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 BillboardMainstream 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]
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]
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]
