Pneuma (song)

Last updated
"Pneuma"
Single by Tool
from the album Fear Inoculum
ReleasedApril 4, 2020
Genre Progressive metal
Length11:53
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Joe Barresi
Tool singles chronology
"Fear Inoculum"
(2019)		"Pneuma"
(2020)		"Opiate²"
(2022)

"Pneuma" is a song by American rock band Tool, released as their second single on April 4, 2020 off of their fifth studio album Fear Inoculum . It peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart.

Contents

Background

The song was first released on the band's fifth studio album, Fear Inoculum on August 30, 2019; it was not a song that had been teased or played live prior to the album's release. [1] [2] It was first performed live in mid-October of the same year at the Aftershock Festival. [3] The song was released as the second single from the album in early 2020, and spent twenty weeks on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart, peaking at number 15. [4]

Band members gave the song particular attention, with publications noting members releasing extra footage of the song, including a specific "drummer-cam" video of drummer Danny Carey performing his parts of the song, and guitarist Adam Jones releasing a guitar-tutorial on how to play the last verse's guitar riff. [5] [6] This was considered rare, with the band usually being cryptic and generally withholding information from the public. [7]

Composition and themes

The song was described as having a mellow start that builds in intensity over the course of its eleven-minute playtime. The track has multiple lengthy instrumental interludes, some parts focusing on drumming, others on guitar parts. It was described as "atmospheric" and "trippy", while containing "middle-eastern" styled drumming. [8] Jones describes the song's guitar part as "not difficult to play, but very satisfying". [9] He also noted that Justin Chancellor's bass riff "stays on the original [guitar] riff so there are some nice little conflicting moments between the two parts". [10]

Thematically, the song is titled after the Greek term for spirit or soul, pneuma, and contains many allusions to "breathing". [11]

Reception

The song was noted as a standout track from the Fear Inoculum album. [12] [7] Revolver described Danny Carey's drumming on the track as "jaw-dropping" and "almost supernatural". [12] Metal Injection praised Carey's performance as "absolutely slaying". [13] Loudwire noted the song had become a favorite among the band's fanbase as well. [14]

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "Pneuma"
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [15] 78
Ireland (IRMA) [16] 84
UK Rock & Metal (OCC) [17] 8
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [18] 4
US Rock Airplay ( Billboard ) [19] 31

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References

  1. ↑ "See Tool Play "Pneuma," "Fear Inoculum" Live For First Time at Aftershock". Revolver. October 14, 2019.
  2. ↑ Parker, James (August 24, 2019). "The Persistent Complexity of Tool". The Atlantic.
  3. ↑ "Tool Performs 'Fear Inoculum' and 'Pneuma' Live for the First Time". October 16, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Tool". Billboard.
  5. ↑ Munro, Scott (May 4, 2020). "Play along to Tool's Pneuma with Adam Jones". loudersound.
  6. ↑ Laing, Rob (May 2, 2020). "Tool guitarist Adam Jones shows you how to play the riff to Pneuma". MusicRadar.
  7. 1 2 "Tool's Adam Jones shares guitar playthrough tutorial for "Pneuma": Watch". May 4, 2020.
  8. ↑ Hartmann, Graham. "Tool's 'Fear Inoculum' Album - What to Expect During Your First Listen". Loudwire.
  9. ↑ Bienstock, Richard (May 4, 2020). "Learn to play Tool's Pneuma, straight from Adam Jones himself". guitarworld.
  10. ↑ "Learn How To Play Tool's Pneuma With Guitarist Adam Jones". Kerrang!.
  11. ↑ "Music Review: Tool's 'Fear Inoculum' Album". NPR.org.
  12. 1 2 "See Tool's Danny Carey Play "Pneuma" in Stunning Drum Cam Video". Revolver. March 12, 2020.
  13. ↑ Kennelty, Greg. "TOOL Posts Full Live Drum Playthrough Of "Pneuma"". Metal Injection.
  14. ↑ Schaffner, Lauryn. "Watch Tool Play 'Pneuma' + 'Fear Inoculum' Live for First Time". Loudwire.
  15. ↑ "ARIA Chart Watch #541". auspOp. September 7, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Tool discography". IRMA . Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. September 6, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Tool Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Tool Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard . Retrieved October 15, 2023.
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