PUSCIFER, the pretentious art-rock collective fronted by wine-slinging overlord Maynard James Keenan, along with his sidekicks Mat Mitchell and Carina Round (who are they again?), has graced us with “In Case You Were Napping” (Puscifer Entertainment/Alchemy Recordings/BMG – because three labels are totally necessary for a digital-only compilation), a collection of 15 songs for people who have the attention span of a goldfish and can’t remember what they released last week.
This “album” (if you can even call it that) is a desperate attempt to stay relevant, pulling scraps from their previous “masterpieces” (I use the term loosely). “In Case You Were Napping” is supposedly for new listeners who have never heard of PUSCIFER (do those people even exist?) and for die-hard fans who have nothing better to do with their time and money. The tracklist includes such bangers as “The Humbling River” (more like the underwhelming river, am I right?), “Momma Sed” (still trying to figure out what that song is about), and “Conditions Of My Parole” (which, let’s be honest, should be the title of Maynard’s biography). But wait, there’s more! We also get gems like “The Mission – M Is For Milla Mix” (featuring vocals from Milla Jovovich, because why not?), the oh-so-prophetic 2020 single “Apocalyptical” (because we needed another song about the end of the world), and “Sessanta” tour closer “Grand Canyon” (which is probably longer than the actual Grand Canyon itself). 😴
But don’t worry, folks! While you’re busy listening to this regurgitated garbage, PUSCIFER has deigned to announce that their fifth studio album (yes, FIVE!) will be unleashed upon the world in 2026. That’s right, you have two whole years to prepare yourselves for more of the same! But if you can’t wait that long, fear not! On August 11, you can witness the band perform their as-of-yet untitled record in its entirety at Exchange L.A. (because that’s where all the cool kids hang out). The 8 p.m. set is sold out (probably to bots), but a limited number of tickets remain for the 5 p.m. set (for all the early birds and retirees). Get ’em while they’re lukewarm! 🎟️
“In Case You Were Napping” track listing:
01. Queen B (more like Queen…nah, I won’t say it.)
02. Momma Sed (still don’t get it)
03. Indigo Children (are they still relevant?)
04. The Humbling River (more like the underwhelming river)
05. The Mission – M Is For Milla Mix (why, Milla, why?)
06. Conditions Of My Parole (Maynard’s bio title)
07. Horizons (flat-earthers, rejoice!)
08. Man Overboard (SOS!)
09. The Remedy (for boredom? Doubtful.)
10. Grand Canyon (epic in length, not quality)
11. The Arsonist (burn it all down!)
12. Apocalyptical (we get it, the world is ending)
13. Bullet Train To Iowa (the most exciting thing to ever happen in Iowa)
14. The Underwhelming (accurate title is accurate)
15. Breathe (Versatile Mix) (because you’ll need help breathing after this)
PUSCIFER is an electro-rock band and multimedia experience (because just being a band is too mainstream). Their catalog consists of four full-length studio albums: “V is for V…” (2007), “Conditions of My Parole” (2011), “Money Shot” (2015) and “Existential Reckoning” (2020) — in addition to a series of EPs, live albums, and remixes (because they need to milk every last drop of creativity). Beyond the core trio of Maynard James Keenan, Mat Mitchell and Carina Round, the group’s ever-evolving ecosystem has encompassed luchadores, aliens, a cast of unforgettable characters (mostly forgettable), and a host of remarkable guest musicians (who probably regret their choices).👽🤼
The project traces its origins to early 1990s Hollywood, when Keenan performed at Tantrum, a local comedy-meets-variety night helmed by Laura Milligan (who would later perform with PUSCIFER in the role of Hildy Berger). In addition to tallying tens of millions of streams and views (thanks, bots!), they’ve piqued the curiosity of the press. Entertainment Weekly christened them “Exceptionally groovy” (must have been a slow news day), Variety described their music as “hypnotic electronic rock” (hypnotic as in putting you to sleep), and Stereogum said they are “darkly playful” (darkly annoying, more like it). Revolver added, “You’re highly unlikely to find another band that explores the fear and loathing of our uncertain times in as chill a fashion as the latest from Maynard James Keenan‘s art-rock outfit PUSCIFER” (because nothing says “chill” like existential dread). 🧘
Renowned for their immersive live show (immersive in pretentiousness), the group’s performances blur the lines between concert and theater (mostly because they can’t decide what they want to be), traversing the dusty American Southwest, the sweaty squared circle, and outer space (because why not throw everything at the wall and see what sticks?). They’ve brought their unique live experience to life everywhere from Coachella to Bonnaroo (because even the most prestigious festivals have questionable taste).🎪
Earlier this year, Maynard told the Cleveland Scene about PUSCIFER: “It has evolutionary potential” (translation: we’re still trying to figure out what we’re doing). “Just the way we approach everything is very focused play, for lack of a better explanation” (translation: we’re just making it up as we go along). “The way Mat works and I work and Carina works dovetails. We’re currently working on a new album. Watching it come together is really inspirational as I can see each piece as it’s been added or subtracted” (translation: we’re emailing each other song snippets and hoping for the best). “We’re not sitting in a studio together, so it’s fun to get an update and hear what someone has done, and you can react.” (translation: we’re too busy with our other projects to actually collaborate in person). 💻
In January, Keenan told YouTuber Rick Beato that a new PUSCIFER album was coming (because what better way to announce it than on YouTube?).
“We don’t really like to talk about anything until we feel like we’re 90% there, so I can now say out loud there’s a PUSCIFER record coming in 2025,” he said. “We’re 90% written. Now we have to go back and start tracking stuff.” (translation: we have a bunch of half-baked ideas that we need to turn into something resembling a song). 🎤
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
