and broader global concerns, integrating them into the band's emerging musical ideas. The refinement phase presented significant challenges, as frequently scrapped early material that did not meet their standards for progressive complexity, opting instead for an iterative of revision and experimentation to deepen the compositions' emotional and technical layers. Jones described this as a "painstaking" commitment among members to ensure each element aligned cohesively. Writing efforts intensified in the years following the 2015 legal resolution, allowing the group to consolidate their ideas and transition toward full recording.

Recording sessions

The recording sessions for Tool's Fear Inoculum primarily took place at The Loft in Hollywood, , with additional work conducted at Henson Recording Studios and United Recording Studios in . Producer , who had previously collaborated with the band on their 2006 album 10,000 Days, returned to oversee engineering and mixing, emphasizing a collaborative approach to preserve the band's organic, live performance dynamic. Barresi's involvement focused on live band tracking to capture the group's interplay without over-relying on isolated overdubs initially, allowing the core instrumentation to gel naturally before layering additional elements. The sessions commenced in earnest in March 2018, following initial material development, and continued intermittently through May 2019, punctuated by breaks for live tours that influenced the band's energy upon returning to the studio. This extended timeline reflected Tool's meticulous process, with drummer noting the use of custom drum configurations tailored to his expansive kit, including multiple toms and cymbals arranged to facilitate complex rhythms. High-end microphones, such as and AKG models, were employed for vocals and instruments to ensure clarity and depth, while extensive guitar overdubs by Jones added intricate textures through effects like delays and modulations. A memorable mishap occurred during one session when a was accidentally knocked over near Carey's setup, igniting the kit and forcing an evacuation before the flames were extinguished, though no serious damage or injuries resulted. Throughout the process, the band and Barresi prioritized techniques, committing performances to tape for a warmer, more tactile sound rather than pursuing sterile digital precision, which contributed to the album's immersive sonic landscape.

Music and lyrics

Composition

_Fear Inoculum exemplifies Tool's core, characterized by complex polyrhythms and odd time signatures that create a hypnotic, intricate . Tracks like "" feature shifting meters, including sections in 5/8, contributing to the album's rhythmic density and challenging listeners to engage deeply with its temporal structures. The main songs average over 10 minutes in length, with the title track spanning 10:20 and "" extending to 15:31, allowing for expansive exploration of musical ideas without conventional verse-chorus constraints. Instrumentation plays a pivotal role in defining the album's texture, with Adam Jones employing layered guitars processed through custom effects pedals and amplifiers to achieve colossal, atmospheric tones. Danny Carey's drumming incorporates intricate polyrhythms and syncopated patterns, often layering multiple time feels simultaneously for a sense of propulsion and depth. Justin Chancellor's bass lines lock tightly with Carey's rhythms, providing a foundational pulse that underscores the polyrhythmic interplay, while Maynard James Keenan's vocals deliver ethereal, soaring melodies that enhance the music's immersive quality. Song structures deviate from linear progressions, often beginning with ambient, meditative intros that gradually build to explosive climaxes, drawing influences from classical compositions and rhythms for a sense of epic narrative flow. Production, handled by , emphasizes preservation of —achieving DR15 on high-resolution formats—to maintain an uncompressed, immersive listening experience that highlights subtle electronic textures and spatial depth. The album's overall cohesion forms a thematic sonic arc, transitioning from introspective passages to cathartic peaks across its 86-minute runtime, fostering a unified journey through sonic and intensity.

Themes

The album Fear Inoculum explores central motifs of personal growth, , and confronting , reflecting frontman Maynard James Keenan's longstanding interest in and psychedelics as pathways to and resilience. These themes manifest as an invitation to cultivate inner amid external chaos, with the title track's concept portraying as an infectious agent that can be neutralized through disciplined awareness and repetition of affirming mantras like "reach out and beyond," akin to a "" against and emphasizing proactive mental fortitude over passive avoidance. The lyrics encourage listeners to embrace discomfort as a catalyst for evolution, drawing from Keenan's personal experiences with meditative practices and to promote healing and presence. Specific songs deepen these explorations through metaphorical and symbolic language. In the title track, "Fear Inoculum" serves as a for building resilience against anxiety and doubt. "," named after word for breath or spirit, references the vital connection between physical respiration and spiritual essence, urging transcendence of the material body toward unity with a divine source—"one spark beyond this flesh, a breath beyond the ." The instrumental track "47" alludes to and , evoking Tool's recurring fascination with mathematical patterns as representations of cosmic order and personal alignment. Broader influences infuse the album with layers of , such as and interconnectedness, alongside Jungian psychology's emphasis on integrating for and wholeness. These draw from concepts like the and alchemical transformation, addressing societal issues of division and healing by advocating collective introspection over polarization. Tracks like "Invincible" extend this to critique modern distractions that erode unity, promoting renewal through shared vulnerability. Keenan's delivery style—abstract and poetic, often blending spoken-word incantations with melodic —fosters open interpretation, allowing listeners to project personal resonances onto the enigmatic verses. This approach amplifies the album's philosophical undertones, with the musical subtly underscoring rhythmic breaths and expansive builds to mirror meditative expansion. Compared to the raw anger and grief dominating 10,000 Days, Fear Inoculum marks an toward deeper and maturity, shifting from confrontation with external betrayals to internal reconciliation and wisdom.

Artwork and packaging

Visual design

The visual design of Fear Inoculum was crafted by Tool guitarist Adam Jones, the band's primary visual artist responsible for its iconic aesthetic across albums. The presents an abstract, spiraling structure composed of disembodied eyes or tendril-like forms, rendered in shimmering metallic hues that evoke a sense of organic expansion and intrusion. An animated version of the artwork was unveiled on the band's , where it rotates to reveal layered depths, enhancing the immersive quality of the design. Jones' inspirations for the visuals draw from microscopy and biological structures, such as cells and tendrils, symbolizing growth, , and the of fear—themes central to the album. also influences the composition, aligning with Tool's longstanding exploration of and . The collaborative process involved Jones leading digital manipulation and , with band input ensuring thematic cohesion between the music and imagery, including contributions from artist . The inner artwork extends this vision through detailed illustrations accompanying each track in the deluxe edition's 56-page booklet. These feature patterns and anatomical motifs, such as interlocking biological forms and geometric abstractions, that mirror the album's introspective lyrics and sonic complexity. Jones led the creation of these elements through digital manipulation, creating a cohesive visual of transformation.

Packaging details

The album Fear Inoculum was released in multiple physical and digital formats by . The standard CD edition features a digipak packaging with variant designs, including geometric patterns on the cover, while the vinyl version is a triple LP pressed on 180-gram black vinyl housed in a trifold jacket with an etched F-side and a double-sided . Digital downloads are available in high-resolution 24-bit/96 kHz formats such as and , and the album is also accessible via major streaming platforms. Limited editions enhance the collectible appeal with unique packaging elements. The special limited edition CD includes a tri-fold soft pack video brochure containing a rechargeable 4-inch HD screen displaying exclusive video footage, available in variants such as the Priest Upright design with a full glossy cover and 7-sided geometric pattern. An expanded book edition of the CD incorporates five 3D lenticular cards with exclusive graphics and a 56-page booklet featuring additional never-before-seen artwork alongside the standard tracks and a download card for the instrumental track "Recusant Ad Infinitum." The ultra deluxe vinyl edition, limited in production, comprises five 180-gram black LPs with album tracks on Side A and unique etchings on Side B, packaged in a hard-shell box with new artwork and a bound casebook containing previously unreleased imagery; its April 8, 2022, release propelled the album to No. 5 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart with nearly 18,500 units sold that week, largely driven by vinyl formats from the box set. Production emphasizes premium quality, with CDs manufactured by Mediafast in , discs pressed in , and final assembly in the United States to ensure durability and fidelity. The vinyl pressings prioritize heavyweight for optimal playback, and digital releases maintain the album's high-fidelity mastering at 24-bit/96 kHz to preserve the progressive metal production. Collectible aspects include signed editions of the ultra deluxe 5LP , initially offered as tour exclusives for $810 and reselling for up to $2,000 on secondary markets due to limited availability. Bundles combining the with merchandise, such as apparel and posters, were sold through the official Tool store, contributing to sustained post-release demand. In response to fan interest, a standard 3LP vinyl reissue on 180-gram pressing was released on August 5, 2022, via Tool Dissectional, featuring the trifold and etched design. On October 28, 2025, Tool announced a regular retail edition of the vinyl , available at a more accessible price than prior limited versions.

Release and promotion

Announcement and marketing

Tool began teasing their fifth studio album in 2018 through cryptic social media posts on and , sharing studio photos and vague updates that fueled fan speculation about the long-awaited project following a 13-year gap since 10,000 Days. These posts included images of recording sessions and subtle hints, such as drummer Danny Carey's December 2017 statement that the album was expected in 2018. Fans engaged with these teasers by piecing together clues, including interactive elements like jigsaw-style puzzles on the band's website that revealed fragmented artwork and symbols, amplifying the mystique around the album's themes. The official announcement came on May 8, 2019, confirming the album's release date of August 30, following live debuts of tracks like "Descending" and "Invincible" during concerts on May 5 and 6. This marked the first live performances of new material and built anticipation through performance rather than traditional media. The full title, Fear Inoculum, and August 30 release date were revealed on July 29 via Instagram posts, coinciding with the decision to make the band's entire back catalog available on streaming platforms for the first time starting August 2. Marketing strategies emphasized physical formats and exclusivity to counter the band's historical anti-streaming stance, with pre-orders limited to deluxe editions featuring holographic packaging and built-in media players, available through the official store and retailers like for vinyl exclusives. Tool maintained their media avoidance policy by conducting no interviews or press until after the , relying on the organic hype from and fan communities to sustain interest.

Singles and videos

The from Fear Inoculum was the title track "Fear Inoculum", released digitally on August 7, 2019. Clocking in at 10 minutes and 20 seconds, the represented Tool's first new original material in 13 years and was distributed via streaming services and digital downloads to generate anticipation for the album. It received immediate radio airplay on rock stations and was positioned as a promotional single to highlight the band's signature extended compositions. The second single, "Pneuma", followed on April 4, 2020, also in digital format with a focus on rock radio promotion. At 11 minutes and 53 seconds, it further exemplified the album's style, emphasizing intricate rhythms and thematic depth. Both singles were available exclusively through digital platforms, with no standalone physical releases, though they were later incorporated into vinyl and CD editions of the album. The extended lengths of these tracks were intentionally showcased to prepare listeners for Fear Inoculum's overall structure of lengthy, immersive pieces, shifting expectations away from conventional radio-friendly durations. Tool did not produce traditional music videos for the singles from Fear Inoculum. However, a drum camera video for "Pneuma", capturing Danny Carey's performance during a November 2019 in , was released in March 2020, offering fans a close-up view of the song's complex percussion. The album's limited-edition CD packaging included exclusive video footage conceived and directed by guitarist Adam Jones, featuring abstract, psychedelic visuals that aligned with the band's artistic ethos. Collaborations with visual artist , who contributed to the album's artwork, influenced the overall aesthetic, evoking themes of spiritual and cosmic exploration through animated and symbolic imagery.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release, Fear Inoculum received generally positive reviews from critics, earning a Metascore of 81 out of 100 on based on 23 reviews, indicating universal acclaim for its ambition and refinement of Tool's style. Reviewers praised the album's intricate composition and immersive production, often highlighting its emotional depth and technical prowess as a evolution after a 13-year hiatus. Critics lauded the band's innovation within , with Kerrang! awarding it a perfect 5/5 score and describing it as "the most intricate and densely-layered album Tool have yet made," a vast work where every note and rhythm is meticulously placed to challenge both creators and listeners. Rolling Stone gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars, praising the band's return from hiatus with precise drumming, twisting guitar solos, and a psychedelic journey through sound that provides a rewarding sense of release. Similarly, The Guardian rated it 4 out of 5 stars, appreciating its "primordial riffage" that pulls listeners under through tricksy, twisty structures demanding focused, repeated listens on headphones. Some criticisms focused on the album's overlength and perceived repetition, which could render it inaccessible or static for casual audiences. Pitchfork scored it 5.4 out of 10, noting that the songs often feel "static and brittle" despite highlights like "7empest" and "Invincible," critiquing the hybridization of elements as having rusted over time, resulting in a project that seems both overworked and undercooked. These concerns about its 86-minute runtime and lack of immediate hooks were echoed in other reviews, though most agreed the depth justified the investment for progressive metal enthusiasts. Over time, critical opinion has evolved toward greater appreciation of Fear Inoculum's enduring influence, with retrospectives emphasizing its quality and role in sustaining Tool's legacy, even as initial mixed reactions stemmed from its demanding length. It continues to be regarded as a high-water mark for the band's artistic merits, influencing discussions on maturity in prog metal.

Accolades

Fear Inoculum garnered significant recognition following its release, including wins and nominations at major music awards ceremonies. At the in 2020, the album's track "" won Best Metal Performance, marking Tool's first Grammy win in 18 years. The title track "Fear Inoculum" was nominated in the Best Rock Song category at the same ceremony. The album also received honors from industry publications and award shows. It was named Album of the Year by magazine in 2019, praised for its intricate composition and long-awaited return. Additionally, Fear Inoculum won Top Rock Album at the , reflecting its commercial and artistic impact. In terms of certifications, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified Fear Inoculum Gold on August 12, 2020, denoting 500,000 units sold or streamed in the United States. The album has been featured in retrospective "best of the 2010s" lists, including Metal Insider's 225 Best Metal Albums of the Decade at No. 195, highlighting its place among progressive and metal releases of the era. No major new awards or retrospective honors for Fear Inoculum were announced between 2023 and 2025, though the album continued to influence discussions of milestones.

Commercial performance

Chart performance

Upon its release in August 2019, Fear Inoculum debuted at number one on the US chart, accumulating 270,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, including 248,000 from pure sales—the largest opening week for any rock album since ' Trench in 2018. The album also debuted at number one on several international charts, including those in , , , and . It reached the top five in additional markets such as , , the , , , and the , where it peaked at number two. In genre-specific rankings, Fear Inoculum topped the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums and Top Rock Albums charts, underscoring its strong performance within progressive metal and rock categories. The album demonstrated significant longevity on the Billboard 200, spending 53 weeks on the chart through early 2021. For the 2019 year-end Billboard 200, it ranked at number 28, reflecting its sustained commercial impact that year. The title track, "Fear Inoculum," achieved number one on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in October 2019, becoming Tool's fourth leader on that tally and their first since "The Pot" in 2007. In subsequent years, the album experienced periodic re-entries driven by special editions and ongoing fan interest; for instance, a deluxe vinyl box set propelled it back to number five on the Top Album Sales chart in April 2022, with nearly 18,500 copies sold that week. No major re-charting occurred in 2024 or 2025, though the album continued to be referenced as a benchmark for rock debuts amid streaming growth.
Chart (2019)Peak Position
Australia (ARIA)1
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)1
Canada (Billboard)2
New Zealand (RMNZ)1
Norway (VG-lista)1
UK Albums (OCC)2
US Billboard 2001

Sales and certifications

Fear Inoculum debuted with robust physical sales, driven by the band's dedicated fanbase following a 13-year gap between albums. , the album sold 248,000 pure copies—primarily physical formats—in its first week, accounting for the majority of its 270,000 album-equivalent units and securing the top spot on the 200. This initial dominance of physical sales reflected Tool's history of limited streaming availability prior to the album's release, which coincided with the band's full catalog debuting on digital platforms. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified Fear Inoculum gold on August 12, 2020, recognizing shipments of 500,000 units in the US. By April 2022, cumulative US sales across CD, vinyl, and digital downloads reached approximately 496,000 copies. A deluxe five-LP vinyl box set released that month boosted physical sales, with nearly 18,000 units sold—98% on vinyl—propelling the album to No. 5 on the Top Album Sales chart. Post-2020 trends have sustained interest in physical formats, particularly vinyl, with new represses and editions available into 2025, contributing to ongoing revenue from collectors and fans. Digital and streaming consumption has also grown significantly; as of November 2025, the has accumulated over 487 million streams on alone.
RegionCertificationUnitsDateSource
Canada (Music Canada)Gold40,000[Date if available]
New Zealand (RMNZ)Platinum15,000August 29, 2025
(RIAA)Gold500,000August 12, 2020RIAA

Album content

Track listing

The album Fear Inoculum features ten tracks on its standard digital edition, with a total runtime of 86:02. All tracks were written by Tool. The physical CD edition merges the three short interlude tracks into the subsequent main songs, resulting in seven tracks with durations adjusted accordingly (totaling 79:59 to fit CD constraints). No reissues through 2025 have altered the original track listing, though a limited-edition 5-LP vinyl was released in 2022.
No.TitleDuration
1Fear Inoculum10:20
211:53
3Litanie contre la Peur2:14
4Invincible12:44
5Legion Inoculant3:09
6Descending13:37
7Culling Voices10:05
8Chocolate Chip Trip4:59
915:43
102:12
On the physical edition, the track listing is as follows, with merged durations: 1. "Fear Inoculum" (10:20); 2. "" (11:53); 3. "Invincible" (14:58, including "Litanie contre la Peur"); 4. "Descending" (16:46, including "Legion Inoculant"); 5. "Culling Voices" (10:05); 6. "" (20:42, including "Chocolate Chip Trip"); 7. "" (2:12).

Personnel

Tool
  • Maynard James Keenan – vocals
  • Adam Jones – guitars, art direction
  • Justin Chancellor – bass guitar
  • Danny Carey – drums, percussion
Production and engineering
  • Tool – producers, composers
  • – producer, recording engineer, mixing
  • – mastering engineer
  • Jun Murakawa – assistant engineer
  • Pete Lewis – guitar technician
  • Mat Mitchell – tracking
Artwork and design

References

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