TOOL - Fear Inoculum: Every Song Ranked From Worst To Best
5. Fear Inoculum
The only track to get an official release in the build-up to 30 August, "Fear Inoculum" was (and still is) like greeting an old friend for the first time in, well, 13 years.
There's an air of familiarity around the title track. It sounds just like the band you knew before, but different, with its soft, slow-building atmosphere, Danny Carey's tribal rhythm, and Maynard ate his gentlest. The frontman is outstanding from the very first note. His tones satiny and lyrics allegorical, his verses are beautiful.
"Fear Inoculum" puts the listener in precisely the right state of mind to relax, lean back, and take the album in. Its chorus is particularly effective, with the "exhale, expel" vocal succeeded beyond Keenan's intended message. Exhale, dear listener. Take that deep, relaxed breath and expel your concerns, because Tool are back.
The track twists off into a new direction after roughly six minutes. It threatens to erupt and there's real tension at nine minutes as the intensity ramps up, but while the release is there, it's still restrained. Tool don't need to empty the chamber this early, after all.