I wasn’t listening to much Tool the year or 2 before the pandemic. I had given the FI album a listen when it released but didn’t care for it too much. I’ve since come to love it as I do the rest of their catalogue, but what seems to be prediction made by MJK makes the song seem even more impressive.
Wondering what fellow fans are thinking about this song now that we’ve been living with this song for over two years. Would love to hear others thoughts.
I personally love this song. It grabbed me from day 1, probably because we were all so starved for new Tool songs, but there is just something about it that’s wormed it’s way into my head. Fantastic song.
I will disclose that I do think there is something to the notion of the “Great Turn” or that the album can be appreciated in both its ascending and descending form. There does seem to be a theme of duality or mirror images in the songs themselves and in a lot of the art associated with the record. There does seem to be a recurring theme in almost all the songs of a change occurring about halfway through (exactly halfway in the cases of descending and fear Inoculum)…more later.
I also want to say that I’m not a musician so please forgive my layman’s explanations, and if I get a term wrong it’s not on purpose.
The song starts with what I could only describe as an alarm klaxon (“red alert!!”) and then morphs into a push-pull riff between Justin and Adam (if this is wrong please let me know, I thought I read that they were playing back and forth…some people seem to think that Adam is using a volume pedal? or something) So fucking cool. It adds a lot of tension to the song right off the bat and gives me an image of a tug of war or internal struggle.
The drumming starts off with a very tribal feel. I’ve noticed that for the first half of the song (before the mitosis part) Danny uses VERY little cymbals. He keeps a soft beat on the high hat (tsk tsk tsk) and hits a few accent chimes here and there, but for The vast majority of the first half there are almost no cymbals. The exception is when they go into the chorus…Danny uses the cymbals for that. After the first chorus it’s right back to the tribal feel until we hit the second chorus right after the mitosis.
After this “mitosis” and the second chorus, the song morphs quite noticeably in tone. Danny’s drumming especially becomes a lot more “classic” rock/metal drumming while keeping a really sick, funky beat (dun du cha, dun du cha) and, please correct me if I’m wrong, but there is a noticeable time signature change at this time as well and some cool syncopated rhythms also.
I know this something Tool does a lot but I love how they bring back riffs from earlier in the song as play them in slightly Different ways or re-arrange them just enough to k
... keep reading on reddit ➡
https://preview.redd.it/qqkwgfldp0281.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=311f3acbca033cb6a5cdb1a149d53f237be72867
I always had this feeling in the back of my mind/heart that Lateralus, the song, is the "peak" of Tool - not because it's probably my favourite song and IMO best encompasses what they do as a group, but because it feels like the top of the mountain, or centre of the spiral, if you will, of the Tool journey as a whole. Not that everything that came afterwards is "worse" whatsoever, just that it's the heart, or core, of their progression.
In the shower this morning I thought, hold on - they have 5 studio albums now. Does that mean that Lateralus really is right in the centre of the whole thing?
The answer: almost! I added up the album times for Undertow, Aenima and everything up to the Lateralus title track for figure A, then everything after the track, 10,000 Days and Fear Inoculum for figure B. The results? 188m40s and 192m13s. Not bad at all.
Now, this obviously doesn't incorporate EPs, or anything new they will release, and I used the physical version of Fear Inoculum's runtime, and none of it means anything anyway. I just thought it was pretty neat how closely it lined up given how I always felt about Lateralus as a song. Now I have to catch up on some work...
They’re all so incredibly close for me, my favorite seems to change on a daily basis (except for CV)
It apparently takes 40 hrs to break in these bad boys so I've refused to play more than the intro to some of the songs other than FI that once. I'm so happy, I might have to marry this one.
Hello, everyone. First of all, my apology if my English isn't good. I would like to share my experience of becoming a full-time Tool fans with all of you.
Three months ago, I got broke up with my girlfriend which was a disastrous experience at the time. I haven't bother to listen to any of Tool materials before since I usually listen to stuffs like Slipknot, Children of Bodom, Kreator etc.. I used to see lots of memes about Tool's new album and stuff but never actually tried to listen to.
Until that one point, I stepped into my brother's room who is a huge fans of Tool. He played this one song with some kickass bass riff. I asked him who are these guys and he said it's Tool and the song is called "Pneuma". And I was like "Wow! This is some good shit!". Ever since that moment, I just can't stop listen to it and started to listen to the whole album instantly.
And today, I have listened to 'Fear Inoculum' for 3 months already and I just can't stop listen to it ever since. Yeah, I can hardly enjoy any of my old stuffs like I mentioned earlier. Tool actually helped me getting through my tough times after I broke up with my girlfriend. Now I felt such regret for not listening to them before and I'm looking forward for any suggestions to any kinds of Tool's material. I don't know, AEnima, please give your thoughts in the comment below. Thank you...
EDIT: I have seen the comments below and I got two albums recommendation which is 'Lateralus' and 'AEnima'. I will listen to Lateralus first, AEnima and then another Tool album. Thank you all for the support. I really appreciate it. My apologies to those I didn't reply your comment below. Thank you, everyone.
The title track is great. I love the piercing sirens that get it started. Maynard’s first line is (oddly prescient) but still hits me. I hope they open the tour with this track and opening line, “immunity, long overdue”
I really enjoy the noise tracks on FI. Speakers and headphones really make a difference here. If you have basic speakers…you won’t get it.
I see hate for CCT and they are mad. Like insane mad. Do those people not enjoy any sounds but “tool” sound? I don’t get it.
And while “cookies and cream” might turn off some listeners as a lyric if you have ever thought Maynard to not use jokes or humor you have missed the whole journey. And that 7empest track is enjoyable until the end.
I know the music has changed since undertow. That’s the point. And so should you. I love the maturity of Tool. And seeing them “46 and 2” and “spiral out” and “reach out beyond” their undertow years and not being stuck in emo sadness. And I’m glad tool had helped me get out of my own emo sadness and challenges as an 8 yo as well.
Now that we've had a few years with it, curious how this is settling out . . .
That way the CD listeners could have gotten all of the same tracks as the digital only purchasers.
I know of their covers of You Lied and No Quarter (both of which are amazing and arguably better than the originals) and I was wondering if they have any other "hidden" songs that aren't on their albums.
We're starting weekly song discussion posts this week, and we're starting it off with the band's newest album, Fear Inoculum. If we get enough discussion and involvement on these first few posts, I'm gonna continue backwards through Tool's discography (10,000 Days, Lateralus, etc.). If you guys have any suggestions or questions, feel free to let me know!
And don't forget the subreddit rules:
>Mod Note 1: we have a whole different subreddit for sarcastic natured content: r/ToolJerk
>
>Mod Note 2: Mods reserve the right to remove mean natured comments and ban based on severity of infractions. Please make yourself familiar with our Redditiquette
Fear Inoculum is the title track and first single from the long-awaited album Fear Inoculum, released on August 30th, 2019.
Lyrics:
Immunity
Long overdue
Contagion
I exhale you
Naive
I opened up to you
Venom in mania
Now, contagion
I exhale you
The deceiver says, he says
You belong to me
You don't wanna breathe the light of the others
Fear the light
Fear the breath
Fear the others for eternity
But I hear them now inhale the clarity
Hear the venom, the venom in
What you say inoculated
Bless this immunity
Bless this immunity
Bless this immunity
Exhale, expel
Recast my tale
Read my allegorical elegy
Enumerate
All that I'm to do
Calculating steps away from you
My own
Mitosis
Growing through
Delusion from mania
Exhale, expel
Recast my tale
Weave my allegorical elegy
Forfeit
All control
You poison
You spectacle
Exorcise the spectacle
Exorcise the malady
Exorcise the disparate
Poison for eternity
Purge me and evacuate
The venom and the fear that binds me
Unveil now
Lift away
I see you
Running
Deceiver
Chased away
A long time
Coming
I have to skip the segue tracks every time I listen to it, I think they totally kill the momentum of the album.
For whatever reason no matter how many times I listen to the Fear Inoculum album I just cant get into it. Lateralus and 10,000 days are two of my favorite albums of all time but for whatever reason I just don’t really like Fear Inoculum. Am I the only one?
Waited patently for 13 long years for Fear Inoculum.
Absolutely loved it. It was everything I wanted, and more.
Had one of the worst moments of my life occure... coincidentally enough, while listening to it. Couldn't bring myself to listen any more. Over a year went by.
Took a rather large dose of mushrooms for the first time in 15 years last night. Played Fear Inoculum at the peak. Dark room, eyes closed.
Wow.
That is all.
Pretty much the title. While I know Lateralus is a pure stroke of genius with all the sequencing and time stamps and everything, I find that Fear Inoculum is a better overall song, and apparently this is a very unpopular opinion. Also, I don't get the hate against Fear Inoculum as an album. I am nobody to say if it justifies the 13 year long hiatus, but U can say that I like it as much as their other albums, if not more.
All of Tool's previous videos have been outstanding and it made me wonder if they'll release a video for anything from Fear Inoculum. I'd love to see what Adam Jones would come up with!
Fear Inocoulum was released on August 30, 2019. Today is October 1, 2019. This makes Fear Inoculum over a month old now. Since many of us have had the time to listen to the album countless amounts of times thus far (and still not enough for many of us), I have this question to ask you:
- What is your favorite song off of Fear Inoculum and why?
ONE SONG CHOICE ONLY PLEASE!
Feel free to go in as much depth as possible.
I know that many of us still require more than a month to devour such a masterpiece of an album, but do not worry, we may ask again for your opinion at FI's 6 month anniversary and so on.
Cheers,
Diazepam
I think my favorite part of the song is the lyrics, "my own, mitosis growing through division from mania." The way Maynard sings it is so out of this world. Literally causes shivers. If you haven't listened to this yet, please do. If you have heard it, are you also completely obsessed? Share your love here!
Just random thoughts during a listen to Fear Inoculum today.
I think the song is one of the stronger songs on the album in terms of structure and melodies. I think it captures the the theme of the album in terms of just how mature Tool's sound is on this album. Not grading it on if its great or bla bla, bla.
However for me this is tool's most musically mature albums. And the song captures that (not that other songs on album don't) . It just feels it gets less talk and less discussion then the rest.
I think its a great song and a good choice for the single. Some find it boring but i think the lyrics mesh really well with music.
Okay I'm done talking out my ass.
After countless listens.... I honestly still feel I could listen to that song a loop more than the other songs.
Do you think this is the last album we’re going to get? I was convinced in 2018 that it wasn’t even gonna happen, even in May 2019 after I heard Descending and Invincible live I was still skeptical lol. What do you guys think? Is Fear Inoculum Tool’s last album, and I’d not how many more do you think we are going to get?
Fear Inoculum is the only music album I know that I can't decide how exactly I feel about it with over 2 years after its release. I can't help but think it's the worst Tool album but somehow I can't imagine going a day without listening to it. I guess Tool is so good that even their weakest album can enchant you for a very long time. Am I alone in this?
https://youtu.be/q7DfQMPmJRI
Features some classic Chancellor riffage.
https://twitter.com/chartdata/status/1160998108156723200?s=21
And
https://twitter.com/chartdata/status/1160998634642526208?s=21
I hate to say it but I feel like Maynard is the weak link of the album. He for sure shines in certain spots, but I feel like there's so many "WHAT IF" moments, where if he took it up a notch it would be mind-blowing (the ending of 'Invincible' comes to mind. If he went off there, that is one of the greatest Tool moments of all time). And I don't mean screaming necessarily, just the kind of gusto and power we are used to from him.
And not to mention his absence completely in several areas (Culling Voices chorus, 2nd half of Descending, etc.). I've been trying to put my finger on why this album hasn't ever clicked for me like the others, and I think that's why. His contributions just seem a bit phoned in. Anyone else feel the same?
Probably no one cares, but it's a story I want to tell someone, at least.
I'm 32 years old and have played bass since I was 16, then influenced by Metallica, Arch Enemy, and Lamb of God. Joined death metal bands, played shows, yadda yadda, quit when I was 21 to pursue a "real job".
I meet a friend named Matt in 2015, who was obsessed with all things Maynard. Been to many shows across all acts, but liked none more than TOOL. In 2017, he asks if I'd be interested in joining him to see TOOL at The Gorge Amphitheater that summer, I agreed. Mind you, I respected Justin, but knew little outside of 46&2 and Schism. The show was amazing, especially the little bit they played that would eventually become Descending. Justin blew my mind, and I knew then that I had to pick up the bass again.
Matt passed away from a sudden illness in January 2019, 8 months before Fear Inoculum was released. I was already a heavy drinker, and the mourning didn't help. I started listening to TOOL relentlessly, had some kind of world perspective and introspection renaissance, and when FI dropped, the bass work and effects floored me.
I stopped drinking and decided to learn to play every song from the album. Seeing TOOL again in Portland last year solidified that idea. Every time the urge to drink came up, I'd occupy my mind by practicing Pneuma or something. I bought ten guitar pedals and practiced like Hell.
I'm almost two years sober from alcohol now and know how to play Fear Inoculum, front to back, on bass. It wasn't easy, the best song I could cover beforehand was Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls", but now playing "7empest" is my morning warmup as I learn my way through "10,000 Days".
I'm sad Matt never got to hear FI, after all the waiting, but I know he would have been a little bummed that it doesn't sound like Lateralus, and that's okay. I'm excited to see them again in January at their Tacoma show. Floors seats near Justin so I can double check all my work!
Lots of mixed reviews of this album, but a warm welcome after a long break from this amazing band, and I love it. I'm curious to see how everyone thinks about it-
A long time coming.
Choose One
)