We have an album title (Fear Inoculum). We have an album cover (a cryptic, spiraling multitude of disembodied eyes). We have a release date (August 30th). We even have relatively high-quality fan-shot videos of the band playing two new songs ("Descending" and "Invincible"). But what Tool fans haven't had — and have all been eagerly awaiting — is actual studio-recorded, final-product music off the band's first album in 13 goddamn years.
Well, that all changed today as the group finally dropped a legit single off Fear Inoculum, specifically, the LP's title cut, and it is well worth the wait, over 10 epic minutes of dense riffage and complex time signatures, prog-metal movements upon movements, all topped, of course, by Maynard James Keenan's un-replicable vocals.
The album Fear Inoculum also finally became available for pre-order, and the details of its extravagant deluxe packaging have been revealed. The collectible, limited-edition CD offering — conceived by and directed by Tool guitarist Adam Jones — features a 4-inch HD rechargeable screen with exclusive video footage, charging cable, two-watt speaker, a 36-page booklet and a digital download card. A vinyl release will be announced soon, as well.
