Fear Inoculum

In 2006, Tool released their fourth studio album, 10,000 Days. 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.{{cite magazine |title=Hard Work Pays Off for Tool's 'Days' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58388/hard-work-pays-off-for-tools-days |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616020500/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58388/hard-work-pays-off-for-tools-days |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum – Tool |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=tool#search_section |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=July 29, 2019}} The band toured heavily in support of the album, playing more than 200 shows through 2007.{{cite web |last1=Hartmann |first1=Graham |title=Why Has Tool's New Album Taken 13 Years to Make? |url=https://loudwire.com/why-tool-new-album-taken-13-years/ |work=Loudwire |date=February 2019 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729215424/https://loudwire.com/why-tool-new-album-taken-13-years/ |archive-date=July 29, 2019 |url-status=live }} After this, frontman Maynard James Keenan mentioned that he saw Tool breaking up in the near future, and focused on his side project, Puscifer.{{cite magazine |last1=Grow |first1=Kory |title=Tool's New Album: Everything We Know |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tools-new-album-everything-we-know-253649/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801160331/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tools-new-album-everything-we-know-253649/ |archive-date=August 1, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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".{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Chris |title=Maynard James Keenan Hearts Foo Fighters; Says Tool Will Start Writing LP 'Right Away' |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1581520/maynard-james-keenan-hearts-foo-fighters-says-tool-will-start-writing-lp-right-away/ |publisher=MTV |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624001146/http://www.mtv.com/news/1581520/maynard-james-keenan-hearts-foo-fighters-says-tool-will-start-writing-lp-right-away/ |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |url-status=dead }}

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.{{cite web |last1=Neilstein |first1=Vince |title=Tool Are Working on a New Album! |date=April 14, 2010 |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2010/04/14/tool-are-working-on-a-new-album/ |publisher=MetalSucks |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729220126/https://www.metalsucks.net/2010/04/14/tool-are-working-on-a-new-album/ |archive-date=July 29, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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. In 2012, the band's website was updated again, with the webmaster writing that they 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 they estimated that the album was around half done.{{cite web |last1=Teitelman |first1=Bram |title=Is Tool More Than Halfway Done with New Album? |date=December 17, 2012 |url=https://www.metalinsider.net/in-the-studio/is-tool-more-than-halfway-done-with-new-album |publisher=Metal Insider |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801163338/https://www.metalinsider.net/in-the-studio/is-tool-more-than-halfway-done-with-new-album |archive-date=August 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}

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.{{cite web |last1=Goodman |first1=William |title=New Tool Album Delayed by Freak Scooter Accidents |url=https://www.fuse.tv/2013/01/new-tool-album-delayed-freak-scooter-accidents |publisher=Fuse |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801160342/https://www.fuse.tv/2013/01/new-tool-album-delayed-freak-scooter-accidents |archive-date=August 1, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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. 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." 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.{{cite magazine |last1=Grow |first1=Kory |title=Tool Explain Why They Haven't Put Out a New Album Since 2006 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tool-explain-why-they-havent-put-out-a-new-album-since-2006-173611/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526140538/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tool-explain-why-they-havent-put-out-a-new-album-since-2006-173611/ |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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. 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. At the time, Carey stated that only one song was “pretty much done”, an untitled ten-minute track. In 2015, Jones announced that the legal issues were completely over.{{cite web |last1=Wiederhorn |first1=Jon |title=Exclusive: With Legal Obstacles Out of the Way Tool Are Again Hard at Work |date=March 14, 2015 |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/exclusive-with-legal-obstacles-out-of-the-way-113603374956.html |publisher=Yahoo! |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806123200/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/exclusive-with-legal-obstacles-out-of-the-way-113603374956.html |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |url-status=live }}

{{quotebox|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.{{cite web |last1=DiVita |first1=Joe |title=Maynard James Keenan: 5 Other Things We Learned on 'Joe Rogan' Podcast |url=https://loudwire.com/what-learned-maynard-james-keenan-joe-rogan-experience-podcast/ |work=Loudwire |date=July 30, 2019 |access-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730145801/https://loudwire.com/what-learned-maynard-james-keenan-joe-rogan-experience-podcast/ |archive-date=July 30, 2019 |url-status=live }}|Maynard James Keenan, on the creative struggles on writing Fear Inoculum.|width=20%|align=right}}

Work on the album continued to progress through 2015 "slowly", according to Keenan. Jones reported that the band had 20 different song ideas being developed.{{cite magazine |last1=Grow |first1=Kory |title=Tool's Adam Jones on 2016 Tour, Album Progress, 'Amazing' New Song |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tools-adam-jones-on-2016-tour-album-progress-amazing-new-song-39367/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514222527/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tools-adam-jones-on-2016-tour-album-progress-amazing-new-song-39367/ |archive-date=May 14, 2019 |url-status=live }} The band toured, and debuted a new track, "Descending", in a shortened, incomplete form, according to Jones. 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". 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,{{cite web |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Axl |title=Here's the Latest on the New Tool Album |date=April 7, 2016 |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2016/04/07/tool/ |publisher=MetalSucks |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729221536/https://www.metalsucks.net/2016/04/07/tool/ |archive-date=July 29, 2019 |url-status=live }} by the end of the year, Chancellor described the band's status as still "deep into the writing process”.{{cite magazine |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |title=Tool Bassist Talks New Album: 'We're Playing Pretty Much Nonstop' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tool-bassist-talks-new-album-were-playing-pretty-much-nonstop-120932/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801160337/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tool-bassist-talks-new-album-were-playing-pretty-much-nonstop-120932/ |archive-date=August 1, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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. This work on the album continued throughout 2017. At the time, Carey predicted finishing and releasing in mid-2018,{{cite web |last1=DiVita |first1=Joe |title=Danny Carey: New Tool Album Will 'Definitely' Be Out in 2018 |url=https://loudwire.com/danny-carey-new-tool-album-definitely-2018/ |work=Loudwire |date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330223116/https://loudwire.com/danny-carey-new-tool-album-definitely-2018/ |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |url-status=live }} while Keenan countered these claims, stating it would likely take longer than that to finish. 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.{{cite web |title=Maynard James Keenan on New Tool Songs: 'Words & Melodies 100% Done on All But 1' |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/maynard-james-keenan-new-tool-songs-words-melodies-100-done-all-1 |work=Revolver |date=February 16, 2018 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801165322/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/maynard-james-keenan-new-tool-songs-words-melodies-100-done-all-1 |archive-date=August 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/maynard-james-keenan-new-tool-album-was-fantastic-8-years-ago|title=Maynard James Keenan: New Tool Album "Was Fantastic 8 Years Ago"|date=September 2, 2019|website=Revolver}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/justin_chancellor_names_new_tool_song_that_contains_riffs_from_before_he_joined_the_band.html|title=Justin Chancellor Names New Tool Song That Contains Riffs From Before He Joined the Band|website=www.ultimate-guitar.com}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/danny-carey-tool-have-tons-material-fear-inoculum-follow|title=Danny Carey: Tool Have "Tons of Material" for 'Fear Inoculum' Follow-Up|date=September 18, 2019|website=Revolver}}

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. On May 11, it was reported that all drum parts had been tracked. In September, Keenan announced he had finished recording scratch vocals, but had not started final vocal takes.{{cite web |last1=Reed |first1=Ryan |title=Tool's New Album: Everything We Know So Far |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/tools-new-album-everything-we-know-so-far |work=Revolver |date=September 11, 2018 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508092314/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/tools-new-album-everything-we-know-so-far |archive-date=May 8, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web |last1=Serota |first1=Maggie |title=Maynard James Keenan Uncorked Fear Inoculum Vocals in Between His Daily Wine Chores |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/08/maynard-james-keenan-vocals-tool-wine-grapes/ |work=Spin |access-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901171832/https://www.spin.com/2019/08/maynard-james-keenan-vocals-tool-wine-grapes/ |archive-date=September 1, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web |last1=Burks |first1=Tosten |title=Maynard James Keenan Says Vocals for Tool's Next Album Are Done (And Maybe Instrumentals Too) |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/01/tool-new-album-vocals-recorded/ |work=Spin |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708115403/https://www.spin.com/2019/01/tool-new-album-vocals-recorded/ |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |url-status=live }} In the same month, Carey stated that they aimed to release the album in April 2019,{{cite web |last1=Hunt |first1=El |title=Tool's New Album: Release Date, Tour Dates and Everything We Know So Far |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/tools-new-album-release-date-tour-dates-everything-know-far-2439986/amp |work=NME |date=June 2, 2004 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403112040/https://www.nme.com/blogs/tools-new-album-release-date-tour-dates-everything-know-far-2439986/amp |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live }} though Keenan countered that this was unrealistic, instead pointing to a release between May and July.{{cite web |last1=Chantler |first1=Chris |title=Tool: The Ultimate Timeline of Their New Album |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/tool-a-long-detailed-and-in-no-way-finished-timeline-of-their-new-album |work=Metal Hammer |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605071108/https://www.loudersound.com/features/tool-a-long-detailed-and-in-no-way-finished-timeline-of-their-new-album |archive-date=June 5, 2019 |url-status=live }} The band was in the studio with Bob Ludwig in March 2019; Ludwig had also mastered 10,000 Days.{{cite web |title=Tool's New Album Is Being Mastered by Bob Ludwig |date=March 7, 2019 |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/tools-new-album-is-being-mastered-by-bob-ludwig/ |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801165313/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/tools-new-album-is-being-mastered-by-bob-ludwig/ |archive-date=August 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Kaufman |first1=Spencer |title=New Tool Album Is Likely Either Done or Ready for Mastering |url=https://consequence.net/2019/03/new-tool-album-done-mastering/amp/ |work=Consequence of Sound |date=March 7, 2019 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801165314/https://consequence.net/2019/03/new-tool-album-done-mastering/amp/ |archive-date=August 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}

The album consists of seven main tracks of music, and a run time just short of 80 minutes, the maximum runtime of CDs. 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.{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/danny-carey-tool-album-one-giant-song/|title=Danny Carey Wanted to Try to Make Tool Album 'One Giant Song'|first=Lauryn|last=Schaffner|website=Loudwire.com|date=August 14, 2019 |access-date=August 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815080640/https://loudwire.com/danny-carey-tool-album-one-giant-song/|archive-date=August 15, 2019|url-status=live}} Jones and Carey described the songs as lengthy, but containing multiple movements within each track.{{cite web |title=Tool Reveal Concept Behind New Album, Explain How the Songs Ended Up So Long |url=https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/tool-reveal-concept-behind-new-album-explain-how-the-songs-ended-up-so-long/amp |work=Metal Injection |date=August 6, 2019 |access-date=August 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807114454/https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/tool-reveal-concept-behind-new-album-explain-how-the-songs-ended-up-so-long/amp |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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. Music videos also covered the theme. The album also explores the concept of growing "older and wiser".{{cite web |last1=Schaffner |first1=Lauryn |title=Tool Attribute Aging + Wisdom As Theme of 'Fear Inoculum' |url=https://loudwire.com/tool-new-album-fear-inoculum-theme-aging-wisdom/ |work=Loudwire |date=August 6, 2019 |access-date=August 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806205615/https://loudwire.com/tool-new-album-fear-inoculum-theme-aging-wisdom/ |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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." Keenan also advised that patience and multiple listens were required in understanding the album, comparing it to a slowly developing movie. Jones described it as very different from their prior album 10,000 Days.{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/tool-guitarist-anxiety-maynard-james-keenan-taking-blame-album-delay/|title=Tool Guitarist Felt Anxiety Over Maynard Taking Blame for Delay|first=Chad|last=Childers|website=Loudwire.com|date=August 12, 2019 |access-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812191016/https://loudwire.com/tool-guitarist-anxiety-maynard-james-keenan-taking-blame-album-delay/|archive-date=August 12, 2019|url-status=live}} Music critics and journalists have described the album as progressive rock, progressive metal, and alternative metal.

The album was released on August 30, 2019, through the band's own Tool Dissectional imprint as well as Volcano Entertainment and RCA Records.{{cite web |last=Shoemaker |first=Whitney |title=Tool Catalog Finally Hits Streaming Platforms Ahead of New Album |url=https://www.altpress.com/news/tool-catalog-hits-digital-streaming/ |work=Alternative Press |date=August 2, 2019 |access-date=August 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802224156/https://www.altpress.com/news/tool-catalog-hits-digital-streaming/ |archive-date=August 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tool-new-album-release-date-832784/|title=Tool Set Summer Release Date for New Album|last=Blistein|first=Jon|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=August 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508163754/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tool-new-album-release-date-832784/|archive-date=May 8, 2019|url-status=live}} Prior to release, the band toured in May 2019 in North America.{{cite web |last1=Chapstick |first1=Kelsey |title=Tool Announce Spring U.S. Tour Dates |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/tool-announce-spring-us-tour-dates |work=Revolver |date=March 11, 2019 |access-date=July 29, 2019}} It was reported in March that Jones had been working on album artwork, generally one of the last steps in the process.{{cite web |last1=Chapstick |first1=Kelsey |title=Metallica's Kirk Hammett: Tool Currently Working on New Album Art |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/metallicas-kirk-hammett-tool-currently-working-new-album-art |work=Revolver |date=March 25, 2019 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417142449/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/metallicas-kirk-hammett-tool-currently-working-new-album-art |archive-date=April 17, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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".{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Alex |title=Finally: Tool Debut First New Music in over a Decade |url=https://consequence.net/2019/05/finally-tool-debut-first-new-music-in-over-a-decade/amp/ |work=Consequence of Sound |date=May 6, 2019 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508062024/https://consequence.net/2019/05/finally-tool-debut-first-new-music-in-over-a-decade/amp/ |archive-date=May 8, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last1=Kaufman |first1=Gil |title=Tool Appear to Announce Release Date for Anticipated Fifth Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8510595/tool-announce-release-date-fifth-album |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613102753/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8510595/tool-announce-release-date-fifth-album |archive-date=June 13, 2019 |url-status=live }} The title was announced on July 29, 2019.{{cite web |last1=Hartmann |first1=Graham |title=Tool Officially Announce New Album 'Fear Inoculum' |url=https://loudwire.com/tool-new-album-fear-inoculum/ |work=Loudwire |date=July 29, 2019 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729204502/https://loudwire.com/tool-new-album-fear-inoculum/ |archive-date=July 29, 2019 |url-status=live }} On August 2, 2019, the band's back catalog was added to digital download and streaming outlets to promote the release,{{cite web |last1=Porter |first1=Jon |title=One of the Last Remaining Music Streaming Holdouts Has Relented |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/30/20746735/tool-music-spotify-apple-music-digital-streaming |work=The Verge |date=July 30, 2019 |access-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730102605/https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/30/20746735/tool-music-spotify-apple-music-digital-streaming |archive-date=July 30, 2019 |url-status=live }} with Tool being one of the few holdouts among major artists.{{cite magazine |last1=Unterberger |first1=Andrew |title=Why Legacy Acts Are Finally Joining the Streaming Game |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/streaming/8510565/legacy-acts-join-streaming |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731072124/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/streaming/8510565/legacy-acts-join-streaming |archive-date=July 31, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web |title=Tool Reveal Cover Art for New Album 'Fear Inoculum' |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/tool-reveal-cover-art-new-album-fear-inoculum |work=Revolver |date=August 5, 2019 |access-date=August 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805165315/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/tool-reveal-cover-art-new-album-fear-inoculum |archive-date=August 5, 2019 |url-status=live }} The album's opening track and first single to be released from the album, also titled "Fear Inoculum" was released on August 7.{{cite web |title=World Premiere: Tool Inject a New Generation with 'Fear Inoculum' |url=https://www.radio.com/music/rock/world-premiere-tool-return-with-fear-inoculum |publisher=Radio.com |access-date=August 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806180758/https://www.radio.com/music/rock/world-premiere-tool-return-with-fear-inoculum |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/tools-new-single-makes-chart-history-aenima-album-re-enters-billboard-200-at-no-10/|title=Tool's New Single Makes Chart History; 'Ænima' Album Re-Enters Billboard 200 At No. 10|date=August 12, 2019|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=August 13, 2019}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7549893/longest-shortest-hot-100-hits-kendrick-lamar-beyonce|title=The Longest & Shortest Hot 100 Hits: From Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce & David Bowie to Piko-Taro|magazine=Billboard}}{{cite web |last1=Cadiente |first1=Tim |title=Tool's 'Fear Inoculum' Breaks Record As Longest Billboard Hot 100 Hit & First to Run More Than 10 Minutes |url=https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/business/chart-beat/8527264/tool-fear-inoculum-longest-hot-100-hit |work=Billboard |access-date=August 17, 2019}}

A deluxe edition of the album, which includes a full 4-inch 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.{{cite web |last1=Hartmann |first1=Graham |title=Tool's 'Fear Inoculum' Physical Copy Will Include HD Video Screen + Speakers |url=https://loudwire.com/tool-fear-inoculum-video-screen-speakers/ |work=Loudwire |date=August 7, 2019 |access-date=August 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808010332/https://loudwire.com/tool-fear-inoculum-video-screen-speakers/ |archive-date=August 8, 2019 |url-status=live }} The band's European distributor Napalm Records has this available as well.{{cite web |url=https://napalmrecords.com/english/fear-inoculum-deluxe-edition.html |title=Tool – Fear Inoculum – Deluxe Edition |publisher=Napalm Records |access-date=August 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808145442/https://napalmrecords.com/english/fear-inoculum-deluxe-edition.html |archive-date=August 8, 2019 |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web |url=https://toolband.com/news/2019/tool-expanded-book-edition-of-fear-inoculum/ |title=Tool Expanded Book Edition of Fear Inoculum |access-date=July 21, 2020 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.fourtheye.net/2019/11/fear-inoculum-expanded-book-edition/ |title=Fear Inoculum Expanded Book Edition |access-date=July 21, 2020 }}

{{Album ratings

| ADM = 7.6/10{{cite web|url=http://anydecentmusic.com/review/10048/Tool-Fear-Inoculum.aspx|title=Fear Inoculum by Tool reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=August 30, 2019}}

| MC = 81/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/fear-inoculum/tool|title=Fear Inoculum by Tool Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=August 23, 2019}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Yeung|first=Neil Z.|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fear-inoculum-mw0003306502|title=Fear Inoculum – Tool|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=August 30, 2019}}

| rev2 = Clash

| rev2score = 9/10{{cite web|last=Spring|first=Christopher|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/tool-fear-inoculum|title=Tool – Fear Inoculum|work=Clash|date=August 30, 2019|access-date=August 30, 2019}}

| rev3 = Consequence of Sound

| rev3Score = A−{{cite web|last=Hadusek|first=Jon|url=https://consequence.net/2019/08/album-review-tool-fear-inoculum/|title=Tool Prove the Wait Was Worth It on the Epic Fear Inoculum|work=Consequence of Sound|date=August 30, 2019|access-date=August 30, 2019}}

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4score = B+{{cite magazine|last=Weingarten|first=Christopher R.|url=https://ew.com/music-reviews/2019/09/01/tool-fear-inoculum-ew-review/|title=Tool's Fear Inoculum is a deeply satisfying return to form|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=September 1, 2019|access-date=September 6, 2019}}

| rev5 = Financial Times

| rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Hunter-Tilney|first=Ludovic|url=https://www.ft.com/content/858aad0a-c8cf-11e9-af46-b09e8bfe60c0|title=Tool: Fear Inoculum — immersive and involving|work=Financial Times|date=August 30, 2019|access-date=September 6, 2019|url-access=subscription}}

| rev6 = The Guardian

| rev6score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Hutchinson|first=Kate|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/30/tool-fear-inoculum-review|title=Tool: Fear Inoculum review – primordial riffage to pull you under|work=The Guardian|date=August 30, 2019|access-date=August 30, 2019}}

| rev7 = Kerrang!

| rev7score = 5/5{{cite web|last=Ruskell|first=Nick|url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/album-review-tool-fear-inocolum/|title=Album Review: Tool – Fear Inoculum|work=Kerrang!|date=August 30, 2019|access-date=September 6, 2019}}

| rev8 = NME

| rev8score = {{rating|5|5}}{{cite web|last=McMahon|first=James|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/tool-fear-inoculum-review-2537636|title=Tool – 'Fear Inoculum' Review|work=NME|date=August 13, 2019|access-date=November 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813235051/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/tool-fear-inoculum-review|archive-date=August 13, 2019|url-status=live}}

| rev9 = Pitchfork

| rev9score = 5.4/10{{cite web|last=Larson|first=Jeremy D.|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/tool-fear-inoculum/|title=Tool: Fear Inoculum Album Review|work=Pitchfork|date=September 5, 2019|access-date=September 7, 2019}}

| rev10 = Rolling Stone

| rev10score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Hermes|first=Will|author-link=Will Hermes|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-tool-return-from-a-long-hiatus-with-fear-inoculum-879842/|title=Tool Return From a Long Hiatus With 'Fear Inoculum'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 4, 2019|access-date=September 6, 2019}}

}}

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. 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". 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."{{cite web|last=Triunfo|first=Chris|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2019/08/29/fear-inoculum-tool-returns-with-vengeance/QwQ45CBMrWbagbWoLhTCoI/story.html|title=On 'Fear Inoculum,' Tool returns with a vengeance|work=The Boston Globe|date=August 29, 2019|access-date=November 27, 2019}} 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."{{cite web|last=Parker|first=James|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/08/tool-fear-inoculum-album-review/596704/|title=The Persistent Complexity of Tool|work=The Atlantic|date=August 24, 2019|access-date=November 27, 2019}} 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."{{cite web|last=Ehrlich|first=Dimitri|url=https://www.spin.com/2019/08/tool-fear-inoculum-review/|title=Tool's Fear Inoculum Is a Transcendent Return|work=Spin|date=August 19, 2019|access-date=August 30, 2019}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/tool-fear-inoculum-an-enigma-inside-pandoras-box|title=Tool - Fear Inoculum review: an enigma inside Pandora's box|first=Stephen Hill2019-08-26T09:00:58Z Metal|last=Hammer|website=Metal Hammer Magazine|date=August 26, 2019 }} 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."{{Cite web|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2019/08/30/tool-fear-inoculum-album-review/|title=Tool – Fear Inoculum (Album Review)|date=August 29, 2019|website=Wall Of Sound|language=en-US|access-date=August 29, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/tool-7empest-greatest-work-adam-jones/|title=Tool's 15-Minute '7empest' is the Greatest Work of Adam Jones' Career|first=Graham|last=Hartmann|website=Loudwire.com|date=August 30, 2019 }} AllMusic noted that all four band members sounded like they were performing at the peak of their career so far. 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. Rob Halford{{cite web|last=Chapstick|first=Kelsey|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/best-2019-rob-halford-tools-fear-inoculum-state-heavy-music|title=Best of 2019: Rob Halford on Tool's 'Fear Inoculum', State of Heavy Music|website=Revolver|date=December 17, 2019|access-date=March 14, 2022}} and Mike Portnoy{{cite web|last=DiVita|first=John|url=https://loudwire.com/mike-portnoy-best-2019-albums-songs-movies-tv-shows/|title=Mike Portnoy's Best of 2019: Albums, Songs, Movies + TV Shows|website=Loudwire|date=December 28, 2019|access-date=March 14, 2022}} called it one of their favorite albums of 2019. The band Post Animal called it one of their favorite albums of the decade.{{cite web|url=https://floodmagazine.com/71658/the-2010s-artists-pick-their-top-10-albums-of-the-decade/|title=Flood - The 2010s: Artists Pick Their Top 10 Albums of the Decade|date=November 27, 2019|website=Flood Magazine|access-date=March 14, 2022}} "7empest" was later nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance, as was "Fear Inoculum" for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50474343 |title=Grammy Awards 2020: List of nominees |work=BBC News |date=November 20, 2019 |access-date=November 20, 2019}} “7empest” would go on to win the award, while “Fear Inoculum” lost to Gary Clark Jr.{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/gary-clark-jr-2020-best-rock-song-grammy/|title=Gary Clark Jr. Beats Tool for 2020 Best Rock Song Grammy|website=Loudwire|date=January 27, 2020 }} At the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, the album won Top Rock Album.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/bbmas/9465082/2020-billboard-music-awards-winners|title=2020 Billboard Music Awards Winners: Complete List|magazine=Billboard}}

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."

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.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8529417/tools-fear-inoculum-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-chart-rock-album|title=Tool's 'Fear Inoculum' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart With Biggest Week For a Rock Album in Over 1 Year|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=September 8, 2019|access-date=September 9, 2019}} In the UK, Fear Inoculum debuted at number four.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/lana-del-rey-scores-fourth-uk-number-1-album-with-norman-fstarstarking-rockwell__27213/|title=Lana Del Rey scores fourth UK Number 1 album with Norman F**king Rockwell|website=www.officialcharts.com|language=en|access-date=September 7, 2019}}

Year-end rankings

Decade-end rankings

{{Track listing

| headline = CD version

| total_length = 79:10

| all_lyrics = Maynard James Keenan

| all_music = Danny Carey, Justin Chancellor, Adam Jones, and Maynard James Keenan.{{cite web |title=ACE Repertory |url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/works/publisher/434962/TOOLSHED%20MUSIC |website=ASCAP |access-date=22 January 2025}}

| title1 = Fear Inoculum

| length1 = 10:21

| title2 = Pneuma

| length2 = 11:53

| title3 = Invincible

| length3 = 12:44

| title4 = Descending

| length4 = 13:37

| title5 = Culling Voices

| length5 = 10:05

| title6 = Chocolate Chip Trip

| length6 = 4:47

| title7 = 7empest

| length7 = 15:44

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital version

| total_length = 86:43

| title1 = Fear Inoculum

| length1 = 10:20

| title2 = Pneuma

| length2 = 11:53

| title3 = {{lang|fr|Litanie contre la peur}}

| length3 = 2:14

| note3 = French for "litany against fear"

| title4 = Invincible

| length4 = 12:44

| title5 = Legion Inoculant

| length5 = 3:09

| title6 = Descending

| length6 = 13:37

| title7 = Culling Voices

| length7 = 10:05

| title8 = Chocolate Chip Trip

| length8 = 4:48

| title9 = 7empest

| length9 = 15:43

| title10 = Mockingbeat

| length10 = 2:05

}}

; Vinyl version

{{Track listing

| headline = Side A

| title1 = Fear Inoculum

| length1 = 10:20

| title2 = Pneuma

| length2 = 11:53

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side B

| title3 = Invincible

| length3 = 12:44

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side C

| title4 = Legion Inoculant

| length4 = 3:09

| title5 = Descending

| length5 = 13:37

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side D

| title6 = Culling Voices

| length6 = 10:05

| title7 = Chocolate Chip Trip

| length7 = 4:48

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side E

| total_length = 84:29

| title8 = 7empest

| length8 = 15:43

| title9 = Mockingbeat

| length9 = 2:05

}}

Credits and recording studios adapted from the album's liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Fear Inoculum |others=Tool |year=2019 |publisher=Tool Dissectional; Volcano Records; RCA Records}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Tool

• Maynard James Keenan – vocals
• Adam Jones – guitars
• Justin Chancellor – bass
• Danny Carey – drums, synthesizer

Additional musicians

• Lustmord – waves and water sound effects on the track "Descending"

Production

• "Evil" Joe Barresi – mixing, recording engineer
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Tool – production
• Engineering assistance: Jun Murakawa, Morgan Stratton, Kevin Mills, Garret Lubow, Wesley Seidman, Scott Moore, Greg Foeller
• Guitar techs: Dan Druff, Tim Dawson, Scott Dachroaden, Pete Lewis, Sacha Dunable
• Drum techs: Bruce Jacoby, Jon Nicholson, Joe Slaby, Junior Kittlitz
• Additional tracking: Mat Mitchel, Tim Dawson, Andrew Means

{{col-2}}

Artwork and design

• Adam Jones – art direction, video direction
• Alex Grey – cover art, booklet art, video concept and video direction
• Mackie Osborne – design and layout
• Joyce Su – additional art, visual effects, design
• Matthew Santoro – CGI, video design, VFX director
• Ryan Tottle & Dominic Hailstone – visual effects
• Sean Cheetham – Tool portraits
• Photography: Kristin Burns, Alex Landeen, Travis Shinn, Lee Young, Ann Chien

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Fear Inoculum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Tool|title=Fear Inoculum|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2019|certyear=2019|access-date=January 23, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Tool|title=Fear Inoculum|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2019|id=2022-04-15|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Tool|title=Fear Inoculum|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2019|certyear=2024|access-date=April 17, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Tool|title=Fear Inoculum|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2019|certyear=2020|access-date=August 12, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

• "The Witness" a non-album instrumental released by band members in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/hear-three-quarters-of-tool-score-new-short-film-the-witness/|title=Hear Three-Quarters Of Tool Score A New Short Film, The Witness|website=Kerrang!|date=October 29, 2020 }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{MusicBrainz release group|id=76203bd0-466b-4802-a7ca-9b0097a3f862}}

{{Tool (band)}}

{{Portal bar|United States|Rock music|Music}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Tool (band) albums

Category:2019 albums

Category:Volcano Entertainment albums

Category:RCA Records albums

Category:Albums with cover art by Alex Grey

Category:Albums recorded at Henson Recording Studios