Puscifer - Normal Isn't Review
Puscifer were never ones to shy away from the news of the world. On the contrary, Puscifer always seemed like a direct response to whatever snapshot our society is in. Given all that has gone down in this historic year of societal collapse, mass deportations mirroring one of the worst times in modern history, social media as a disease, and the conspiracy-theorists' validation of a global elite's satanic trafficking ring, Isn't It Now sounds like a scream into the void for the sins that are beyond unforgiveable, and what all of us have to grapple with in this life and the next.
For this reason, Normal Isn't is an extremely prescient album, and Maynard, Carina, and Mat are so on the ball with their 5th LP that that's really saying something. I kicked myself for setting up a review article and never following through with their last LP, Existential Reckoning, which, if you haven't guessed by the title, is another prophetic piece of music, so much so that after listening to Normal Isn't for only the very first time, I felt incredibly compelled to write about this fresh piece of "protest" music.
For anyone who is new to Puscifer, just know it's Maynard James Keenan's (of TOOL and A Perfect Circle) brainchild. It originated from a Mr. Show sketch as a fictional band, and it eventually morphed into the music you can listen to today. Maynard has always had a "pretentious", asshole-like sense of humor where if you get it, you love it, but if you don't, you'll probably consider him a jerk. I fall into the former camp after really getting into his uber-serious TOOL, and then his softer, melancholic, but still with a bite, A Perfect Circle. The last really great album I think Maynard's done I believe is TOOL's 2019 13-year-long wait, Fear Inoculum, which I wrote about in my Masterpiece Crate series.
Puscifer started off as a tough, laugh-or-die, affair with V is for Vagina, and it continued into several follow up albums, including LP 2's Conditions of My Parole (a personal fav), and through their 3rd LP, Money Shot. Existential Reckoning though, despite all of its inspired songwriting, complex arrangements, and messages, sort of drops this tone of mockery and self-awareness, and instead it just feels like a straight forward no-nonsense album. This is no knock on Existential Reckoning, but Normal Isn't is a very back to basics, return to form, and a formula that hasn't failed them yet. Now about the album..
Normal Isn't seems to have dropped from the sky and landed in a fiery blaze. It's artwork is reminiscent of a pure Americana painting, with washed-out colors and a woman standing in the fields of her country's farmhouse, among the wide open plains. Except something is deeply wrong. The plains are on fire, her hands are tied, and wind is whipping up a fiery storm. Her farmhouse looks like a shell of what it once was, and birds, probably a murder crows, are flocking nearby. Her face is also absent, ghostly, and void of all the chaos around her. It's chilling and the music contained within only furthers this dreadful message.
From the opening beats of Thrust, that slowly piece together into a staccato-laced drum and melody that's both an ethereal and exhalation of human weariness for "every fucking day," and "trying not to murder's a daily fucking battle," gloves are off with these guys. Tone is set. You better lock in. Normal Isn't, the title track, doesn't disappoint in its follow-up. This is one of those signature Puscifer tracks that feature their penchant for offbeat rhythms and guitar riffs, with Maynard and Carina calling and responding and harmonizing. It just goes to show how awesome this dualistic vocal identity is that Maynard created by adding Carina Round to the group, starting with their LP 2, Conditions of My Parole. Normal Isn't concludes with a funky swing rhythm of guitars, drums, and these dual vocalists.
Bad Wolf is one of the first songs that really stuck out to me. It features that same fascinating guitar riffage, along with a lightly stabbing synth. Both Maynard's measured phrasing and Carina's wordless calls are put into full effect on here. Bad Wolf, a parable of the Cherokee's tale of the two wolves, and which one to feed, whether it be the good wolf or the bad wolf, is a nice grounding reflection of the self and what all of us should be thinking of. "Bad actors all that remain on the stage and station, boisterous conductors, they echo without within, plea to the void, to the gods that I don’t believe in, I now believe that we live in a simulation, Our bad wolves thrive." It's heavy and prophetic and downright scary. Self Evident is one of the first singles that was released in the later part of last year. It's self-description of calling out an idiot is unwavering and the bluntness is what I'm here for. "You feel like a wet mudslide, obnoxious gear in overdrive." Again, Puscifer are bad as a mother and not even halfway done.
A Public Stoning is one of the first breaks in the album. Quiet and grunge-like rumblings eventually become a expletive-laden roar shared by Maynard and Carina. Similar to Self-Evident, "Tunnel vision paranoia, baking in your echo chamber." The Quiet Parts is another one that sounds like the previous couple of songs. It is apparent that this volume is Puscifer's speed, and you can stay on the ride if you choose, otherwise you should just jump ship because this isn't for you. Mantastic is the second song that instantly grabbed me. I really do enjoy Puscifer's careful play on words, which they have employed since their inception. This one on toxic masculinity is poignant and a breath of fresh air. Whereas some of the previous hitters leaned more ambiguous, Mantastic is a brick wall of consequence for all the toxic men in our world, and Puscifer does it best by pulling no punches.
Pendulum is another strong thematic song, playing on the back and forth swinging of a pendulum and bringing the balance of our world back to it's natural state. It's naturalistic, which isn't unlike some of Puscifer's previous songs on earlier albums, like Green Valley or Grand Canyon. ImpetuoUs is my final nomination of recommended songs from this album. It is a ethereal and spiritual experience, calling to Maynard's other band A Perfect Circle, with its gentle calling for something deeper that should be felt. "They're always afraid, of what they don't understand." It's a call to be more than our physical selves. Fear is a mind killer. Seven One is a truly unique song in Puscifer's catalog. Interspersed with a theological and historic lecture on the significance of the number 7, simultaneously tracked with a lively jam and a monastic vocal delivery, Seven One feels like an off-the-cuff jam session by TOOL, something that could possibly appear on one of their EPs or live releases, as they have in the past. The Algorithm (Sessanta Live Mix) is a curious final track on Nomal Isn't, being that it's a live performance. It is no less important of a song, and the live energy is a nice addition to give that Puscifer live experience. This one is a direct shot at "social mediates" and "attention addiction," something I unfortunately know all too well about. We are all victims of The Algorithm. It's a pretty strong and lasting message, and makes it tempting to playback the entire album one more time.
Normal Isn't, an album and a phrase that couldn't be more true today, fires on all cylinders. It is impossible to listen to any one song and not be forced to think about what our collective consciousness is going through. Maybe it's not an album that lets us stick our heads in the sand, but maybe, right now, this is exactly what we need.
Normal Isn't - 8.5/10
Recommended Tracks: Bad Wolf, Mantastic, ImpetuoUs
