"Perhaps whenever the podcast goes live Keenan will explain the album title (which is probably self-explanatory, to be honest).... But mostly look forward to new Tool music, and old Tool music through new channels. Until then, if you are hankering for some Tool, revisit our Ænima retrospective or watch footage of the band performing new songs because either option is a lot more fun than reading about Tool's excruciating path to Fear Inoculum.

— Chris DeVille, Stereogum, 29 July, 2019

"Microorganisms such as yeast or bacteria play a vital role in the process of fermentation. Fermentation requires a substrate, a fermenter, an inoculum and favorable environmental conditions."

— Consumer Reports Review, 9 July 2019