JOINING THE BAND FOR THE HEAVIEST TOUR OF THE NEW YEAR ARE KUBLAI KHAN TX, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY AND SANGUISUGABOGG
ARTIST PRE-SALES BEGIN TODAY AT 12 NOON EASTERN;
GENERAL ON-SALE THIS FRIDAY AT 10 A.M. LOCAL TIME
Nov. 18, 2025 – RICHMOND, Va. – Lamb of God return to the road this March for what promises to be the heaviest tour of 2026, with the North American trek, produced by Live Nation, featuring support from Kublai Khan TX, Fit For An Autopsy, and Sanguisugabogg.
Tickets for all shows are on-sale this Friday, Nov. 21 at 10 a.m. local time. An artist pre-sale launches today at 12 noon eastern. Tickets and VIP packages will be available at Lamb-of-god.com/tour.
“We are beyond thrilled to announce the loudest, proudest, floor shakin’-est, earth quakin’-est, ear-splittin’-est, mosh pittin’-est, undiluted, undisputed HEAVIEST tour of the whole damn year,” Mark Morton declares. “Is this the largest collection of RIFFS ever assembled under one roof? It would seem so. Lamb of God, Kublai Khan TX, Fit For An Autopsy, and Sanguisugabogg. Do not miss this shit.”
The tour news follows the recent release of “Sepsis,” the band’s first new original song since 2022’s Omens, and now the #1 song on the U.S. metal radio charts. Produced by longtime collaborator Josh Wilbur, the track celebrates the Richmond underground and the bands Lamb of God performed alongside during their early years. The band also shared a live video for “Sepsis,” capturing the electrifying live debut of the song at Aftershock Festival.
Consequence named the three-and-a-half minute track its “heavy song of the week,” describing the single as “crushing” while Revolver spotlighted “Sepsis,” calling it a “rock-solid addition to their ever-crushing canon.”
Lamb of God tour dates: March 17 National Harbor, MD The Theater MGM National Harbor March 19 Montreal, QC Bell Centre March 20 Toronto, ON GCT Theatre March 22 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre March 24 Minneapolis, MN Armory March 25 Chicago, IL Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom March 27 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium March 28 Salt Lake City, UT The Union Event Center March 30 Portland, OR Theater of the Clouds March 31 Seattle, WA WAMU Theater April 1 Vancouver, BC PNE Forum April 3 San Francisco, CA The Masonic April 4 Inglewood, CA YouTube Theater April 5 Phoenix, AZ Arizona Financial Theatre April 7 Albuquerque, NM Revel Entertainment Center April 10 Austin, TX Moody Amphitheater April 11 Irving, TX The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory April 12 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall April 14 Nashville, TN War Memorial Auditorium April 15 Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre April 16 Raleigh, NC Red Hat Amphitheater April 18 Reading, PA Santander Arena * April 19 Virginia Beach, VA The Dome April 21 Buffalo, NY Buffalo RiverWorks April 23 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Paramount April 25 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena * April 26 Boston, MA MGM Music Hall at Fenway
*-Not a Live Nation show
2026 Festival Performances May 14 – 17 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival July 24 – 27 Plovdiv, BG Hills of Rock July 27 – 31 Râşnov, RO Rockstadt Extreme Fest August 1 Wacken, DE Wacken Open Air August 5 – 9 Lisbon, PT Vagos Open Air August 6 – 9 Kortrijk, BE Alcatraz Open Air August 7 Walton-on-Trent, UK Bloodstock Open Air August 12 – 16 Dinkelsbühl, DE Summer Breeze August 13 – 15 Sulingen, DE Reload Festival August 14 – 16 Eindhoven, NL Dynamo Metalfest October 30 – November 3 Miami, FL Headbangers Boat
Tickets to the band’s previously announced dates, including the 2026 edition of their annual Headbangers Boat cruise, are on-sale now via their website.
Photo credit: Travis Shinn
Lamb of God is Randy Blythe (vocals), John Campbell (bass), Mark Morton (guitar), Willie Adler (guitar) and Art Cruz (drums). Formed in 1994, the Richmond, Va.-based band has released nine critically-acclaimed albums, received five GRAMMY® Award nominations, sold over 3 million albums, packed arenas around the world, and tallied over one billion streams and counting. Widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative forces in modern heavy music Lamb of God’s most recent collection, Omens, arrived in late 2022 , marking their sixth consecutive album to debut in the Top 15 of on the Billboard 200. Kerrang! noted that the album finds the band “as reliably heavy, violent, and pissed off as ever,” and Consequence said the “album will break you down to nihilistic pieces.”
Concert Review: Vern Daysel & The Burning Breeze, John 5, and Richie Kotzen at House of Blues Orlando – October 31, 2025 – by Beau Nasty
Halloween night at the House of Blues Orlando turned into a guitar lover’s dream as Vern Daysel & The Burning Breeze, John 5, and Richie Kotzen delivered a diverse and electrifying evening of rock, blues, and everything in between.
Vern Daysel & The Burning Breeze
Kicking off the night, Vern Daysel and his five-piece band set the tone with a hard-driving blues set that hit exactly where it was supposed to. Their performance was tight, gritty, and full of the kind of raw energy that defines blues rock at its best. Daysel’s guitar work was both tasteful and fiery, channeling Southern soul through thick riffs and searing solos. It was a no-frills, high-octane start that got the crowd primed and ready for the heavy hitters to follow.
John 5
Next up was John 5, the ever-eclectic guitar virtuoso, who started the night with a two-piece lineup before expanding to a three-piece for a surprise Motley Crüe tribute in the latter part of the set — with a stagehand stepping in on bass. Running his EVH amps and cabs, John 5 took the audience on a tour through his entire musical psyche: blistering hard rock, metallic precision, rockabilly swagger, and even bursts of chicken pickin’ that defied logic and genre.
Visually, his performance was just as captivating — especially his signature stage maneuver where his head appeared to float and bobble above his body, an uncanny illusion that matched his theatrical flair. Known as the king of arpeggios, John 5 jumped between short-scale guitars, a banjo, and his beloved Fender Telecasters. One Telecaster, in particular, drew gasps from the crowd when its body lit up with white lights, turning the stage into a surreal light show. It was a set equal parts virtuosic and bizarre — exactly what fans came to see.
Richie Kotzen
Closing out the night, Richie Kotzen and his three-piece band brought things back to a raw, soulful core. Kotzen’s tone and presence filled the room, his vocals eerily reminiscent of the late Chris Cornell — rich, soaring, and full of emotion. Armed with his Fender Stratocasters and plugged into a custom blue Marshall 1959 Plexi full stack, Kotzen delivered a masterclass in phrasing and feel. What’s more impressive is that he plays entirely without a pick, fingerpicking every note with precision and warmth. His set was a reminder that sometimes, the most jaw-dropping technique lies in simplicity, control, and soul.
Final Thoughts
The Halloween show at House of Blues Orlando was a celebration of guitar mastery in three distinct forms: Vern Daysel’s straight-shooting blues grit, John 5’s genre-defying spectacle, and Richie Kotzen’s soulful, pickless perfection. Each act brought something different, but together they created a night that showcased the full spectrum of what modern rock guitar can be — powerful, personal, and endlessly expressive.
BAD OMENS ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN ARENA HEADLINE TOUR WITH OPENERS BEARTOOTH & PRESIDENT
DOWNLOAD FLYER HERE OCTOBER 28, 2025 | LOS ANGELES, CA – Platinum-certified rock band Bad Omens are set to take North America by storm with their headline arena tour in Spring 2026. The run kicks off February 22nd in Salt Lake City, UT at Delta Center with support from Beartooth and PRESIDENT, bringing the band’s cinematic, high-energy performances directly to fans across the US and Canada. The tour follows the release of the band’s recent singles, “Specter” (#1 Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay / #15 Billboard Alternative Airplay charts), “Impose,” and “Dying To Love” – the first two of which made their live debut at Louder Than Life and Aftershock festivals. Bad Omens have earned a reputation as one of the most compelling live acts in modern rock. Their shows are a full-scale experience, blending cinematic visuals, immersive lighting, and precise musicianship. From haunting, atmospheric passages to explosive, arena-shaking moments, frontman Noah Sebastian commands the stage with magnetic presence and passionate vocals, guiding fans through a performance that feels both intimate and monumental. As highlighted by Live Nation, heavy rock is surging in live music, experiencing a 14% rise and claiming 13% of arena and stadium shows – and Bad Omens are at the forefront of that movement. With this tour, fans will experience the full force of their anthemic new singles and the electrifying spectacle that has propelled them to the top of the genre. Artist presales begin Tuesday, October 28th at 12:00 pm local. Additional presales run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale, beginning Friday, October 31st at 10:00 am local. NORTH AMERICAN TOUR: 02/22 – Delta Center – Salt Lake City, UT 02/24 – Ball Arena – Denver, CO 02/26 – T-Mobile Center – Kansas City, MO 02/28 – Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI 03/02 – Target Center – Minneapolis, MN 03/04 – Allstate Arena – Rosemont, IL 03/06 – Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, ON 03/08 – Place Bell – Laval, QC 03/10 – Prudential Center – Newark, NJ 03/11 – TD Garden – Boston, MA 03/13 – Xfinity Mobile Arena – Philadelphia, PA 03/14 – CFG Bank Arena – Baltimore, MD 03/16 – Lenovo Center – Raleigh, NC 03/17 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN 03/19 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX 03/20 – Frost Bank Center – San Antonio, TX 03/22 – Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK 03/24 – Desert Diamond Arena – Glendale, AZ 03/26 – Kia Forum – Inglewood, CA 03/27 – Oakland Arena – Oakland, CA EU TOUR: Nov 21 – Dublin, Ireland Nov 23 – Glasgow, United Kingdom Nov 26 – London, United Kingdom Nov 28 – Manchester, United Kingdom Nov 29 – Nottingham, United Kingdom Dec 1 – Bruxelles, Belgium Dec 2 – Paris, France Dec 4 – Dübendorf, Switzerland Dec 5 – Nuremberg, Germany Dec 6 – Berlin, Germany Dec 9 – Hamburg, Germany Dec 10 – Oberhausen, Germany Dec 12 – Amsterdam, Netherlands Dec 13 – Amsterdam, Netherlands
DOWNLOAD HI-RES PRESS PHOTO (Credit: Bryan Kirks) ABOUT BAD OMENS: Bad Omens continue their unstoppable ascent as one of modern rock’s most dynamic and commanding bands. Following the explosive success of their breakthrough third studio album The Death of Peace of Mind (2022) – hailed by Revolver as “a stunning fusion of dark, Weeknd-esque pop and industrialized metalcore” – the band has amassed over 2.7 billion global streams, with the album itself earning RIAA Gold certification. The group’s rise was propelled by the viral success of their hit single “Just Pretend,” which became their first RIAA Platinum-certified track, reached #1 at both U.S. Active Rock and Alternative Radio formats, and dominated Billboard’s year-end charts. The album’s seductive title track, “The Death of Peace of Mind,” also achieved RIAA Gold certification and landed in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Rock and Alternative Airplay charts. Their radio success earned the band a 2024 iHeartRadio Music Award nomination for Best New Artist (Alt & Rock). In 2025, Bad Omens are ushering in their next era, kicking things off with a series of singles that further cement their evolution and genre-defying vision. Their atmospheric single “Specter” debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart and became the band’s fastest rise to #1 on both the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay and Mediabase Active Rock charts, while also breaking into the Top 20 at Alternative Radio. Follow-ups, “Impose” and “Dying To Love,” expanded their sound in bold new directions – blending industrial textures, emotional lyricism, and the visceral edge that defines their signature style. Known for their cinematic visuals, meticulous artistry, and fiercely dedicated global fanbase, Bad Omens have built a world that transcends genre lines. Their live shows deliver an immersive experience – both sonically and visually – marked by precision, power, and raw emotional gravity. After selling out tours and dominating festival stages across the world, the band is now stepping onto the biggest stages of their career with their first-ever arena headline tours – launching across Europe in November 2025 and continuing through North America and beyond in 2026. With more boundary-pushing music and unforgettable live experiences on the horizon, Bad Omens stand at the forefront of rock’s new vanguard – cinematic, fearless, and entirely their own.
Festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents has revealed Tool and Shinedown will join previously announced headliners My Chemical Romance and Bring Me The Horizon for the fifth year of Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival, May 14, 15, 16 & 17 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
The Pinnacle of Rock Festivals in America will feature an extensive rock, metal, and punk lineup of 140+ bands, and has expanded to 5 stages in 2026. Headlining artists for Sonic Temple 2026 include:
Thursday, May 14: My Chemical Romance,Pierce The Veil,Breaking Benjamin
Friday, May 15: Shinedown, The Offspring, Staind
Saturday, May 16: Bring Me the Horizon, Good Charlotte,Marilyn Manson
Sunday, May 17: Tool,Godsmack, Megadeth
Brent Smith of Shinedown said, “Barry, Zach, Eric and I have waited for this opportunity to be a headliner at Sonic Temple for a very long time. We are going to go all out for this performance. We know the fans have very high expectations. So with that being said, we are going to give all of Ohio everything we’ve got!!!! Thank you to Danny Wimmer for this incredible opportunity!!! LET’S GO SHINEDOWN NATION.”
The overall music lineup for Sonic Temple 2026 includes: My Chemical Romance, Tool, Bring Me The Horizon, Shinedown, Pierce The Veil, Good Charlotte, The Offspring, Breaking Benjamin, Godsmack, Sublime, Marilyn Manson, Staind, Megadeth, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Rise Against, All Time Low, Yellowcard, Simple Plan, Electric Callboy, Stone Temple Pilots, Public Enemy, Motionless in White, Coheed and Cambria, Amon Amarth, BUSH, Lorna Shore, The Used, Slaughter To Prevail, Alter Bridge, The Story So Far, Dayseeker, Black Label Society, Architects, Dance Gavin Dance, Chiodos, Body Count feat. Ice-T, Behemoth, Daughtry, New Found Glory, Black Veil Brides, Flyleaf with Lacey Sturm, Tom Morello, Zakk Sabbath, Anthrax, Dethklok, Sepultura, Kublai Khan TX, Avatar, Coal Chamber, Sevendust, Mayday Parade, The Darkness, Story of the Year, We Came As Romans, Thrice, In Flames, Everclear, Motion City Soundtrack, The Wonder Years, State Champs, P.O.D., Static-X, The Ghost Inside, The Plot In You, The Amity Affliction, August Burns Red, Paleface Swiss, Kreator, L.S. Dunes, Cradle of Filth, Atreyu, Lit, Citizen, Biohazard, Carcass, Polaris, DragonForce, Alestorm, Wind Rose, Palaye Royale, Blessthefall, Knuckle Puck, DevilDriver, Hawthorne Heights, Whitechapel, Hinder, Senses Fail, Dying Fetus, Bloodywood, Apocalyptica, thrown, Buckcherry, All That Remains, Anberlin, Cattle Decapitation, Magnolia Park, Catch Your Breath, Chelsea Grin, DOPE, Crown The Empire, Attila, Make Them Suffer, Saliva, From First to Last, Demon Hunter, Thornhill, Brand of Sacrifice, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Thy Art Is Murder, Fozzy, Napalm Death, Snot, Bodysnatcher, Alpha Wolf, Egypt Central, Carnifex, Holding Absence, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Mushroomhead, Powerman 5000, The Word Alive, Suffocation, Alira Elfeky, Attack Attack!, Nekrogoblikon, CKY, Drop Dead, Gorgeous, SOiL, Butcher Babies, Wind Walkers, Signs of the Swarm, Woe, Is Me, Jiluka, Disembodied Tyrant, The Pretty Wild, Allt, FLAW, Spiritworld, NERV, Novelists, Conquer Divide, Castle Rat, Windwaker and Left On Red.
Additional music highlights and special appearances for Sonic Temple 2026 include:
Megadeth (farewell tour)
Body Count feat. Ice-T (festival debut)
Flyleaf with Lacey Sturm (20th anniversary of their debut self-titled album)
Sepultura (final farewell tour)
Coal Chamber (rare appearance)
DragonForce (Inhuman Rampage 20th anniversary)
Hawthorne Heights (home state performance)
Saliva (Every Six Seconds 25th Anniversary Tour)
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (20th Anniversary of Don’t You Fake It)
Anberlin (exclusive reunion with original lead singer Stephen Christian)
Snot (reunion)
Egypt Central (reunion)
Mushroomhead (home state performance)
Drop Dead, Gorgeous (reunion)
Beyond the music, one of the most distinctive elements of Sonic Temple is its celebration of visual art—transforming the festival into a living, breathing gallery experience. The onsite Art Boutique, Art Towers, and Art Walls return, featuring live, large-scale installations and interactive pieces that unfold in real time throughout the weekend.
Contemporary American painter Terry Urban, known for his vibrant pop-meets-street style, and illustrator and cartoonist Jay Howell, the creative mind behind Bob’s Burgers and Sanjay and Craig, bold, irreverent visuals will add a playful pulse to the festival grounds. The program also highlights a curated selection of Columbus-based artists, celebrating the city’s vibrant creative community through live mural painting and exclusive artwork featured throughout the site. Together with a curated roster of emerging and established artists, they’ll redefine what it means to experience art at a rock festival.
To round out the immersive atmosphere, the Caduceus Wine Garden—featuring selections from Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards, owned by Tool’s Maynard James Keenan—returns in 2026, offering fans a refined retreat amid the energy of the weekend. And back by popular demand, The Dive Bar, the festival’s fan-favorite hangout with pop-up performances and surprise appearances, will once again be a must-visit destination on the grounds.
All pass types—including Single Day and 4-day GA, GA Plus, VIP and Premium Experiences—are available now at sonictemplefestival.com/passes for as low as $1 down on layaway, with over six months to pay in full. Premium experiences include Rock Royalty, a GA Plus upgrade that takes fans inside the world of our headliners with exclusive photo ops, curated memorabilia displays, and a luxury lounge environment. The Columbus Owners Club delivers the ultimate festival experience with access to the mainstage field and stadium seats, plus entry to the VIP Lounge, Rock Royalty Lounge, and the private COC Lounge—featuring air-conditioned indoor spaces, an elevated viewing deck, complimentary food and drinks, and premium restrooms. Fans can also live the suite life in one of Historic Crew Stadium’s private suites—perfect for a party with your crew and an unforgettable view of the action. To reserve, fans can email Premium@ColumbusCrew.com. Service fees on all pass purchases include a charity fee for the DWP Foundation, which gives back to local and national charities throughout the year.
A Sonic Temple student offer will be available in 2026, allowing those with a valid .edu address access to a $123 (all-in, fees included) Single-Day GA Stadium Pass via FEVO. For more details, visit https://www.gofevo.com/event/ST-StudentTickets.
DWP has again partnered with GOVX to offer specially priced Sonic Temple passes–including 4-day GA Field, 4-day GA Stadium, and Single Day GA Stadium–to military, nurses, firefighters, and police personnel who can verify their eligibility through GOVX.
Fans can book official Sonic Temple festival hotel and admission packages, which allow festival re-entry each day, via Jampack. In addition, Camping and Parking options are also available for purchase.
In May 2025, Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival cemented its legacy as the Biggest Rock Fest In Columbus History as 175,000 music fans converged on Historic Crew Stadium in Ohio for the sold-out event which featured more than 100 bands playing on four stages, with a number of special and unexpected moments.
Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America.
Earlier this year, producer Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) solidified its long-term commitment to Columbus by announcing a five-year extension of its partnership with the Historic Crew Stadium, ensuring that the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival will continue through at least 2030. This milestone not only secures the future of one of the nation’s most iconic rock festivals but also underscores the event’s growing cultural and economic impact on the region.
Sonic Temple is proud to partner with an incredible lineup of partners in 2026, including Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Celsius, Jack Daniel’s, Cutwater, White Claw, Goose Island, Eargasm, and more to be announced.
For more information on Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival, visit:
About Danny Wimmer Presents: Since 1995, music industry veteran Danny Wimmer has been producing concerts and festivals, both large and small. In 2011, he founded Danny Wimmer Presents, a live entertainment company that produces the largest rock, metal, and alternative music festivals in the U.S. DWP creates unforgettable and all-encompassing festival experiences, leaving both attendees and partners with lasting and meaningful impressions. Since 2020, DWP has been an innovator in the digital content space with over two dozen international livestreams, acclaimed social series Offstage with DWP, DWPresents Channel on Twitch, which garnered over 25 million worldwide views since its launch in mid-2021, and The Power Hour, a weekly show dedicated to the world of rock that aired on AXS TV. DWP’s paranormal investigative video series Paranormal Prison (2023-2025) documented some of the supernatural experiences at Ohio State Reformatory during Inkcarceration with the help of bands performing at the festival. Episodes are available at www.youtube.com/@DannyWimmerPresents. The 2026 DWP festival lineup includes Aftershock, Bourbon & Beyond, Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival, Louder Than Life, Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival and Welcome To Rockville.
About Historic Crew Stadium: Historic Crew Stadium is the first ever professional soccer-specific stadium in the United States. In addition to hosting concerts, sporting events and programming throughout the year, the venue also serves as the home of Columbus Crew 2 of MLS NEXT Pro. As announced in October 2025, Historic Crew Stadium will also welcome the United Football League’s Columbus Aviators for their inaugural season in the spring of 2026. Previously serving as the home of the Columbus Crew from 1999-2021, Historic Crew Stadium opened its doors on May 15, 1999 to a sellout crowd for a match against the New England Revolution. It has hosted numerous national and international events: eight U.S. Soccer FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – specifically four consecutive “Dos a Cero” victories for the U.S. over Mexico (2001, 2005, 2009, 2013) – FIFA Women’s World Cup matches, three MLS Cups (2001, 2015, 2020), two MLS All-Star Games and a number of concerts. It was named the world’s most influential stadium of the decade by Stadia Magazine in 2010. In 2008, the venue added a permanent stage in the North End, allowing for up to 35,000 fans to take in concerts and other marquee events.
PUSCIFER’S NORMAL ISN’T TOUR HITS RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE ON MAY 3
NEW ALBUM NORMAL ISN’T ARRIVES FEBRUARY 6 – WATCH “SELF EVIDENT” NOW – HERE
“Self Evident” video directed by Mat Mitchell and María Aceves Diego
Oct. 21, 2025, Denver, CO – Puscifer, the multi-dimensional band featuring Maynard James Keenan, Mat Mitchell and Carina Round, brings their highly-anticipated Normal Isn’t Tour to Red Rocks Amphitheatre on May 3rd. Tickets are on-sale Friday, Oct. 24 at 10.a.m. local time via AXS.com, with a venue pre-sale launching on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. using code PUSCIFER26.
The tour celebrates the band’s first new album in over five years, Normal Isn’t (Feb. 6, Puscifer Entertainment/Alchemy Recordings/BMG). The record channels the post-punk influences that shaped the members’ early musical experiences while pushing into darker, more guitar-driven territory.
“We’re definitely leaning into our early influences,” Keenan shares. “It’s the place where goth meets punk. It’s where I came from.”
Fans can get an early listen to new music with today’s release of “Self Evident” and its accompanying video (https://youtu.be/NfQb5-NEyr8). The video was filmed during a special August performance at Exchange L.A., where Puscifer previewed Normal Isn’t in full for an intimate crowd.
Written and recorded across Arizona, Los Angeles, and on the road during last year’s Sessanta tour, Normal Isn’t blends the dark electronics and sharp humor Puscifer is known for with a more spontaneous creative process. “From the outset, we had discussed an element of rawness and edge, which guitar brings,” shares Mitchell, who co-produced the album. “We got rid of the guard rails and made the music more aggressive.”
For Keenan, this release represents a new approach to songwriting. While he’s always been deeply involved in shaping Puscifer’s sound, this time he set-up his own digital recording system and built full song ideas before presenting them to Mat and Carina.
That shift gives the music fresh immediacy, one that Round says changed the dynamic in the studio. “Instead of just saying, ‘I want this to sound like Fleetwood Mac on cocaine if they had a baby with PJ Harvey,’ Maynard was showing us his intention, which was really cool,” she explains. “In Puscifer, any idea can totally change without any preciousness, and everybody is on board – not unlike an insane asylum. We found each other because we’re demented in a symbiotic way.”
“Normal Isn’t reflects this time we are living in,” Keenan adds. “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.”
Contributors to the new collection include Greg Edwards (bass), Gunnar Olsen (drums), and Sarah Jones (drums) with guests Tony Levin (bass on “Normal Isn’t” and “Seven One”), Danny Carey (drums on “Seven One”) and Mr. Ian Ross (father of Atticus Ross, who narrates “Seven One”).
Normal Isn’t is available now for pre-order and pre-saves (https://Puscifer.lnk.to/NormalIsnt), including multiple limited-edition vinyl variants: standard black, indie retail orange swirl, a Puscifer.com exclusive black ice and clear with black splatter, and a Queen B Vinyl Café fruit punch in tan with black and white splatter. The album is also available on CD, cassette, and digitally.
Normal Isn’t cover featuring an Andrea Kowch painting
Photo credit: Travis Shinn
Puscifer is a band of three creative confidants, namely Mat Mitchell, Carina Round, and Maynard James Keenan, who fuse music, performance, and visual art into a singular experience. Over the years, Puscifer has carved an indelible mark on the cultural landscape, releasing a series of acclaimed albums, selling out famed venues, appearing on the lineups of Coachella, Bonnaroo, and other major festivals, and even curating their own touring festival, Sessanta. They’ve provided what was essentially the soundtrack to the first season of “Yellowstone,” and their albums regularly land on the top 30 of the Billboard Top 200. They’ve made memorable appearances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”and the “The Late Show,” bringing their signature blend of precision, wit, and theatricality to late night television.
Puscifer has also welcomed arevolving door of collaborators, from musicians like Greg Edwards, Gunnar Olsen, and Sarah Jones to remixers including Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Phantogram, and Sir Mix-A-Lot, as well as actors Bob Odenkirk and Milla Jovovich. It’s also a universe for the (mis)adventures of original characters: Billy D, (his wife) Hildy Berger, Major Douche, and Special Agent Dick Merkin. More than a band, Puscifer is a creative ecosystem; a boundary-pushing collective where sound, story, and spectacle collide.
