Fear Inoculum (song)

"Fear Inoculum"
Single by Tool
from the album Fear Inoculum
Released	August 7, 2019
Recorded	2018
Genre	Progressive metal[1]
Length	10:21
Label	Tool Dissectional Volcano RCA[2]
Songwriter(s)	Danny Carey Justin Chancellor Adam Jones Maynard James Keenan
Producer(s)	Joe Barresi
Tool singles chronology
"Jambi" (2007) "Fear Inoculum" (2019) "Pneuma" (2020)

"Fear Inoculum" is a song by American rock band Tool. The song was released as the title track and lead single from their fifth studio album Fear Inoculum. It was released on August 7, 2019, the first new Tool song since the release of their previous album 10,000 Days.[3] Upon its debut on the Billboard Hot 100, "Fear Inoculum" broke the Guinness World Record for the longest song ever to chart on the Hot 100, overtaking David Bowie's "Blackstar", until André 3000 broke the record again in 2023 with "I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a 'Rap' Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time".[4][5]

Reception

Loudwire described the song as having "Middle Eastern drum patterns" and called it a "slow burn building to big, cathartic crescendos". They also praised Keenan's vocals, noting the lyrics "seem to address a rejection of fear and negativity from outside sources."[3] Loudersound described the song as "a lengthy, polyrhythmic song that slowly reveals its secrets. A carefully calculated trip that nevertheless hits emotional pressure points."[6] Metalsucks praised the song's mixing, Carey's drumming and Jones's guitar tone.[7] It was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 2020 Grammy Awards.[8]

Chart performance

The song debuted at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100, the band's first entry since "Schism" in 2001, and became the longest song in the chart's history to make an entry, breaking the record held by David Bowie's "Blackstar".[9][10][11] It debuted on the Billboard Top Rock Songs chart at number 4 on the August 17 release.[12]

Personnel

• Maynard James Keenan – vocals
• Adam Jones – guitar
• Justin Chancellor – bass
• Danny Carey – drums, percussion

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Fear Inoculum" Chart (2019) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 68 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[14] 7 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 76 Canada Rock (Billboard)[16] 25 France (SNEP Sales Chart)[17] 130 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 40 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[19] 3 Scotland (OCC)[20] 76 UK Singles Sales (OCC)[21] 62 UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[22] 58 UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[23] 24 US Billboard Hot 100[24] 93 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[25] 3 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[26] 11

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Fear Inoculum" Chart (2019) Position US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[27] 36

References

1. "6 Best New Songs Right Now". Revolver. August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
2. Shoemaker, Whitney. "Tool Catalog Finally Hits Streaming Platforms Ahead of New Album". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
3. DiVita, Joe. "Tool Release First New Song in 13 Years 'Fear Inoculum'". Loudwire.
4. World Records
5. Trust, Gary (November 28, 2023). "André 3000 Breaks Hot 100 Record With 12-Minute, 20-Second Hit From New Album". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
6. Hammer, Eleanor Goodman2019-08-07T14:08:29Z Metal. "The first reaction to Tool's new single Fear Inoculum". Metal Hammer Magazine.
7. "Ten Random Thoughts on Tool's New Song "Fear Inoculum"". MetalSucks. August 7, 2019.
8. "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List". Retrieved November 20, 2019.
9. "Tool's New Single Makes Chart History; 'Ænima' Album Re-Enters Billboard 200 At No. 10". Blabbermouth.net. August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
10. "The Longest & Shortest Hot 100 Hits: From Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce & David Bowie to Piko-Taro". Billboard.
11. Cadiente, Tim. "Tool's 'Fear Inoculum' Breaks Record As Longest Billboard Hot 100 Hit & First to Run More Than 10 Minutes". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
12. "Top Rock Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
13. "ARIA Chart Watch #538". auspOp. August 17, 2019. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
14. "Tool – Fear Inoculum" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
15. "Tool Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
16. "Tool Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
17. "Tool - Fear Inoculum". PureMédias (in French).
18. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
19. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 12, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
21. "Official Singles Sales Chart". Official Charts Company. August 9, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
22. "Official Singles Downloads Chart". Official Charts Company. August 9, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
23. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
24. "Tool Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
25. "Tool Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
26. "Tool Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
27. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2020.