Puscifer- Donkey-Punch The Night (E.P.)

Artist: Puscifer

CD Title: Donkey-Punch The Night E.P.

Label: Puscifer Entertainment

Puscifer is that other side-project of Tool and A Perfect Circle frontman Maynard James Kennan.  Puscifer is technically a solo project, with a revolving door of guest musicians, --Keenan being the only constant. The Donkey-Punch The Night E.P. is Puscifer’s tenth release over-all. Its frontman aptly describes the project as a “clown-car” and a “depository for ideas” that fit neither the Tool or A Perfect Circle catalog. The E.P. includes seven tracks total: two original songs, two covers and a smattering of remixes.

The first absurdity to be encountered here is why would we need a practically note-for-note cover of the Queen classic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Puscifer manages to nail the ubiquitous rock classic so capably, there almost lacks a necessity for the song to be covered. A careful listen of the song will show that in Keenan’s able hands the bombast of Mercury is transformed to a slightly darker and melancholy shade.  The cover here seems almost equally as obsessive as Mercury’s original take of the song.  The other cover on the E.P. is an equally baffling cover of Accept’s “Balls to the Wall.” The raucous hair-metal anthem is transformed here. It would be easy to dismiss this song as a cheesy track from a past era, but Puscifer injects the song with pathos and depth which give each line relevance and immediacy. The original songs are “Dear Brother,” and “Breathe.” “Breathe” is somewhat reminiscent of APC work, but, with some especially crafted sounding new-wave synth lines. The Drum-cell remix is bassy and lumbering. “Dear Brother” is a more straight-forward bit of rock, with ringing surf-guitar and distorted bass. Perhaps the only track that is less interesting is the Silent Servant El Guapo remix of “Balls to the Wall.” As an instrumental, the song might make for a fair dance track, but it doesn’t stand out.

For long-time fans of Tool and A Perfect Circle, Puscifer is very often a revealing look into the psyche of the enigmatic Keenan. As a stand-alone E.P., it’s hardly a very cohesive release, or one that moves in a drastically different artistic direction from previous Puscifer releases. Nonetheless, it’s a very interesting ride.

Take a listen now: Dear Brother

Buy- Puscifer-Donkey Punch the Night