With Puscifer set to release their new studio album, Normal Isn’t, today (February 6), frontman Maynard James Keenan has opened up about the sociopolitical climate that shaped the record, as well as the band’s perceived standing in his extensive discography.
In a candid new interview with Kyle Meredith, the vocalist—who also fronts rock juggernauts Tool and A Perfect Circle—explained that the new material is a direct response to the current state of the world. While Puscifer is known for its theatricality and humor, Keenan noted that the new songs serve a specific function during these turbulent times.
“Normal Isn’t reflects this time we are living in,” Keenan explained last October regarding the album’s themes. “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.”
During his chat with Meredith, Keenan addressed the rising tide of polarization and political weaponization. He expressed a deep frustration with the “tribalism” dominating modern discourse, making it clear that he refuses to align with rigid ideologies that lack nuance or humor.
“I’m always going… to be on the side of f**k fundamentalist extremists in any way,” Keenan stated (as transcribed by theprp). “Left, right, center, I don’t care if you’re a person who doesn’t understand humor and irony, and you mobilize on people who disagree with you. Um, sorry. That will always be the side that I go on is, fundamentalist extremists can go [f**king] suck a bag of d**ks. And you can quote me on that.”
The singer’s comments align with recent actions taken by the band. Earlier this week, Puscifer released a cover of Low’s “Congregation,” dedicating the track to the ongoing unrest in Minneapolis. The city has been the site of protests following deadly shootings involving ICE officers and subsequent immigration raids.
Reacting to the heavy news cycle, Keenan recently remarked: “‘Discovering New and Awful Ways to Treat Each Other’ wasn’t on my Bingo card for 2026, but here we are.”
Beyond politics, Keenan also touched on the internal dynamics of his career. Despite being his most prolific outlet in recent years, Puscifer is often viewed by the public as a distant third priority behind his multi-platinum heavy hitters, Tool and A Perfect Circle.
Rather than resenting this perception, Keenan told Meredith that he embraces the role of the outsider. Discussing the new single “Impetuous,” he explained that the song is an anthem for those who don’t fit in—a sentiment that mirrors the band’s own existence.
“Puscifer‘s definitely been marginalized and relegated to the third side project category,” Keenan admitted. “And people just don’t really… I guess people just don’t think like we do. And I’ve always been on the side of the underdog, that’s just kind of how I’m wired. The marginalized underdog is always going to get my vote. So, that song kind of leans into it’s okay to not think like everybody else. It’s okay.”
He offered a final piece of advice for listeners who feel isolated by their differences:
“Don’t… You’re an island. Great. If you feel like an island, then lean into it and just work with it. Don’t think of it as a flaw.”
