Well the time has finally come. After 13 long years, TOOL have finally dropped their long awaited follow up to 2006’s ‘10,000 Days.’ ‘Fear Inoculum,’ an 87 minute opus of everything TOOL has to offer. It’s certainly their most extensive record, their most prog influenced and their most amniotic. Which means the listener needs to have patience with the album. Something that doesn’t really exist anymore in our increasingly less patient society. However, other than it’s expansiveness and focus on amniotic moments, it’s a classic TOOL album. In fact, I’d call it ‘Lateralus’ part II. But with longer songs and more guitar jams.
Now, despite all the atmospheric moments, there are moments of mega ton heaviness. Adam Jones certainly displays his most versatile playing on this album. It’s shown best on the excellent ‘7empest.’ Perhaps the most classic sounding TOOL track on the record. Justin Chancellor’s bass is perhaps at it’s most hypnotizing. His ability to play the same bass line over and over again, yet still reel in the listener is truly amazing. Again, patience is key. Maynard’s vocals sound a little wiser this time around. His lyrics this time around seem to be more focused on self-reflective advice. As opposed to the darker, sarcastic lyrics of the early years. And his voice has matured very well. He’s not trying to sound like he used to. Which honestly, he doesn’t need to. He’s still got it. Danny Carey’s drumming is as explorative as it’s ever been. Which is best displayed on the track ‘Chocolate Chip Trip.’ A nearly five minute percussion solo. Adding to the amniotic nature of the album.
The album starts off with the title track. Which can be summed up as somewhat of a warm up song. Like many other songs on the album, it builds and builds to an ultimate, heavy climax. ‘Pneuma’ brings in the prog to the max. A classic TOOL groove dominates the track, but with even more off time beats and fills. I would say that it’s a perfect track that shows how the band has grown. Despite their 13 year absence from the studio. When Chancellor’s bass kicks in, you know you’re in for a classic TOOL track. Again, this song takes the listener on a ten minute plus journey. The next song, ‘Litane contra la Peur’ is the first song that’s entirely amniotic. It’s best described as a two minute interlude. It’s a bridge. I will say this, as slow and airy as it is, it sounds really freaking cool. Like a Dream Theater movement or something.
‘Invincible’ gets the album back on track. It’s another slow builder. But when it gets to the heavy, prog groove, it’s all worth it. And the way the song develops works seamlessly. It’s loaded with Danny Carey off beats and thom fills. ‘Legion Inoculant’ is the next bridge track on the album. Very atmospheric, it doesn’t fare as well as ‘Litane.’ ‘Descending’ is next. The first track to be played live from the album. Essentially it’s an extended song that’s from the ‘Aenima’ or ‘Lateralus’ eras. Adam Jones does throws a curve ball with his slide guitar. ‘Culling Voices’ is arguably the slowest song on the album. It takes a full eight minutes for the whole band to come in. Which I can understand is frustrating to some fans. There have been a lot of complains about this album after all. ‘Chocolate Chip Trip’ is simply an amniotic percussion solo. It doesn’t really go anywhere. It just seems to exist because it can.
The album finishes off with ‘7empest’ and ‘Mockingbeat.’ The former being what I would call the most classic sounding of all the songs on the album. It sounds like a perfect track right from ‘Undertow.’ It’s the longest song on the album too, clocking in at fifteen minutes and fourty-five seconds. It’s absolutely my favorite song on the record. Full of excellent rhythms, fantastic drumming with catchy, dark riffs and vocals. They really jam it out on the track too. Adam Jones supplying the extended guitar jam and all. ‘Mockingbeat’ closes the album out with weird atmospheric tones and sounds.
Maynard says that this will be TOOL’s final album. And all I can say is it better not be. Because you guys don’t want to go out with an album that not at the top of your game. And this album, while good, is a far cry from what TOOL can really do. There are moments where it feels like the band is merely walking through the motions, just to do it to get the album out. I mean, it took 13 years to release new material. The fans demand something a little stronger. The good news to come out of the album is a tour. Which I actually thought wouldn’t happen because Maynard likes to stick with all of his side projects. Either way, the album overall is solid. Not their best, but it’s worth the price of admission. Hopefully we can get a stronger follow up album. But that seems unlikely.
