Puscifer’s Donkey Punch the Night EP is a menagerie of the beautifully bizarre and unexpected.

Review by David Feltman

Ever the vessel for Maynard James Keenan’s rampaging musical id, Puscifer entertains any and all of the man’s musical fancies. While maybe not consistent with the expectations of Tool and A Perfect Circle fans, Puscifer always offers an intriguing glance inside Keenan’s head.

The new EP, Donkey Punch the Night, is an all-new collection of fascinating whims and impulses. Opening with a spot on (excepting a few vocal variations) cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” this EP proves to be a menagerie of the beautifully bizarre and unexpected. To accompany the Queen classic, Keenan adds a moody cover of “Balls to the Wall.” Imagine The Cure covering Accept. If you cant, don’t worry, Keenan did it for you and then added a second minimalist techno version that sounds like a Kraftwerk deep cut.

Original tracks “Breathe” and “Dear Brother” each come paired with their own remixes and are typical Keenan fare for those familiar with his more synth-rock, Robert Smith-loving side. The electronic aggression of “Breathe” borders on trip hop, with mantras like “The body has needs,” repeated until it becomes another layer of bee-like drone and buzz. It’s remix doubles down on the aggressive buzz, turning those bees into angry robo-hornets. “Dear Brother” sounds a little closer to an APC track and its remix gives the song a Reznor-like face-lift.

This EP doesn’t feel like an album and never pretends to be. Donkey Punch the Night is simply an assortment of free-floating ideas to tide over fans. If you’re feeling a little hungry for Keenan-related work, this strange and savory side dish just might sate your appetite.