Maynard James Keenan Reveals Listening Map for Puscifer’s New Album Sessions

Puscifer, the band known for their unique sound, is gearing up to release their fifth studio album, Normal Isn’t, on February 6. To provide fans with a glimpse into the musical influences that shaped this upcoming record, the band has begun sharing playlists that guided their writing and recording processes.

Most recently, Maynard James Keenan offered a peek into his personal playlist during the creative sessions for Normal Isn’t. Keenan’s playlist, consisting of 80 songs, diverges significantly from the selections made by his bandmates, Carina Round and Mat Mitchell. While Round and Mitchell adopted a more concise approach to their playlists, Keenan opted for a broader range of songs that spanned various genres.

Keenan’s playlist includes tracks from iconic bands like Nine Inch Nails, Tears For Fears, Dead Can Dance, and a strong emphasis on ’80s post-punk music. The influences evident in Keenan’s playlist hint at the diverse range of sounds that may have inspired the creation of Normal Isn’t by Puscifer.

Some of the notable tracks on Keenan’s playlist included songs from bands like The Cure, Joy Division, Bauhaus, Cocteau Twins, and Siouxsie & The Banshees. The playlist offers a comprehensive look at the music that served as the backdrop for the band’s creative process during the making of Normal Isn’t.

Written and recorded in various locations like Arizona, Los Angeles, and during the Sessanta tour, Normal Isn’t is a culmination of dark electronic sounds, biting humor, and a more unrestrained creative approach. Mat Mitchell, a member of Puscifer, mentioned that they aimed for a more aggressive musical style by embracing rawness and edginess, resulting in removing the traditional barriers within their music.

Maynard James Keenan described Normal Isn’t as a reflection of the current era, positioning artists as storytellers who observe, interpret, and report on the world around them. By exploring a blend of dark electronic elements with more aggressive musical pursuits, Puscifer aims to deliver a record that captures the essence of the times we live in.

Fans have compiled Keenan’s playlist into a continuous stream of tracks, giving listeners a chance to experience the music that played a role in shaping Puscifer’s upcoming album. As the release date for Normal Isn’t approaches, the anticipation continues to grow as fans eagerly await to delve into the distinctive sounds and creative decisions that define Puscifer’s latest musical endeavor.