TOOL caught some flak for this album because it didn't sound like them back in the 90's. Cracks me up. I don't want to go back to the 90's. I want this current, now, TOOL just like I did in the 90's. They were what I needed back then and they were exactly what I needed in 2019. Absolutely incredible music that nobody else compares to.
As polished as you'll get with TooL, an absolute masterpiece of an album , Danny at his finest....Justin takes the lead, Adam unleashes the riffs of a lifetime....and Maynard, as pure and as heartfelt and present as he's ever been, his voice is almost angelic.....he caught some grief for not doing the old screams and the anger seems to have subsided and become more whimsical, but they deal with the issues of life in your late 50's and early 60's examining society, questioning everything and most importantly dealing with the sting of time......I've spent 30 of my 55 years on this planet with these guys, and this chapter of the book is perfect!
Totally agree. I'm 10 years younger than Maynard and have been listening to them since 94-95. Growing up and older with their music i have been blessed to be in roughly the same age bracket so feeling the same emotions. Early tool - opiate and undertow are raw and angry. Aenima and Lateralus are more trying to work out who and what you are and where you fit in with everything. Still angry at times, but also trying to work out how it all fits together. 10000 days starting to have to deal with grief and setbacks. Become more self aware. Finally fear inoculum where you are starting to think about your own mortality and reflect a little on the world through your accumulated wisdom.
I must report my dereliction of duty as a member of the Tool Army; I have not already listened to this album. I have been scared to try it. After 13 years, what if I can't keep up? I started with them in their beginning. (Yeah, I'm old). What if I'm not enough to appreciate their growth? I watched your reaction to the "Pneuma" drum cam. I followed your journey thus far. After re-watching you Tool reactions again, I feel I can trust you to help carry me into the next level of understanding.
Crazy to think we are starting on the last material. Soon you get to enjoy one of the most important facets of being a Tool fan…… sitting around and waiting for new music lol😂!
Soundscapes. That’s the nail on the head. The atmosphere in this album is unmatched. Every song on FI will take you somewhere you’ve never been. It’s absolute genius.
13 years of waiting, and it resulted in probably the most interesting Tool album I feel. Fear Inoculum is whole different beast than Tool’s previous albums. Much more interludes in-between 6 absolutely colossal tracks. It’s so grand in scale. However my biggest take away is how much more mature it feels than the previous albums. Not to say there wasn’t maturity on previous albums, because there was plenty. But here it’s so much more readily apparent, and it really makes this album an experience that is entirely it’s own, while still being able to stand tall among Tool’s masterful discography. Can’t wait to see your reactions to this album 🤘
Yeah I prefer this album's sound to 10,000 Days. Both by the same engineer (Joe Barresi), but it sounds a little less "slammed" and in your face, especially the drums. Breathes a bit more.
Seeing Tool live in May really cemented to me how incredible this album is. They opened with this and it was a bold move but completely mind blowing in its delivery
I wouldn't say I was "disappointed" when this album came out, but I was a bit underwhelmed during my first listen (with the exception of a couple tracks). This album has definitely grown on me over time though, and continues to get better with each successive listen.
When I first listened to it, I was like yeah its aight, but after having it on loop a few times while driving and just chilling as background, I came to realise that most of this album is complete awesomeness and easily challenges all their previous work which I am a massive fan of, some of my favourite songs of all time on Fear Inoculum, I start every single day with Invincible while winding into my work day. I mean there's a couple of instrumental throwaway songs but the rest, masterpieces.
As a Tool fan whose favorite album is Undertow, I absolutely love what they accomplished with this album. Justin is the star of the show for me, and I am looking forward to your reaction to Descending.
My favorite track on this installment of TOOL is Descending. This track just resonates in my soul !!! But seriously, when was the last time you heard “Allegorical Elegy” used in any song ??? EPIC !!!
I have been a massive tool fan for about 20 years now. This album didnt really click with me until the second listen, and now i think its a flipping masterpiece. have fun
I remember the hair on my arms standing straight up after hearing the first note. Words can't describe how long 13 years feels waiting for your favorite band to drop new material.
This song live is better than the recorded version...only TOOL can achieve that 🔥 also, I'm not sure what people expected. Dudes are older now; it's mature Tool! This is as equal a masterpiece as their other work.
One thing that is so amazing about this song and album is the production, as you mentioned. It is top-freaking-notch. The amount of space and dynamics are incredible.
I was learning witchy stuff from a friend of mine around the time this single came out. When I dove deep into it, I realized it was a Banishment Spell! It's gorgeous for a banishment spell too. He's banishing fear.
I remember listening to this song for the first time in the radio and it was the first song I heard from the album. I was reacting to listening like a teenage girl listening to her favorite boy band. As each band member came into the song one by one, I was like “Go Danny”!!! “Go Justin”!… “OMG Adam!”… I Love you Maynard”!
Keep in mind the advances in technology in the last 13 years that affect what you are hearing. The synth pads that Danny uses to instantly generate different drumming sounds were much more primitive circa 10,000 Days. The ability to mix is similarly improved. Finally, MJK is in such a different place now than he ever was before. He seems grounded, centered, a happy husband and father. The lyrics reflect this.
I love this album. As a hardcore fan I felt like this was the I wanted after Lateralus. I love Danny on this one and I feel that Maynard brought some APC and Puscifer tonality into this one. It rekindled my Tool fire and lit the fire for my 12 year old son.
I'm so excited to witness your Fear Inoculum journey, it feels like I've been waiting for it ever since the beginning of your TOOL journey! In my opinion it's their best sounding, most mature, and most cohesive album to date. I've lost count of how many times I've listened to it from beginning to end. Truly a masterpiece.
When I first pressed play on this album after a 13-year wait, I was beyond excited and almost afraid to finally hear this album. The album had been pushed back year after year, with rumors of a release date always proving to be false. So I didn't even believe the album was going to be real and come out until I saw the pre-orders become available. But the time had come, and I laid back on my couch, headphones on, eyes closed, and was immediately transported to another dimension with this song! The whole album is very hypnotizing, immense, complex, beautiful, and powerful, and it's my favorite by TOOL. I think I've heard it over 200 times, and I'm still catching new things! When you start memorizing all the complex polyrhythms of each instrument and can follow the time signature changes, it gets even better. I've been absolutely loving your journey since the beginning, and it's been quite a few months of waiting for you to get to this album. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
👋 Me too! Listened 1st time with headphones, in dark, and after everyone went to bed. I was transported, waves of calm, centered, realizing our potential and mortality. Tears! Quite the masterpiece. Saw them 5 times on FI tour. Experiencing songs from this album live was just simply transporting. Was lucky to see 3 of the shows 2nd row (my gift to myself) and was so damn greatful to be alive and experiencing these amazing artists. ❤️
@@kennethalbert4653 I did one show in 2020. Figured I am an old lady @ 59 and wouldn't ever have the chance again if I had to wait another 13 years! So I worked my ass off to save for my 4 show pilgrimage in 2022. My amazing husband totally supported my trek. So greatful I had means and opportunity to do it ❤️🤘
10,000 days was more of a social commentary then a step back for me also just an album to dedicate to his mother, this is easily their most progressive album they’ve ever done, and their best production, it’s very meditative, the albums concept is exactly the title to inoculate fear, if you play the album top to bottom all the way through you get the light to dark path, but if you play in reverse bottom to top starting with tempest you get the dark into light path, it’s all about duality and Alex Greys painting called DMTurner, there’s a lot to explain but that’s the gist of it, my third favorite album of all time, it’s truly remarkable how tight they play and how much their musicianship progressed on this album, descending is definitely my favorite but I love every single tack, Tool doesn’t even have one okay track in my eyes they are all 10/10 🌀
This was the single released around a month before the album dropped, so it was the first new Tool song fans got in 13 years and a teaser for the rest of the album. Just about the same time they also cleared up whatever legal issue they had been dealing with for a while and finally made all the previous songs available on streaming services. When the album first came out, I just couldn't help but smile when listening to it for the first couple weeks.
Been waiting patiently for this 🦻🏻. What a coincidence of this first track to come out before the virus hit. Is Maynard a fortune teller ? As always thank you brother 🌀🤙🏻🫶🏼
This song got me through some very rough times. The timing of its release was honestly the best I could've asked for. Came out near the end of 2019, and to me the song is about targeting the toxicity in your life and getting rid of it. I took that message to heart and dropped off of most social media and made it my goal to eliminate any toxic relationships or toxic interactions. Going into 2020 that turned out to be the best thing I could've ever done for myself. Inoculate yourself against fear, don't let it turn you toxic.
Nicely done Skullz, as usual. I've been firmly in the "this album was absolutely worth the wait" category since first listen. I was actually surprised when I heard some people were disappointed. I try not to be all "chest out" about my Tool fandom because thats silly and I also get that many people are emotional about Tool for many different reasons. For me, this album feels like my favorite band stole the thoughts from my head and set them to beautiful music. Many of their songs have made me cry for different reasons but this album makes me cry and I don't even know I'm doing it. Its the emotion in the soundscapes backdropping lyrics like "we are...one spark. Eyes full of wonder" or "one...drive...to...stay alive!" just completely disarm me. I decided long ago that picking my "favorite" Tool album is like trying to pick a favorite kid. I love them all for different reasons and I feel lucky to have listened to them since I was 15.
After seeing you go through your Tool journey I think it's clear that your reactions have more 'song meanings' attributes and I like that. Lyrics are super important with Tool, and for you to also reflect on Maynard's perspective in your analysis has been enjoyable. Only 3 years since Fear Inoculum came out. So only 10 more years til the next /sarcasm. lol.
One of the greatest album openers ever, this song has gotten me through so much, “Purge me and evacuate the venom and the fear that binds me.” 🌀 it’s so crazy that this song came out only 6 months before covid hit, they had lyrics depicting some kind of plague, the logo that turns into a syringe when you fold it in half, the covid cells on the CD, they knew something was around the corner 👀
Contagion I exhale you, calculating steps away from you. Spun me out when social distancing and masks came in. This song is in my tool top 5. What a belter. Especially the bridge part, “exercise the spectacle…”
100% this album came out at such a BLESSED time. I certainly blessed myself with the immunity that this album provided me. And like you said, who KNEW that it'd become such a much needed source of mental support before 2020 hit.
Yes... please!! I've been waiting you to start this one.... in my opinion ..their best one... but I love all their stuff! Good call boss man! .. righteousness!! This entire lp draws you in an takes you on a journey... so melodic... it absorbs you inner being!! Thank you Skullz...
This album has a sampling of their whole catalog. Just in this song, there are parts that would be right at home on Lateralus and Ænima. Even the vocal section starting at 12:00 could be from something Maynard would have done with Puscifer. By the way, a lot of those percussion sounds at the beginning are done with Tablas.
FINALLY!! Cant wait to see you go through this album, its definitely a grower, just like a fine wine. Considering this album came out before the whole dark time we dont speak of, this album was an inoculation for me and definitely got me through the times ahead. Notice how if you fold the name TooL on the album cover in half with the L meeting the T it creates a syringe 💉 and also Mitosis is the division of a cell into en exact copy, the word is thrown in there at the exact half way mark of the song. 🤯
oh brother, if you appreciate a good mix... this album is IN-CRED-IBLE. The louder you turn it up the better it sounds! Props to "Evil" Joe Barresi on the mix.
To me Fear Inoculum album is the next logical step after Lateralus instead of 10,000 Days. The evolution makes more sense. Great album! You’ll enjoy it. To me it’s emotional for people that are growing older… which is everybody lol but for people that are entering a next stage of life… believe me it’ll get you
I feel like 10,000 Days is sort of a setback, after losing a loved one, spiraling down the hole a little. FI is the following growth from pain, so I guess 10kDays is just in it’s right place
Disagree pretty strongly. While in Lateralus there was definitely a strong spiritual progression, 10k Days was realizing that you’re still attached to these pretty dark places that pull you down. Just because you’ve found some strong new perspective doesn’t make you immune to the worlds whims. Fi is now taking all of that history and turning it into tangible wisdom.
Mike Priestap 2 minutes ago I have watched your reactions, and I started with Tool. I checked your others. You and me brother, react the same way to Tool. I live alone. I am 36 years old. I have loved Tool forever. I listen to all music, anything I can get my hands on. But I agree, I dont know how this band keeps doing it. They are eternal, they are glorious. Skullz, your reaction, but mostly your interpretation of all of the Tool Albums is unmatched. Vocal pros, composers, drummers, whatever, these cats cant match your reactions and insights are by far the closest to mine and it means so much to me. So thank you sir.
I love FI as much as all other Tool's LPs. They are all different. Kind of like how you love your children in different ways. It's not a competition, they all have different personalities. For those who don't like FI because it's different then they're other albums, thank God artists like Tool don't just imitate their previous work. FI is more sophisticated, grown up, and polished. I love it.
Next masterpiece this album is. The kind of album we needed in the dark times when he could’ve easily fed the darkness. Eerily This song was written before cataclysmic event happening in 2020…
Skullz,I love this song, its empowering, faith strengthening and illuminating. Its just so good! Maynard with his voice of an angel, Danny, Adam, Justin and the lyrics! A visual meditation of overcoming fear, in a sense, giving the middle finger to fear. And the timing of this album was so perfect! 2020 was so uncertain and chaotic, definitely a time of distress. Fear Inoculum helped change my prospective and conquer fear. Seeing TOOL perform this song live, I have no words, I just cried. Thank you Skullz much love 💚🌵 BLESS THIS IMMUNITY
So glad you loved this and identified it as an evolutionary step forward for the band. I stand by my opinion that it’s their best work. I think those who were “disappointed” were looking for more of the same/familiar. This album transcends that.
Finally!!! Have been waiting for this for so long. I’ve found this album really is more a soundscape than typical lyrical songs. Took quite a few repeated listens to really appreciate and understand it. And completely agree it’s quite a subdued intro, but buckle up and enjoy the ride because it’ll absolutely blow your mind ☺️
This song lures you in with the hypnotic sounds at first and you are in a translike status and before you notice you are in the middle of the storm and don´t know what hit you and at the end you are left breathless.
Hey everybody, remember when this record dropped and crushed Taylor Swifts record release? As a 40 something old guy, it was endlessly entertaining to hear teenagers ask "who are these TOOL guys?, never heard of them. Are they new?"
I absolutely love how with this album Maynard kinda took a small step back and let the other 3 just speak for themselves....basically him just saying "so yall have been begging for 13 years so here ya go...SPIRAL OUT!"
Earlier this year, I felt out of sync with my body. My health seemed to have left me all of the sudden without warning. Catching up with your lateralus discussions really added to the week in a big way. Thank you!
Oh man I'm so excited for this one. While lateralus is my favorite tool song, this is my favorite tool album. Very interested to hear your thoughts on what the songs are trying to tell the listener, have fun skullz!
This album feels more like a master looking back on his past ordeals and reflecting and teaching what he has come to known. Tool (both band members and production team) seem to be at their peak in terms of creativity and skill in this album. Also, I find that this album has a sort of political commentary to it. Fear Inoculum (song) can be taken as someone looking past what popular media is telling them and seeing the lies that they've been spewing for years. Exhaling their contagion of fear and excorsizing them from their body and mind. Descending and 7empest also go into another foreground of the political landscape. Just something to keep in mind as you continue with the album
Will always remember the night that I listen to this album for the first time. They drop it at midnight. Me and my friend, we promise each others that we'll first listen to this album together. I see the drop on RUclips and i saw my friend online.. We start the album simultaneously, keeping contact on Messenger for chating.. was an awesome night! 🤟 My first tought of this album.. Danny at 59 years old, he just drum is life.. like he can't provide if he's able to play that tight in 5 or 6 years. Amazing performance of him, and of all the members 🤟 Tx like always for the react!
I had a hard time getting into the album but that was how I felt for all of them, they are works of art and I feel like it takes time... but once I saw them live in Ireland back in May I was like OK this album is SICK!!!
This is Danny’s best drum performance on an album. Didn’t think it was possible but he topped himself on this album. His drums really pop out of the mix and are monumental
This song, to me, functions as an overture in an opera: it’s one piece that kind of encapsulates the entire album. The art on your shirt is one half of the album artwork called “The Great Turn” by Alex Grey. It shows a being that is connected at their torsos and each have their own heads and arms. One side is a “light” side and one is a “dark” side. I hear the album moving from the light side of the art (Pneuma) moving to the dark side (7empest). The song Fear Inoculum does a good job of demonstrating this: beginning more subdued and calm and progressively getting more intense, dark, and aggressive with that literal halfway point at the lyric “mitosis.” The song “Descending” functions in the same way. The first half of the song being kind of a last grasp at holding onto that light, and the second half being aggressive instrumentals. The timing is fun in this album. “Exorcise the malady” section is 11/8 in the instruments beneath Maynard singing in 7/8. 7empest is in 21 the whole way thru 😅
Your the best at tool reactions. I've been listening to them for about 30 years now because I love the band now I love them even more because listening to you now I know how deep your lyrics are. The most amazing band ever!!
I told you my friend. It’s definitely a grown up TOOL. It is a fuckin ride man. Just buckle up and hang on. Love the reactions. Can’t wait for the next.
I agree with you on 10,000 days. For me the evolution from Anaema to Lateralus to Fear Innoculum is beautiful and why they are 3 of my favourite albums ever (held in equal regards as each feeds a different portion of my soul!)
Damn Skullz I'm really glad you're getting this perception early in life. I'm really looking forward to your thorough analysis of Pneuma's lyrics. One breath, One spark. Spiral out, Skullz.
My Wednesday arvo session is now a Friday?? This is the one we've all been waiting for, I can wait..... hope you have fun with it, Skullz. See you in a couple of days 🌀
The fact that this album came out just as COVID 19 did just amazes me. Like most people I had unlimited time to dive into this album and I feel like it was a vaccine against all the madness that has happened in these couple years. I just hope our society reaches its own "pneuma" point and realizes we are all one. To be malicious to any part of society is to cause harm to all society. Thank you Tool for showing how progress is possible, even for those of us who are "angry metal-heads" like myself :) Thank you Skullz and all the others for spreading awareness about this precious national treasure.
I seen there last show in the U.S in New Orleans before the pandemic hit. They came back again in 21 i think and i went to see them again. I seen them 8 times so far.
Hey skullz.skulls.. don't know if anyone mentioned this.. when he sings the lyric,, "Mitosis"...(meaning loosely to divide) is exactly the halfway mark of the song. I look at this song as a tale of two hands. Pre mitosis...post mitosis.
I was bummed out when this album finally came out. It was not the album I was expecting and it took me like 3 years for just some of it to grow on me. I think most of the songs are way too long and don't actually go anywhere, but at this point, I enjoy listening to Pneuma, Descending, and 7empest (like the first 8 minutes, anyway)
First time seeing one of your videos. I really enjoyed this and agree with so much you had to say. Tool is one of my all time favorite bands. I would have to say this and lateralus are without a doubt my 2 favorite tool albums. This whole album is great and such a masterpiece. I feel a lot of times this song gets over looked. Great album look forward to watching you listen to rest of it.
“Contagion I exhale you” “Bless this immunity” on a track and album called Fear Inocullum that came out in 2019??? Tool has always been ahead of the curve, and I find it very interesting that these words were used less than 6 months before the world came to halt because of fear…fear of the air, of even exhaling, fear of our immunity, and basing the future of our freedom on an inoculation. Fear was the most destructive virus in the last 3years, and one that we are still just beginning to realize the damage from. Musically FI is unmatched…I don’t love the choices Maynard made, but those choices are indicative of his maturity and abilities changing on a journey into middle age. I just can’t help but wonder what FI would sound like with young angry Maynard behind the lyrics and the mic🤔.
Regarding Maynard's song lyrics, your reflections are very insightful and enjoyable to listen to. A lot of what you say has been thought provoking and I agree Maynard's lyrics do reflect his personal journey. IMO, I do feel we spiral through life and even as we ascend, we spiral through the good moments and the bad. So although 10,000 days was darker, the sentiments were different. Instead of primarily anger, it was more just a description with grim 'acceptance' or 'coming to terms' or 'observations'. In this latest album, her has spiralled out into a more positive vibe. One of a sharing of wisdom gained through experience. 'Encouragement' is the theme, as with Lateralus. As to their music, I am yet to get any of their songs on the first go and am amazed at how much you pick up on the first go. All their songs have a basic tempo that is maintained throughout and it can be fun not only discovering that tempo, but to stay with it and listen to how amazingly they each 'decorate' that basic tempo with different rhythms that are separate but yet, together since they do follow that basic tempo. I think that these variations in rhythm around a basic tempo not only makes their sound so interesting, but also gives their sound amazing body considering that only three instruments are being played. They are like a jazz band in that no single musician keeps the tempo throughout a song, a duty normally taken by the drummer or rhythm guitarist. They take turns doing this, including Maynard with his singing. This makes for an amazing sound. Their jazz-like sound is heard during the long musical interludes that occur in their songs. All of the songs, and I mean, ALL the songs I was not particularly interested in on the first listen, are among my favourites. These guys are masters and I equally love all of them for what they do to making Tool what it is sonically and lyrically. Happy listening. I see that the big one is next, i.e., 7empest!! Happy listening.
![DANNY'S MASTERPIECE! ~ Tool - Pneuma ~ [REACTION!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/e14pADMlNYk/mqdefault.jpg)
![DANNY'S MASTERPIECE! ~ Tool - Pneuma ~ [REACTION!]](/img/tr.png)
![Adam WENT OFF!!! ~ TOOL - Descending ~ [REACTION!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Dspk16oQlp4/mqdefault.jpg)
TOOL caught some flak for this album because it didn't sound like them back in the 90's. Cracks me up. I don't want to go back to the 90's. I want this current, now, TOOL just like I did in the 90's. They were what I needed back then and they were exactly what I needed in 2019. Absolutely incredible music that nobody else compares to.
As polished as you'll get with TooL, an absolute masterpiece of an album , Danny at his finest....Justin takes the lead, Adam unleashes the riffs of a lifetime....and Maynard, as pure and as heartfelt and present as he's ever been, his voice is almost angelic.....he caught some grief for not doing the old screams and the anger seems to have subsided and become more whimsical, but they deal with the issues of life in your late 50's and early 60's examining society, questioning everything and most importantly dealing with the sting of time......I've spent 30 of my 55 years on this planet with these guys, and this chapter of the book is perfect!
What a great comment It is definitely on Point
Totally agree. I'm 10 years younger than Maynard and have been listening to them since 94-95. Growing up and older with their music i have been blessed to be in roughly the same age bracket so feeling the same emotions. Early tool - opiate and undertow are raw and angry. Aenima and Lateralus are more trying to work out who and what you are and where you fit in with everything. Still angry at times, but also trying to work out how it all fits together. 10000 days starting to have to deal with grief and setbacks. Become more self aware. Finally fear inoculum where you are starting to think about your own mortality and reflect a little on the world through your accumulated wisdom.
@@chrisdmackey 10,000 days = middle age crisis.
Agreed my friend. Agreed.
Well said! My sentiments exactly.
Dude your takes make me appreciate Tool even more. Didn't think that was possible.
Yes!
I must report my dereliction of duty as a member of the Tool Army; I have not already listened to this album. I have been scared to try it. After 13 years, what if I can't keep up? I started with them in their beginning. (Yeah, I'm old). What if I'm not enough to appreciate their growth?
I watched your reaction to the "Pneuma" drum cam. I followed your journey thus far. After re-watching you Tool reactions again, I feel I can trust you to help carry me into the next level of understanding.
Crazy to think we are starting on the last material. Soon you get to enjoy one of the most important facets of being a Tool fan…… sitting around and waiting for new music lol😂!
Soundscapes. That’s the nail on the head. The atmosphere in this album is unmatched. Every song on FI will take you somewhere you’ve never been. It’s absolute genius.
I love the way you described that. Especially being a fan that finds it hard to verbally describe tool.
13 years of waiting, and it resulted in probably the most interesting Tool album I feel. Fear Inoculum is whole different beast than Tool’s previous albums. Much more interludes in-between 6 absolutely colossal tracks. It’s so grand in scale. However my biggest take away is how much more mature it feels than the previous albums. Not to say there wasn’t maturity on previous albums, because there was plenty. But here it’s so much more readily apparent, and it really makes this album an experience that is entirely it’s own, while still being able to stand tall among Tool’s masterful discography.
Can’t wait to see your reactions to this album 🤘
7 tracks...remember "7empest" they put the 7 in there because it was the 7th and final track of the album minus the interludes/in between tracks
@@MaRodney No it's 6 tracks. Fear Inoculum, Pneuma, Invincible, Descending, Culling Voices, 7empest
You're right, the mixing and engineering on this album are incredible
Yeah I prefer this album's sound to 10,000 Days. Both by the same engineer (Joe Barresi), but it sounds a little less "slammed" and in your face, especially the drums. Breathes a bit more.
All the songs off this album are a complete trip in concert. "Pneuma" brought me to tears it's so amazing. Hope you enjoy this album!
Same for me too. A balance between crying for your soul and raising your arms to heaven thanking God for having heard such a song!
Seeing Tool live in May really cemented to me how incredible this album is. They opened with this and it was a bold move but completely mind blowing in its delivery
Yeah live this album fried my brain
I wouldn't say I was "disappointed" when this album came out, but I was a bit underwhelmed during my first listen (with the exception of a couple tracks). This album has definitely grown on me over time though, and continues to get better with each successive listen.
Musically this album is amazing. Lyrically it's definitely not my favorite
When I first listened to it, I was like yeah its aight, but after having it on loop a few times while driving and just chilling as background, I came to realise that most of this album is complete awesomeness and easily challenges all their previous work which I am a massive fan of, some of my favourite songs of all time on Fear Inoculum, I start every single day with Invincible while winding into my work day. I mean there's a couple of instrumental throwaway songs but the rest, masterpieces.
As a Tool fan whose favorite album is Undertow, I absolutely love what they accomplished with this album. Justin is the star of the show for me, and I am looking forward to your reaction to Descending.
"Maynard sounds so good I wanna cry" the soundscape, the complete package, the companion!
Part off the reason this album is so great is that everyone has their place where they shine!
This album let’s all of the members shine in every track. The musicianship is so incredible on this album. Get ready for Pnuema!!!
My favorite track on this installment of TOOL is Descending. This track just resonates in my soul !!!
But seriously, when was the last time you heard “Allegorical Elegy” used in any song ???
EPIC !!!
Yess !!! I get the same feeling with Descending. My All time favourite song ever . I’ve never had a relationship with a song before
@@trentsutton896, I feel like that, I get the chills when Danny hits that gong !!!
I have been a massive tool fan for about 20 years now. This album didnt really click with me until the second listen, and now i think its a flipping masterpiece.
have fun
The mix is amazing. I love how good Justin's bass sounds and how all the instruments are clearly identifiable and don't bleed into each other
Right! The mixing and production is key, Lateralus has been my favorite in this until Fear Inoculum came along
I remember the hair on my arms standing straight up after hearing the first note. Words can't describe how long 13 years feels waiting for your favorite band to drop new material.
I love how Maynard says mitosis to split the song in half. He’s so methodical in everything that he does .He sounds like an angel on this album.
This song live is better than the recorded version...only TOOL can achieve that 🔥 also, I'm not sure what people expected. Dudes are older now; it's mature Tool! This is as equal a masterpiece as their other work.
One thing that is so amazing about this song and album is the production, as you mentioned. It is top-freaking-notch. The amount of space and dynamics are incredible.
I was learning witchy stuff from a friend of mine around the time this single came out. When I dove deep into it, I realized it was a Banishment Spell! It's gorgeous for a banishment spell too. He's banishing fear.
It’s so fun watching someone hear this for the first time. It’s a really phenomenal journey.
For me this is my Favourite album. I’ve listened to it everyday since it’s release. Something about it gets me
I remember listening to this song for the first time in the radio and it was the first song I heard from the album. I was reacting to listening like a teenage girl listening to her favorite boy band. As each band member came into the song one by one, I was like “Go Danny”!!! “Go Justin”!… “OMG Adam!”… I Love you Maynard”!
Keep in mind the advances in technology in the last 13 years that affect what you are hearing. The synth pads that Danny uses to instantly generate different drumming sounds were much more primitive circa 10,000 Days. The ability to mix is similarly improved. Finally, MJK is in such a different place now than he ever was before. He seems grounded, centered, a happy husband and father. The lyrics reflect this.
I love this album. As a hardcore fan I felt like this was the I wanted after Lateralus. I love Danny on this one and I feel that Maynard brought some APC and Puscifer tonality into this one. It rekindled my Tool fire and lit the fire for my 12 year old son.
I'm so excited to witness your Fear Inoculum journey, it feels like I've been waiting for it ever since the beginning of your TOOL journey! In my opinion it's their best sounding, most mature, and most cohesive album to date. I've lost count of how many times I've listened to it from beginning to end. Truly a masterpiece.
When I first pressed play on this album after a 13-year wait, I was beyond excited and almost afraid to finally hear this album. The album had been pushed back year after year, with rumors of a release date always proving to be false. So I didn't even believe the album was going to be real and come out until I saw the pre-orders become available. But the time had come, and I laid back on my couch, headphones on, eyes closed, and was immediately transported to another dimension with this song! The whole album is very hypnotizing, immense, complex, beautiful, and powerful, and it's my favorite by TOOL. I think I've heard it over 200 times, and I'm still catching new things! When you start memorizing all the complex polyrhythms of each instrument and can follow the time signature changes, it gets even better. I've been absolutely loving your journey since the beginning, and it's been quite a few months of waiting for you to get to this album. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Ha, first paragraph, me too !
Totally NOT disappointed.
May be their best, so hard to say.
👋 Me too! Listened 1st time with headphones, in dark, and after everyone went to bed. I was transported, waves of calm, centered, realizing our potential and mortality. Tears! Quite the masterpiece. Saw them 5 times on FI tour. Experiencing songs from this album live was just simply transporting. Was lucky to see 3 of the shows 2nd row (my gift to myself) and was so damn greatful to be alive and experiencing these amazing artists. ❤️
@@daniccrn stop boasting, badtard !.....
Lol, I'm jealous
@@kennethalbert4653 I did one show in 2020. Figured I am an old lady @ 59 and wouldn't ever have the chance again if I had to wait another 13 years! So I worked my ass off to save for my 4 show pilgrimage in 2022. My amazing husband totally supported my trek. So greatful I had means and opportunity to do it ❤️🤘
@@daniccrn I've seen them a few times. Just wanted to bust balls :)
I did not see FI tour tho :(
10,000 days was more of a social commentary then a step back for me also just an album to dedicate to his mother, this is easily their most progressive album they’ve ever done, and their best production, it’s very meditative, the albums concept is exactly the title to inoculate fear, if you play the album top to bottom all the way through you get the light to dark path, but if you play in reverse bottom to top starting with tempest you get the dark into light path, it’s all about duality and Alex Greys painting called DMTurner, there’s a lot to explain but that’s the gist of it, my third favorite album of all time, it’s truly remarkable how tight they play and how much their musicianship progressed on this album, descending is definitely my favorite but I love every single tack, Tool doesn’t even have one okay track in my eyes they are all 10/10 🌀
This was the single released around a month before the album dropped, so it was the first new Tool song fans got in 13 years and a teaser for the rest of the album. Just about the same time they also cleared up whatever legal issue they had been dealing with for a while and finally made all the previous songs available on streaming services.
When the album first came out, I just couldn't help but smile when listening to it for the first couple weeks.
Yep, then all tool albums went to the top of spotify at the same time.
Been waiting patiently for this 🦻🏻. What a coincidence of this first track to come out before the virus hit. Is Maynard a fortune teller ? As always thank you brother 🌀🤙🏻🫶🏼
This song got me through some very rough times. The timing of its release was honestly the best I could've asked for. Came out near the end of 2019, and to me the song is about targeting the toxicity in your life and getting rid of it. I took that message to heart and dropped off of most social media and made it my goal to eliminate any toxic relationships or toxic interactions. Going into 2020 that turned out to be the best thing I could've ever done for myself. Inoculate yourself against fear, don't let it turn you toxic.
SAME!!
Same here, man
Nicely done Skullz, as usual. I've been firmly in the "this album was absolutely worth the wait" category since first listen. I was actually surprised when I heard some people were disappointed. I try not to be all "chest out" about my Tool fandom because thats silly and I also get that many people are emotional about Tool for many different reasons. For me, this album feels like my favorite band stole the thoughts from my head and set them to beautiful music. Many of their songs have made me cry for different reasons but this album makes me cry and I don't even know I'm doing it. Its the emotion in the soundscapes backdropping lyrics like "we are...one spark. Eyes full of wonder" or "one...drive...to...stay alive!" just completely disarm me. I decided long ago that picking my "favorite" Tool album is like trying to pick a favorite kid. I love them all for different reasons and I feel lucky to have listened to them since I was 15.
So excited for you, glad you loved this track. The whole album is like a tool (😀) for enlightenment. Thanks for this one, Pneuma next week 🤘
After seeing you go through your Tool journey I think it's clear that your reactions have more 'song meanings' attributes and I like that. Lyrics are super important with Tool, and for you to also reflect on Maynard's perspective in your analysis has been enjoyable. Only 3 years since Fear Inoculum came out. So only 10 more years til the next /sarcasm. lol.
One of the greatest album openers ever, this song has gotten me through so much, “Purge me and evacuate the venom and the fear that binds me.” 🌀 it’s so crazy that this song came out only 6 months before covid hit, they had lyrics depicting some kind of plague, the logo that turns into a syringe when you fold it in half, the covid cells on the CD, they knew something was around the corner 👀
Contagion I exhale you, calculating steps away from you. Spun me out when social distancing and masks came in.
This song is in my tool top 5. What a belter.
Especially the bridge part, “exercise the spectacle…”
100% this album came out at such a BLESSED time. I certainly blessed myself with the immunity that this album provided me. And like you said, who KNEW that it'd become such a much needed source of mental support before 2020 hit.
Haven't seen the syringe yet, nice!
Yes... please!! I've been waiting you to start this one.... in my opinion ..their best one... but I love all their stuff! Good call boss man! .. righteousness!! This entire lp draws you in an takes you on a journey... so melodic... it absorbs you inner being!! Thank you Skullz...
This album has a sampling of their whole catalog. Just in this song, there are parts that would be right at home on Lateralus and Ænima. Even the vocal section starting at 12:00 could be from something Maynard would have done with Puscifer. By the way, a lot of those percussion sounds at the beginning are done with Tablas.
FINALLY!! Cant wait to see you go through this album, its definitely a grower, just like a fine wine. Considering this album came out before the whole dark time we dont speak of, this album was an inoculation for me and definitely got me through the times ahead. Notice how if you fold the name TooL on the album cover in half with the L meeting the T it creates a syringe 💉 and also Mitosis is the division of a cell into en exact copy, the word is thrown in there at the exact half way mark of the song. 🤯
oh brother, if you appreciate a good mix... this album is IN-CRED-IBLE. The louder you turn it up the better it sounds! Props to "Evil" Joe Barresi on the mix.
the word mitosis ( the splitting of cells ) lands at the exact center of the song
To me Fear Inoculum album is the next logical step after Lateralus instead of 10,000 Days. The evolution makes more sense. Great album! You’ll enjoy it. To me it’s emotional for people that are growing older… which is everybody lol but for people that are entering a next stage of life… believe me it’ll get you
Deffo mate. I agree. 10,000 days feels pre lateralus. And this more post lateralus.
I feel like 10,000 Days is sort of a setback, after losing a loved one, spiraling down the hole a little. FI is the following growth from pain, so I guess 10kDays is just in it’s right place
@@hallelgreenspan8565 True I like that 👍🏻
Yep, Invincible hits me there.
Disagree pretty strongly. While in Lateralus there was definitely a strong spiritual progression, 10k Days was realizing that you’re still attached to these pretty dark places that pull you down. Just because you’ve found some strong new perspective doesn’t make you immune to the worlds whims. Fi is now taking all of that history and turning it into tangible wisdom.
Mike Priestap
2 minutes ago
I have watched your reactions, and I started with Tool. I checked your others. You and me brother, react the same way to Tool. I live alone. I am 36 years old. I have loved Tool forever. I listen to all music, anything I can get my hands on. But I agree, I dont know how this band keeps doing it. They are eternal, they are glorious. Skullz, your reaction, but mostly your interpretation of all of the Tool Albums is unmatched. Vocal pros, composers, drummers, whatever, these cats cant match your reactions and insights are by far the closest to mine and it means so much to me. So thank you sir.
I love FI as much as all other Tool's LPs. They are all different. Kind of like how you love your children in different ways. It's not a competition, they all have different personalities. For those who don't like FI because it's different then they're other albums, thank God artists like Tool don't just imitate their previous work. FI is more sophisticated, grown up, and polished. I love it.
Next masterpiece this album is. The kind of album we needed in the dark times when he could’ve easily fed the darkness. Eerily This song was written before cataclysmic event happening in 2020…
Skullz,I love this song, its empowering, faith strengthening and illuminating. Its just so good! Maynard with his voice of an angel, Danny, Adam, Justin and the lyrics! A visual meditation of overcoming fear, in a sense, giving the middle
finger to fear. And the timing of this album was so perfect! 2020 was so uncertain and chaotic, definitely a time of distress. Fear Inoculum helped change my prospective and conquer fear. Seeing TOOL perform this song live, I have no
words, I just cried. Thank you Skullz much love 💚🌵 BLESS THIS IMMUNITY
So glad you loved this and identified it as an evolutionary step forward for the band. I stand by my opinion that it’s their best work. I think those who were “disappointed” were looking for more of the same/familiar. This album transcends that.
Finally!!! Have been waiting for this for so long. I’ve found this album really is more a soundscape than typical lyrical songs. Took quite a few repeated listens to really appreciate and understand it. And completely agree it’s quite a subdued intro, but buckle up and enjoy the ride because it’ll absolutely blow your mind ☺️
This song lures you in with the hypnotic sounds at first and you are in a translike status and before you notice you are in the middle of the storm and don´t know what hit you and at the end you are left breathless.
I love this song. It’s like a tour of everything Tool has to offer.
Hey everybody, remember when this record dropped and crushed Taylor Swifts record release?
As a 40 something old guy, it was endlessly entertaining to hear teenagers ask "who are these TOOL guys?, never heard of them. Are they new?"
It was honestly amazing
Oh yeah the cherry on top
LFG! So stoked the video got moved back to Tool Tuesday, it’s my birthday today, thanks for the gift Skullz! 😊🤘🌀
These guys are so awesome. Thank God they found each other
I absolutely love how with this album Maynard kinda took a small step back and let the other 3 just speak for themselves....basically him just saying "so yall have been begging for 13 years so here ya go...SPIRAL OUT!"
Earlier this year, I felt out of sync with my body. My health seemed to have left me all of the sudden without warning. Catching up with your lateralus discussions really added to the week in a big way. Thank you!
Oh man I'm so excited for this one. While lateralus is my favorite tool song, this is my favorite tool album.
Very interested to hear your thoughts on what the songs are trying to tell the listener, have fun skullz!
When Maynard says the word “Mitosis” it is exactly halfway thru the song and it means a cell dividing in half. 🤯
This album feels more like a master looking back on his past ordeals and reflecting and teaching what he has come to known. Tool (both band members and production team) seem to be at their peak in terms of creativity and skill in this album. Also, I find that this album has a sort of political commentary to it. Fear Inoculum (song) can be taken as someone looking past what popular media is telling them and seeing the lies that they've been spewing for years. Exhaling their contagion of fear and excorsizing them from their body and mind. Descending and 7empest also go into another foreground of the political landscape. Just something to keep in mind as you continue with the album
Will always remember the night that I listen to this album for the first time. They drop it at midnight. Me and my friend, we promise each others that we'll first listen to this album together. I see the drop on RUclips and i saw my friend online.. We start the album simultaneously, keeping contact on Messenger for chating.. was an awesome night! 🤟 My first tought of this album.. Danny at 59 years old, he just drum is life.. like he can't provide if he's able to play that tight in 5 or 6 years. Amazing performance of him, and of all the members 🤟
Tx like always for the react!
I had a hard time getting into the album but that was how I felt for all of them, they are works of art and I feel like it takes time... but once I saw them live in Ireland back in May I was like OK this album is SICK!!!
YES! Can't wait, my dude!
This is Danny’s best drum performance on an album. Didn’t think it was possible but he topped himself on this album. His drums really pop out of the mix and are monumental
As a fan from the beginning, I grew with them. This is my favorite album as a mature human.
My personal favorite T👀L album. 👍
Let’s fucking go! Thank you for doing this journey with us. It’s been a pleasure!
The entire album has this vibe-Enjoy the ride
This song, to me, functions as an overture in an opera: it’s one piece that kind of encapsulates the entire album. The art on your shirt is one half of the album artwork called “The Great Turn” by Alex Grey. It shows a being that is connected at their torsos and each have their own heads and arms. One side is a “light” side and one is a “dark” side. I hear the album moving from the light side of the art (Pneuma) moving to the dark side (7empest). The song Fear Inoculum does a good job of demonstrating this: beginning more subdued and calm and progressively getting more intense, dark, and aggressive with that literal halfway point at the lyric “mitosis.” The song “Descending” functions in the same way. The first half of the song being kind of a last grasp at holding onto that light, and the second half being aggressive instrumentals.
The timing is fun in this album. “Exorcise the malady” section is 11/8 in the instruments beneath Maynard singing in 7/8. 7empest is in 21 the whole way thru 😅
Your the best at tool reactions. I've been listening to them for about 30 years now because I love the band now I love them even more because listening to you now I know how deep your lyrics are. The most amazing band ever!!
Descending is absolutely amazing
A Tool album arrives neither late nor early. It arrives precisely when it means to.
I told you my friend. It’s definitely a grown up TOOL. It is a fuckin ride man. Just buckle up and hang on. Love the reactions. Can’t wait for the next.
I agree with you on 10,000 days. For me the evolution from Anaema to Lateralus to Fear Innoculum is beautiful and why they are 3 of my favourite albums ever (held in equal regards as each feeds a different portion of my soul!)
Damn Skullz I'm really glad you're getting this perception early in life. I'm really looking forward to your thorough analysis of Pneuma's lyrics.
One breath, One spark.
Spiral out, Skullz.
Cool. I started my TOOL journey with this album and worked backwards.
Again tool do it again.familiar but new experimentation with sound i love it.pnumea is my.probably my fav tool song to date
My Wednesday arvo session is now a Friday?? This is the one we've all been waiting for, I can wait..... hope you have fun with it, Skullz. See you in a couple of days 🌀
The fact that this album came out just as COVID 19 did just amazes me. Like most people I had unlimited time to dive into this album and I feel like it was a vaccine against all the madness that has happened in these couple years. I just hope our society reaches its own "pneuma" point and realizes we are all one. To be malicious to any part of society is to cause harm to all society. Thank you Tool for showing how progress is possible, even for those of us who are "angry metal-heads" like myself :) Thank you Skullz and all the others for spreading awareness about this precious national treasure.
Rocking that t-shirt ..absolutely phenomenal an always enjoy your incredible reactions thanku so much love and God bless always x
I’m here for it ! 🎶😉🌀🤘🏽so good skullz 💀
I seen there last show in the U.S in New Orleans before the pandemic hit. They came back again in 21 i think and i went to see them again. I seen them 8 times so far.
You are going to love this album and I can’t wait for you to hear Culling Voices.
Hey skullz.skulls.. don't know if anyone mentioned this.. when he sings the lyric,, "Mitosis"...(meaning loosely to divide) is exactly the halfway mark of the song. I look at this song as a tale of two hands. Pre mitosis...post mitosis.
The hand drum sounds are either tabla (the famous Indian hand drum) or tabla samples played through his mandala pads.
This takes me back to the excitement of hearing new Tool after a 13 year hiatus. What a great day it was
I was bummed out when this album finally came out. It was not the album I was expecting and it took me like 3 years for just some of it to grow on me. I think most of the songs are way too long and don't actually go anywhere, but at this point, I enjoy listening to Pneuma, Descending, and 7empest (like the first 8 minutes, anyway)
This whole album has a lot of Undertow vibes built into it - with a nice, 25-year upgrade.
Looking forward to your reaction to Descending. I consider it Tool's second best song after Lateralus.
Subbed from your first Tool reaction. Been amazing watching your journey. Kinda bitter sweet, not gonna lie. Thanks for the memories.
Let's f'n go baby
Great album it’s like a mixture of all there albums.
Thankyou once again
Couldn't wait to start this album
The more you listen to this, it will grow substantially.
This song got me thru the first few months of covid anxiety to be honest lol.
First time seeing one of your videos. I really enjoyed this and agree with so much you had to say. Tool is one of my all time favorite bands. I would have to say this and lateralus are without a doubt my 2 favorite tool albums. This whole album is great and such a masterpiece. I feel a lot of times this song gets over looked. Great album look forward to watching you listen to rest of it.
Interesting little detail. The word Mitosis is placed at the exact centre of the song, essentially splitting the song in two.
“Contagion I exhale you” “Bless this immunity” on a track and album called Fear Inocullum that came out in 2019??? Tool has always been ahead of the curve, and I find it very interesting that these words were used less than 6 months before the world came to halt because of fear…fear of the air, of even exhaling, fear of our immunity, and basing the future of our freedom on an inoculation. Fear was the most destructive virus in the last 3years, and one that we are still just beginning to realize the damage from. Musically FI is unmatched…I don’t love the choices Maynard made, but those choices are indicative of his maturity and abilities changing on a journey into middle age. I just can’t help but wonder what FI would sound like with young angry Maynard behind the lyrics and the mic🤔.
Regarding Maynard's song lyrics, your reflections are very insightful and enjoyable to listen to. A lot of what you say has been thought provoking and I agree Maynard's lyrics do reflect his personal journey. IMO, I do feel we spiral through life and even as we ascend, we spiral through the good moments and the bad. So although 10,000 days was darker, the sentiments were different. Instead of primarily anger, it was more just a description with grim 'acceptance' or 'coming to terms' or 'observations'. In this latest album, her has spiralled out into a more positive vibe. One of a sharing of wisdom gained through experience. 'Encouragement' is the theme, as with Lateralus.
As to their music, I am yet to get any of their songs on the first go and am amazed at how much you pick up on the first go. All their songs have a basic tempo that is maintained throughout and it can be fun not only discovering that tempo, but to stay with it and listen to how amazingly they each 'decorate' that basic tempo with different rhythms that are separate but yet, together since they do follow that basic tempo. I think that these variations in rhythm around a basic tempo not only makes their sound so interesting, but also gives their sound amazing body considering that only three instruments are being played. They are like a jazz band in that no single musician keeps the tempo throughout a song, a duty normally taken by the drummer or rhythm guitarist. They take turns doing this, including Maynard with his singing. This makes for an amazing sound. Their jazz-like sound is heard during the long musical interludes that occur in their songs.
All of the songs, and I mean, ALL the songs I was not particularly interested in on the first listen, are among my favourites. These guys are masters and I equally love all of them for what they do to making Tool what it is sonically and lyrically. Happy listening. I see that the big one is next, i.e., 7empest!! Happy listening.
Can’t wait for Tempest