10 Best Hard Rock Albums Since 2010
5. Tool - Fear Inoculum
Some said it wouldn't happen. Some said it couldn't happen. Just as the metal faithful started to not get their hopes up, Tool came roaring back from their 13 year studio album silence to grace us with new music once again. And to say they went all out would be an understatement.
Across Fear Inoculum, the band prove that their unique brand of metallic rock has not lost its luster during that absence. The songs that run through the album often eclipse 10 minutes, but each of them are absolutely spellbinding musical feats from the incredible effects of Adam Jones to Justin Chancellor's thick basslines. This record is also one of the best showcases for Danny Carey's drumming as he shuffles through time signatures with the greatest of ease. Sitting above it all is Maynard's vocals, which are great reflections on how to make sense of fear and panic while leaving in the modern world.
The idea of Tool releasing new music seemed like a distant fantasy just a few years ago, but Fear Inoculum is one of those albums that proves that miracles are real. An absolute essential for anyone who considers themselves a fan of metal, prog, or just rock in general.