Seems funny this album is called Fear Inoculum because as a TOOL fan waiting many years for the new album who hasn’t been afraid of this album sucking? Thankfully the boys blessed us with this immunity against shitty music and absolutely knocked it out of the park. Likely their last new content studio album but we can say resoundingly; it’s fucking good.

The album

Each song seems to wrap flavors of TOOL from all angles. Fear Inoculum kicks off reminding us of the venom in mania, representing the mass mania and how destructive it’s become. Challenges are made in Descending telling us as a species how we must overcome and survive. Invincible reminding us old TOOL heads how far long it’s been and how tired we’ve become still being warriors. Instrumental songs come in to cleanse our palates and move us to the next face melting, soul searching and finally closing the loops our our journey with this amazing band. Topped off with the last two electronica type drum focused and ending, I was left wondering if Danny truly made a deal with an alchemist to be able to drum like none other. But there’s a fineness such as a wine that ages.

The concerts

I’ve had the chance to see them twice in the past week, Philly and Atlantic City. As a live band, they killed it each show. These guys at 50 do better than any band I’ve seen or heard. Justin had food poisoning and could likely have been shitting himself on stage in AC, but showed up and killed it. If this is indeed their last run live, I got to see them twice and it’s something I’ll always remember. If I died tomorrow I would have ended my run as a TOOL fan with two live shows within a week. It’s very apropos and as a fan this is a band that will never ever be replicated. I’ve been blessed not with the immunity Maynard spoke of but being alive and having the ability to experience this band through the end of my High School years to now my mid 40’s. Each song from their albums will always audibly connect my memory to ups, downs, highs and lows of the last 30 years of my life. This may sound like a Eulogy but it’s just a reflection of the great years these guys have sacrificed to produce and provide us with not only entertainment, but life-long connections that we’ll share as fans to our friends, kids, family, and anyone who will listen.

The sappiness

Not that I feel my shitty blog ever has a chance to be see by the band, but if they ever did, I’d say I’ve never been rich enough to see them via VIP experiences, by luck in the cities they’ve played in, but they’ve been a critical piece of my life for most of my life. I appreciate all you do, you’ve enhanced my life and many others.

Thanks for the ride boys..