Normal Isn't Puscifer

• 1 Thrust 05:15
• 2 Normal Isn't 04:45
• 3 Bad Wolf 04:51
• 4 Self Evident 04:01
• 5 A Public Stoning 06:25
• 6 The Quiet Parts 04:49
• 7 Mantastic 04:28
• 8 Pendulum 05:16
• 9 ImpetuoUs 05:19
• 10 Seven One 05:35
• 11 The Algorithm (Sessanta Live Mix) 04:15
• Total Runtime 54:59

Info for Normal Isn't

The creative collective of Maynard James Keenan, Mat Mitchell and Carina Round as Pusicifer have confirmed the February 6th arrival of their first new full length studio album in five years, Normal Isn't. An exploration of the band's post-punk foundation, the latest collection of music combines fearless experimentation with elite level songwriting to showcase the evolving prowess of Puscifer.

Speaking of the stylistic lean of the new project, Maynard James Keenan confides, “We’re definitely leaning into our early influences. It’s the place where goth meets punk. It’s where I came from.”

Paired with the announcement of the new album, Puscifer have delivered thr first preview of the release with the debut of the track, "Self Evident". The accompanying music video was filmed during the band's especially intimate performances back in August at Exchange L.A. The intimate event gave the lucky fans in attendance an initial preview of Normal Isn't in full, letting the select fans in on the band's newest offering.

Normal Isn't was written while on and in between tour dates of Puscifer's acclaimed Sessanta stretch last year. Delving into the band's penchant for the unconventional, the newest offering expands on their dark atmospherics with electronics that make for stylized aggression. Collaborator, songwriter and co-producer Mat Mitchell explained, “From the outset, we had discussed an element of rawness and edge, which guitar brings. We got rid of the guard rails and made the music more aggressive.”

For this album, the collective members further built their democratic approach to songwriting. Carina Round explained how ideas are nurtured within the band and because everyone is moving in the same direction, the process is streamlined.

“Instead of just saying, ‘I want this to sound like Fleetwood Mac on cocaine if they had a baby with PJ Harvey,’ Maynard was showing us his intention, which was really cool,” she explains. “In Puscifer, any idea can totally change without any preciousness, and everybody is on board – not unlike an insane asylum. We found each other because we’re demented in a symbiotic way.”

Along with the core trio of Keenan, Round and Mitchell Normal Isn't also features an ensemble cast of contributors. Among the talent bolstering the release includes Greg Edwards on bass, Gunnar Olsen and Sarah Jones on drums with guests Tony Levin (bass on “Normal Isn’t” and “Seven One”), Danny Carey (drums on “Seven One”) and Mr. Ian Ross (father of Atticus Ross, who narrates “Seven One”).

Summarizing the narrative at the core of the new album, Keenan offered a simple assessment of what can be expected. “Normal Isn’t reflects this time we are living in. As storytellers and artists, our job is to observe, interpret, and report. We take in our environment and share what we see, and what we see around us does not appear normal. Not by a long shot.”

Puscifer

Puscifer
Born somewhere in the Arizona desert, Puscifer is an electro-rock band, multimedia experience, traveling circus, and alien abduction survivors.

The group’s catalog consists of four full-length studio albums: “V” is for Vagina [2007], Conditions of My Parole [2011], Money Shot [2015], and Existential Reckoning (2020) — in addition to a series of EPs and remixes.

Beyond the core trio of Maynard James Keenan [vocals], Mat Mitchell [guitar, production], and Carina Round [vocals, songwriting], the group’s ever-evolving ecosystem encompasses Greg Edwards (bass, guitar, keys), Gunnar Olsen (drums), as well as a cast of characters such as Billy D and his wife Hildy Berger, Major Douche, Special Agent Dick Merkin, and many more.

Meanwhile, the moniker’s origins can be traced to a 1995 episode of the HBO classic Mr. Show where Keenan first used the name “Puscifer.”

In addition to tallying tens of millions of streams and views, they’ve piqued the curiosity of the press. Entertainment Weekly christened them, “Exceptionally groovy,” and Revolver fittingly described them as “indescribable.” Renowned for an immersive live show, the group’s performances blur the lines between concert and theater, traversing the dusty American Southwest with Billy D and Hildy or the sweaty squared circle with Luchadores.

They’ve brought their unique live experience to life everywhere from Coachella to Bonnaroo. On their 2020 debut for Alchemy Recordings/Puscifer Entertainment/BMG entitled Existential Reckoning, Puscifer track Billy D back to the desert and, just maybe, uncover the truth about aliens once and for all.

This album contains no booklet.