Puscifer return with Normal Isn’t, their first studio album in five years, marking a clear evolution for the trio of Maynard James Keenan, Mat Mitchell and Carina Round. The record dives into the post-punk influences that shaped their early musical years, channeling them into a darker, more direct, guitar-driven sound while retaining the band’s electronic textures and sharp humor.
The album’s release is accompanied by an animated video for “Bad Wolf”, directed by AF Schepperd, reinforcing the project’s conceptual backbone. Reflecting on the song’s lyrical inspiration, Keenan explains:
“Oral tradition, the practice of passing down legends, myths and metaphors, has always fascinated me. These stories contain history, important lessons, values and social contracts. One of my favorites is the Cherokee tale of the Two Wolves, a metaphor for our inner battle between good, wise, loving choices and poor, selfish, hateful ones. The wolf that thrives is the wolf you feed.”
The release also coincides with screenings of Normal Isn’t: Puscifer Live at the Pacific Stock Exchange, capturing the album’s first-ever live performance. Filmed inside Los Angeles’ original stock exchange, the concert features a brand-new stage setup, new costumes and a graphic-heavy light show, transforming tracks like “Self Evident”, “ImpetuoUs” and “Bad Wolf” into a visceral live experience.
Recorded across Arizona, Los Angeles and on the road during the Sessanta tour, the album reflects a more spontaneous creative process. Co-producer Mat Mitchell notes:
“From the outset, we discussed an element of rawness and edge that guitar brings. We got rid of the guard rails and made the music more aggressive.”
Carina Round adds:
“Creating this album was about carving out joy as an act of necessity. Performing it live will be about manifesting connection within that joy. In a time of uncertainty and polarization, we create atmospheres, tell stories and choose exploration over convention.”
Featuring guest appearances from Greg Edwards, Gunnar Olsen, Sarah Jones, Tony Levin, Danny Carey and Ian Ross, Normal Isn’t stands as one of Puscifer’s most immersive and emotionally direct statements to date.
