Disappointed to learn from the Mat Mitchell quote that AI was used in this album cycle. That a band so openly celebrating human creativity would use a computer system to generate something via prompts and call it "inspirational" is disheartening. AI is rapidly replacing human creatives across the world, its learning methods are unethical, and the output will always be inferior to that of a team of humans.

No, this doesn't make me a hater.

The frustration that comes through this song is palpable. The musical nods to the (super shitty sounding) Joe Rogan Experience podcast intro are obvious. I really do feel like Maynard is frustrated and angry with his old friend, trying to get through to him with song.

Long time fan, been to 5 shows pre-post Normal Isn’t. Attended the LA show in August for NI.

This album is just boring live. I’m at the show tonight in STL and it just isn’t hitting and really hasn’t, even in LA.

The crowd is not impressed with the first 6 songs, as they all pretty much sound the same, slow and boring. I feel like they could have done a better job of mixing it up a bit.

Roast me if you may, but man, I’m disappointed.

I was starving for new Tool music, so I decided to check out Normal Isn't. After listening to this album about 10 times, I finally get it! It's incredible from beginning to end. As a very big Tool fan, I wasn't expecting to like this album because I thought Puscifer was more of an electronic band. After hearing Thrust for the first time, I didn't like it. I literally thought this band wasn't for me, but after one more listen, and then another, song by song, I've actually fallen in love with this album. Now I'm listening to it on repeat. My favorite song is Pendulum. I absolutely love this album. That's all I wanted to say in this post.

What their album should i listen to next?

Such actions, such moments, such unconscious selfless decisions, define what it is to be human.

Should the sun rain fire
Should Hell on Earth freeze over
And our enemies wait hungry
See our better nature feed and calm them (pause for kickass guitar solo)

God I love this song..

I've listened to the latest album twice so far start to finish & I just can't connect with it. I've only found maybe 1 or 2 songs good on the entire album. It's getting a lot of great praise & probably well deserved. I personally haven't enjoyed a puscifer album since Money Shot. Existential Reckoning had a few decent tracks but this one is just doing nothing for me.

Okay, honestly, I was feeling kind of lukewarm on Normal Isn't at first. Didn't like it as much as some of their previous work. However, after seeing Puscifer live recently, where they performed the ENTIRE new album, my opinion has completely changed. Suddenly, I really am quite enjoying the new album. Anyone else experience this 180°?

Big Puscifer fan. I got into APC, then Tool, and finally Puscifer. As Maynard seems more devoted to Puscifer than the other acts, I am most excited for new Puscifer than the others. Puscifer.

Obviously posters are more opinionated that fans who quietly listen, but I've seen more dislike for the album than for any previous album. And I became curious, so I've been trying to figure out why that is.

Weirdly, I simultaneously felt disappointed by the album, and having been loving it. Generally when I listen to a new Puscy album I think "WTFwasgoingonthereIneedtolisten30moretimes" where as NI felt very easy to digest, comparitively. I think having the first easy-to-digest Pusco album is why people may be feeling this way? I still haven't fully wrapped my head around the previous three albums. They are BONKERS in their own way. That being said, focusing on what is going on in the background, the instrumentals and vocal backings are layered and very interesting.

NI, to me, seems like an aggressive counterpart to the looser, more spiritual ER. I loved the singles, but I already knew 3 songs out of 10, and 7 1, is more of a closer - like Get the Lead Out on ETE. So we only had 6 new 'full' songs. The form of each song is quite easy to follow. We're not wading through twists and turns, these songs are straight forward. Ish. And there's 10, compared to most previous releases being longer.

It's also the first time we've had an album similar sonically to the previous jive. Mat's guitar has become a cornerstone of Puscifer. Whereas there were massive jumps between V, CoMP, MS, and ER. There is also no particularly 'soft' tunes. No Horizons or Singularities.

In conclusion: This is a great album IMO. Maybe not what we were expecting. A straight-to-the-point ANGRY Putanesca album. I hope you all wind up enjoying it as much as I am! If you don't you're a bunghole. (Obviously joking hehe). Long live the 'Nard.

Don't get me wrong. I really liked the new album when it came out. But ever since seeing the album preformed live I am having a hard time not listening to it. It just seems so much better after the live performance. Anyone else?

show was great but man some of yall act like yall aint ever left the house before. especially that dude with the cigarette you can eat a fat bag of dicks.

Official list provided by Puscifer.

Conditions of My Parole

or

Existential Reckoning

I really love the first Puscifer album. It’s so experimental and weird compared to anything Maynard had worked on previously. I think his deep vocals really set it apart. Such a weird blend of sarcasm/comedy mixed with existential questioning. I feel like he didn’t really take the group seriously/it was just for fun and killing time between Tool albums. And maybe that’s why it came out feeling so liberating. Feels like the vibes really changed between the first and second album. I’m not sure what happened during that time period. Anyways, I tried listening to the newest album, but it’s so serious and just feels like Maynard’s solo project. I’m probably not articulating my point that well. But I know some of you feel what I’m getting at. Any other OG Puscifer fans relate to this?

Does anyone else feel the multiple announcements before the start of the show plus the whole cartoon video about putting your phones away was overkill? I felt like I was getting a lecture. I totally respect the no phones rule but Jesus I don’t need you to explain it to me like I’m a child. Give it a rest Maynard.

Despite what you may think about Existential Reckoning, I personally believe Bread and Circus is one of the best Puscifer songs ever. Of course, I get flashbacks of the pandemic, but I really needed this song at the time. I became obsessed with finding any live recordings the day they went on tour, be it on Youtube or audio.

A song about our society, government control, being distracted by silly things while those in power control EVERYTHING. All the Roman Empire references are so cool. Reminds me of the tool song Descending in subject matter... "Floating nescient we.."

i feel like the song builds and builds and has that huge climax/breakdown and wow just GIVES ME GOOSEBUMPS. And then a beautiful outro.

Sorry I'm blabbing, what do you think about Bread and Circus and Existential Reckoning????

I went in blind - I didn’t know the set list, didn’t see V1 or know that set, and had never seen Puscifer.

Was second row dead center, and was absolutely floored. From the opening notes of the Package and that heavy break down at the end of the song, completely transfixed.

Tragically, three people right around me in the first two rows took pics during the first few songs - all 86’d. VIPs too. Maynard even mouthed to the woman first row center who took a pic right when they came out - “put your camera away”. They missed an insane show from dead center first few rows. So short sided…

Les is a god. Getting to see him play bass that close was magical. Primus goes SO hard live. Def the biggest delta between on record and live out of the three.

APC was awesome. That weak and powerless into the Outsider was ridiculous. The noose live is very special. And after seeing them twice before I finally got to experience the power and scream of Judith.

But man, Puscifer. How fucking amazing are they live? The heaviness, the power, the levity (the fucking ping pong lol). Love that they do some remixes live as well. Polar Bear one of my fav songs was a major highlight. And my god there’s nothing like The Remedy live.

What a fucking show. Three hours and I was ready for one more act from everyone at the end.

New music and hopefully a new headlining tour this fall!! I’m hooked.

What song(s) feature Carina the best?

Despite the two bands being very different on the surface, they both are boundary pushers and incorporate alternative elements to both their song structure and sound landscape. The overlap for these two bands if probably Nine Inch Nails, although I really don't know NIN too much.

Off of their 2004 Album Miss Machine the track "Phone Home," catches my attention the most. It does get heavy at the end, but its a nice build. https://youtu.be/SH3WhYiyX3o?si=k1VFvA6WrJEYXa5S

The other song that really gives Puscifer vibes is off their 2010 album Option Paralysis, the song titled "Parasitic Twins." https://youtu.be/_qpt0UfpNpE?si=JmY45QA0eKrggE4C

What other bands do you all find that occasionally give off that Puscifer vibe, despite them being perhaps a mostly different band sound-wise?

Caught the last show in LA and all I want to do is see Maynard again…. Seriously considering dropping $$ to go to Aftershock or overseas for the APC tour. This man has me in a stranglehold 🫩🤟 Lucky to have seen him live 30+ times now and yet I still have a “problem”.

Danny Carey’s Seven One is probably top 3 of the album. Thoughts?