Alright, I said I'd give a review but I've really been slacking. Forgive me for it's the beginning of the school year and my wife and I welcomed twins two weeks ago.
My personal opinion: this might be TOOL's best work and my favorite TOOL album. I think there are a ton of positive things about this album and I can be honest and say there are a lot of negatives as well.
Leading up to this record, each member pretty much said, "Hey, we're almost 60. It's been 13 years, we've all changed. This is an album from a bunch of old guys who have grown since the last album." I think that is the best way to describe this album. I don't know if this album is going to do much to bring in new listeners, but for TOOL loyalists, this is exactly what we needed.
In the last 13 years since 10,000 Days, I've graduated college, moved 5+ times, gotten married, had 3 children...I'm a totally different person than I was 13 years ago. I think it's safe to say the world is also incredibly different than it was 13 years ago. Social media was just emerging when 10,000 Days came out, now it's consumed our every day lives. Fear Inoculum is an album, pardon the pun, to inoculate you from today's world and help you find your center again.
Positives:
The way these songs have movements, peaks, and valleys is an awesome growth for TOOL. Their songs have always had different movements within them, but this album takes it to a new level.
The themes hit me right in the feels, especially Invincible. "Warrior struggling to remain relevant..." I think this song might be Maynard's best lyrics.
Maynard using his singing voice throughout makes this album feel much more mature as well.
The album is HEAVY where it needs to be, and quiet where it needs to be.
As
@Al_4_State said, the ending of Pneuma is incredible. When it starts to fade out when Maynard finishes, but then cranks back up, I thought my arm hair was going to shoot off of my arm because it was standing straight up.
A lot of hate on Reddit for Chocolate Chip Trip, but I think this song is freaking incredible. Danny shows what a beast he is.
Negatives:
I personally love the song lengths, but there are definitely some that meander for the sake of meandering.
The synth parts...sound like Danny just learned how to use a synth. I'm not sure what it adds to Pneuma to be honest.
The production is super clean, which I actually like, but it means you can hear every click, pop, scratch, distortion from the transfer from analog tape to digital. 10,000 Days had the same issues. It's not a deal breaker and I usually don't hear them unless I'm looking for them.
The segues...maybe they'll grow on me.
TOOL has always been repetitive, but there are a ton of themes, riffs, melodies that carry throughout the album. I don't mind it, but it's definitely one of the negatives I've heard.
All in all, I absolutely love this album. I really hope they give it another go and we get at least one more TOOL album and sooner rather than later. I'm not going to hold my breath though. If this is truly the last album, I don't think it's an awful way to go out.