The five-year wait for new music from Puscifer has ended. Today, the experimental trio—comprised of Maynard James Keenan, Mat Mitchell, and Carina Round—officially released their latest studio album, Normal Isn’t, via Puscifer Entertainment, Alchemy Recordings, and BMG.
To mark the occasion, the band has premiered a new animated music video for the track “Bad Wolf,” directed by AF Schepperd. The song and its visual companion draw inspiration from ancient folklore, specifically a well-known Native American parable.
“Oral Tradition, the practice of passing down legends, myths, and metaphors, has always fascinated me,” Keenan explained regarding the concept. “The stories contain history, important lessons, values, social contracts and the like. One of my favorites has always been the Cherokee tale of the Two Wolves. This story serves as a metaphor for our inner battle between good/wise/loving choices and poor/selfish/hateful choices. The wolf that thrives is the wolf you feed.”
Recorded across Arizona, Los Angeles, and on the road during last year’s Sessanta tour, Normal Isn’t sees the band pivoting toward a grittier sonic landscape. Channeling the post-punk influences of their youth, the group focused on creating a darker, more guitar-forward record than their previous electronic-heavy outings.
“From the outset, we had discussed an element of rawness and edge, which guitar brings,” shared co-producer and multi-instrumentalist Mat Mitchell. “We got rid of the guard rails and made the music more aggressive.”
Lyrically, the album serves as a commentary on the current state of the world.
“Normal Isn’t reflects this time we are living in,” Keenan said. “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.”
In addition to the album release, today kicks off a series of independent record store screenings for the band’s new concert film, “Normal Isn’t: Puscifer Live at the Pacific Stock Exchange.”
Filmed at the historic and reportedly haunted original stock exchange building in Los Angeles, the performance features the debut of the new material, complete with a fresh stage design and costumes. The concert film will be available for home viewing starting February 9 via Puscifertv.com.
The studio recording of Normal Isn’t features a robust lineup of contributors. The core trio is joined by Greg Edwards (bass), Gunnar Olsen (drums), and Sarah Jones (drums). The album also boasts high-profile guest appearances from Tony Levin on bass and Tool drummer Danny Carey on the track “Seven One,” which also features narration by Mr. Ian Ross (father of composer Atticus Ross).
Screening Locations
Arizona
- Candy & Records – Phoenix
- Deadwax Records – Goodyear
- Queen B Vinyl Café – Cottonwood
- Stinkweeds – Phoenix
- Vinyl Record Dude – Scottsdale
- Zia Records – Chandler
California
- DBZ Books ‘N’ Records – Corona
- Folklore Records – Napa
- Rhino Records – Montclair
- Run Out Groove Records – Burbank
- Spinning Plate Records – Covina
- Track City Records – Escondido
Colorado
- Downtown Sound Records – Greeley
- Vinyl Valhalla – Littleton
- Wax Trax Records Northside – Denver
- What’s Left Records – Colorado Springs
Connecticut
- Revolution Records – Torrington
- Static Era Records – Milford
- Telegraph Autonomous Zone – New London
- Vinyl Street Co – Fairfield
Florida
- Bearded Vinyl – Macclenny
- D & J Records – Dunedin
- Dog Records – Sarasota
- Tonevendor Records – St. Augustine
- Vintage Vibes Records – Stuart
Georgia
- Vinylyte Records – Newnan
Idaho
- Modern Sounds Vinyl – Boise & Twin Falls
Illinois
- Bucket O’ Blood – Chicago
- Elmhurst Records – Elmhurst
- Left Round Records – Plainfield
- Positively 4th St Records – Charleston
- Siren Records – McHenry
- The Record Shop on 95th – Evergreen Park
Indiana
- Psychedelic Cellar – Marion
- Siples Records – Terre Haute
- Space Monkey Records – Evansville
- The Record Cellar – Vincennes
Louisiana
- 22 Sounds Records – Mandeville
Maryland
- The Sound Garden – Baltimore
Michigan
- Green Light Music – Kalamazoo
- Rock City Music Co. – Livonia
- Slick Disc – Trenton
Mississippi
- T-Bones Records & Café – Hattiesburg
Missouri
- Jammin’ Nuggets Music – Sedalia
Montana
- Cameron Records – Billings
- Ear Candy Music – Missoula
Nebraska
- First Day Vinyl – Lincoln
New Jersey
- Revilla Grooves – Milltown
- Yearbook Records – Lanoka Harbor
New Mexico
- Heads Up Music – Taos
New York
- HiFi Provisions – Brooklyn
- Looney Tunes Record Store – West Babylon
- Squatch Den Records – Horseheads
- The Sound Garden – Syracuse
North Carolina
- Schoolkids Records – Raleigh
- Sell Your Soul Records – Mooresville
- Yellow Dog Discs – Wilmington
Ohio
- Roots Records – Columbus
- The Vinyl Groove Records – Cleveland
- Used Kids Records – Columbus
Oklahoma
- Screaming Earth Records – Owasso
Pennsylvania
- Everlong Records – Hamburg
- Spin Me Round – Easton
South Dakota
- Black Hills Vinyl – Rapid City
Tennessee
- AndVinyl Records – Clarksville
- Soundtrax Records – Morristown
Texas
- High Fidelity Records – Amarillo
- Cactus Music – Houston
- Curious Collections – College Station
- Dead Wax Records – Garland
- For The Record – Beaumont
- Sound Revolution – Spring
- Space City Audio – Spring
- Volume Music – The Woodlands
- ZT Records – Frisco & Arlington
Utah
- Graywhale – Taylorsville
Virginia
- AFK Books & Records – Virginia Beach
- Bumrush Vinyl – Fredericksburg
Washington
- C-Side Records – Port Orchard
- Rockin’ Ruby’s Records – Poulsbo
- Tangerine Tree – Aberdeen
West Virginia
- Admiral Analog’s – Shepherdstown
- Nail City Record – Wheeling
- Orbit’s Record Shop – Barboursville
Wisconsin
- Back to the Vinyl – Waupaca
- Beat Goes On – West Bend
- Rock n’ Roll Land – Green Bay
Wyoming
- Sonic Rainbow – Casper
Germany
- Rough Trade – Berlin
