Quoted from Ricochet:

This album feels very different from anything they've done. I say "feels" because there is a lot of familiar with this release. They've brought all of their usual rhythms and riffs but what really has stuck out for me is Danny Carey's drumming on this album... it's more musical. He has his drums tuned distinctly, you're not just getting thuds and cracks (although there is plenty of that)... loads of rapid fire taps on "musical" percussive pads really adds to the melody of these songs (Pneuma). Jone's guitar is clean and aggressive (Tempest)... I swear his Les Paul sounds like a Strat on this album.... I'm feeling like I hear some James Young in there somewhere (CullingVoices). A lot of the guitar has an old school 70s hard rock feel to it to me. It may be just the way its produced... its certainly very tight and clean. Keyboards are new... gives the album a soundtrack feel... I like this. Chancellor's bass has really become the glue of the band in my opinion. As always I really think his synth bass makes the tool sound. Maynard's voice is recorded with less mixing effects on this one. There are some ... but I think its actually a smart move on his part. Reality is that age gets to the vocal chords... and the more you try to dress it up in production you end up killing your ability to perform live. So you're not getting that Maynard scream... anywhere on this album. It feels more intimate, close and in front of the instruments. It's actually pretty cool
Love this album, its a bit gentler than past Tool albums. It's more cohesive than 10,000 days for sure. Its impossible not to compare new vs. old, especially with so much time passing between the last release of 10,000 days. That being said, of all the tracks on Fear Inoculum Tempest has a genuine old-school Tool sound ... it sounds like it came right off of Opiate. But overall, most of this album genuinely feels new.....ish.
Tool remains my favorite modern band, they have solidly been in that spot for me for as long as they have been around, so objectivity for me... well its not easy. For the longest time, Lateralus has been my favorite album. A few years ago I changed my opinion on that and Aenima moved to the top of the list for me. Right now... this one is somewhere between Lateraus and Aenima... probably behind Lateralus. 10,000 days although it has some killer tracks sits behind them. They are all great so putting them in order is kind of pointless for me... but if I had to at the moment thats where this one sits... that may change.