TOOL Official Thread.

[ariich]

For me, Tool has always been a band where their stuff always strikes me as well played and with a really cool vibe, but never had that little something that grabs me and makes me want to listen again.

Despite that, I checked out the new song and my impression was that, well, it was well played and had a really cool vibe, but didn't have that little something that grabbed me and made me want to listen again.

 

For the most part, I'm the same way, but Lateralus was different. There's something special about that album and for me it's leagues apart from the rest.

[Fritzinger]

Review of the album by Fritzinger resident of the forum:

https://www.sonicperspectives.com/album-reviews/tool-fear-inoculum/

I was just gonna post that Jorge, thanks

Can't wait what everybody has to say about this album. I LOVE IT. Can't get enough of it. I've spun it 15-16 times at least.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Judging by early reviews, this is Tool's most polarizing album yet. Either people love it or absolutely hate it. Some of the bad reviews make me laugh and wonder why these people are listening to Tool in the first place. This type of music is obviously not for them. 

[faizoff]

Got a shipping confirmation from B & N and am supposed to get the CD on Tuesday. Sweet.

[Lonk]

Judging by early reviews, this is Tool's most polarizing album yet. Either people love it or absolutely hate it. Some of the bad reviews make me laugh and wonder why these people are listening to Tool in the first place. This type of music is obviously not for them. 

I honestly pay little to no attention to album reviews. A lot of these people consider themselves music critic but their bias clearly shows.

[faizoff]

Plus if I remember correctly, 10,000 days also had a very similar reaction polarizing a huge base of the hardcore fans, some who thought the album was a fake release and there was another release impending...

[MinistroRaven]

Loudwire it’s streaminf the full album

https://loudwire.com/listen-tool-fear-inoculum-album/

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

It just popped up on Google Play Music. Time to dive in! 

[Crow]

it's been on spotify for 37 minutes but i had to listen to leprous first

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

it's been on spotify for 37 minutes but i had to listen to leprous first

I suppose I should clarify. I just noticed it popped up 

On Pneuma right now. To the people that have complained about the production....It's damn near perfect! Does everyone want everything brickwalled these days or what? Or are these reviewers listening on crappy speakers/amps/headphones....? There are so many awesome little details in this so far.

The second half of Pneuma is phenomenal! Danny Carey is an absolute beast!

[NoFred]

Nice album. Maybe could’ve been made sooner by a few years, but loved the first listen.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

I have absolutely no problem with Litanie contre la Peur. Not sure what the big uproar is. As far as Tool segue/interlude tracks it's far from the most offensive.

That breakdown a little after the halfway point on Invincible is GODLY!

[Crow]

i'm posting a livetweet twitter thread to curb some enthusiasm but basically my point i covered; it sounds like an improv jam i'd have played on a garageband synth patch from 10 years ago

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

i'm posting a livetweet twitter thread to curb some enthusiasm but basically my point i covered; it sounds like an improv jam i'd have played on a garageband synth patch from 10 years ago

I guess I can kind of see some of your points you make on the songs, although I don't think I agree on any of them...

[Crow]

i'm done now. won't be listening to it again. 7empest is pretty good, Culling Voices is alright, rest feels pretty throwaway

[Polarbear]

Obviously a lot to take in at first listen, but i'm really enjoying it!

Tempest(Not calling it 7empest), Pneuma and Invincible are early favorites.

Not sure if this worth the over a decade wait since 10000 Days, but its a great album no question!

[Train of Naught]

Listened to it once. 7empest is great! As is the title track and (the second half of) Pneuma, but I couldn't really focus during the middle part, picked a bad time to listen to it. Anyway I'm pretty happy with it, but as with all Tool albums I probably won't become obsessed with the whole album, but probably a couple songs will stick with me.

Leprous definitely outdid Tool today

[ReaperKK]

New album has shipped. Cant wait until I get home wednesday to check it out.

[efx]

I'm so happy. I didn't listen to anything beforehand and the cd should arrive today but I listened to it on Tidal in full hq this morning in my fully treated studio with the lights off. I always remember where I first heard a piece of music so I wanted this to be special.

The production is out of this world, Barresi has placed everything in the sound space perfectly and I'm so glad there's the customary dynamics in the music. New mixing benchmark for me.

I love the songs, I have no problems at all with the softer aspect to it and lyrically there's more than a few parts that really speak to me. There's a pervasive feeling of melancholy that I like in it. Maynards approach to the singing fits with the music the rest of the band wrote so I'm not surprised he's not going for the Ticks&Leeches stuff since that wouldn't sound cohesive with the rest of the instruments. I like A Perfect Circle too so him going for that vibe a bit doesn't bother me.

13 years is a long wait and I honestly have gone through so many phases of what to expect that I didn't really know what I would get or would want to get. All I know is that I'm really, really inspired and happy after hearing it.

[Phoenix87x]

Two full listens so far,

I could see people not liking this album, particularly people that really like the style of the older albums. To each their own. Fear is the next evolution of Tool in a long progression of changes. And its amazing how far they have come. 

I love introspective tool and this album feels like disposition/reflection, but for a full album. It’s a very slow burn, which again I really like and for this moment in my life, this is exactly what I want.

This is a deep and beautiful album. An album that I can put on and just sit there and think. Its like someone is messaging my brain and helping me work through the problems in my mind. That means a lot to me and I really dig it.

As far as the transition songs go, I have deleted them. They just screw with the flow of the album and its long enough as it is without having to sit through random noise in-between great tracks. My digital album now reflects the physical release, which didn't bother including them either.

Besides that, I think I love this album.

[Elite]

"a warrior struggling to remain relevant"

indeed, what a boring shitshow
lucky me that I wasn't expecting anything

[MinistroRaven]

A friend of mine just wrote:

“Just got the tool promo and it has three more tracks that act as transitions. I guess I have to reevaluate my opinion on it.

The 7-track version shouldn't exist. One of the transitions in the 10-track version references another track very subtly, so I'd argue that this is the only way to hear it. It makes the whole thing feel more cohesive and connected as an epic journey.”


So, if you have only the 7 version tracks try getting/listening to the 10 tracks version.

[Phoenix87x]

Good point Raven and Just to clarify something about extra tracks since I didn't originally know this:


Physical version                Digital version

1. Fear Inoculum              1. Fear Inoculum
2. Pneuma                       2. Pneuma
3. Invincible                     3. Litanie contre la peur
4. Descending                  4. Invincible
5. Culling Voices               5. Legion Inoculant
6. Chocolate Chip Trip       6. Descending
7. 7empest                       7. Culling Voices
                                       8. Chocolate Chip Trip
                                       9. 7empest
                                       10. Mockingbeat


The digital version includes the 3 extra bolded tracks, so if you definitely want those included in the song playlist, also pick up the digital version. 

*Edit- They might be available on the physical edition. I only have the digital, so I'm not really sure.

[jammindude]

But when you buy the physical version, it comes with a free download of the digital version, doesn't it?

[Phoenix87x]

That's a good question. I'm actually not sure.

I only have the digital version

[devieira73]

I’m loving this album. A bit more on the jamming side than the structured side of composition, but very well done! 7empest is incredible and Descending is second best. Chocolate seems like a drum solo from Billy Cobham’s Spectrum, which is really nice!
Sorry, but the interludes songs this time seem just trolling.

[MinistroRaven]

I am not sure that every physical copy will include the download option.

But I just checked Amazon and while not available there another version of the CD with a song that doesn’t appear on the digital and the “other physical copy”

[Lonk]

For those interested, Barnes and Noble has it in stock, if you pick it up in store. I just called a local store and they have it. You just can't buy it online.

I'm on my way to get it now.

[goo-goo]

But when you buy the physical version, it comes with a free download of the digital version, doesn't it?

Yes, it comes with a download card.

[Max Kuehnau]

But when you buy the physical version, it comes with a free download of the digital version, doesn't it?

Yes, it comes with a download card.

MP3 only though IIRC. I'm currently listening to the Hires download version. I won't comment on it all right now.

[jammindude]

As long as it's MP3 320, that wouldn't be the worst.   Obviously, a FLAC option would be better, but 320 isn't as bad as some people claim it is. 

[faizoff]

Picked up the deluxe edition from Target. This thing looks amazing. As a boxset junkie this is a great package.

Having never heard any snippets before I really enjoyed it.

Will have to do more listening.

[Lonk]

Just in case anyone needs this today.

[goo-goo]

Intrigued by that Recusant Ad Infinitum track. There's a Reddit thread about it. It's apparently a 6 min 42 sec song.

[goo-goo]

Well..Tool US tour.

Tickets are on-sale Sept. 6 at 10 am local time, with a limited number of tickets will be available to Tool Army members on Sept. 4. Tool Army information, as well as VIP package details, can be found via Toolband.com.

October 13 Sacramento, CA Aftershock Festival
October 15 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
October 18 Salt Lake City, UT Vivint Smart Home Arena
October 20 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
October 21 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
October 23 Glendale, AZ Gila River Arena
October 25 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
October 27 Houston, TX Toyota Center
October 29 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
October 31 Milwaukee, WI Fiserv Forum
November 2 Indianapolis, IN Banker’s Life Fieldhouse
November 3 Chicago, IL United Center
November 5 Cincinnati, OH US Bank Arena
November 6 Cleveland, OH Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
November 8 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena
November 9 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
November 11 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
November 12 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
November 14 Boston, MA TD Garden
November 16 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
November 18 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
November 19 Brooklyn, NY Barclay’s Center
November 21 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino Arena
November 22 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall
November 24 Raleigh, NC PNC Arena
November 25 Washington, DC Capitol One Arena