Welcome to Episode 299 of the Hear 2 Zen Podcast!
In this massive episode, we are diving deep into the weird, wonderful, and heavily layered world of the Pusciverse. We are joined by the incredible Mat Mitchell and Carina Round of Puscifer to unpack their stunning latest album, Normal Isn’t, and look ahead to their highly anticipated December 2026 tour down under supporting A Perfect Circle.
Puscifer, the electro-rock powerhouse consisting of Maynard James Keenan, Mat Mitchell, and Carina Round has spent nearly two decades defying genres. Known for seamlessly blending dark electronic textures, post-punk atmospherics, and deeply theatrical storytelling, the band has created a 21st-century freak show where anything goes, everyone is welcome, and nothing is off-limits. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and listen in as we talk personal evolution, the fine line between absolute absurdity and devastating sincerity, and what to expect when this chaotic live experience lands on Australian and New Zealand shores this December.
We talk
The Evolution of the Pusciverse: Mat and Carina share their personal journeys within the band over the years. They discuss how the project has morphed from a loose, revolving door of brilliant collaborators (including Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Sarah Jones, and even actors like Bob Odenkirk) into a finely-tuned, tight-knit creative nucleus.
Vulnerability in the Writing Process: Is it hard to let your guard down when writing for a project as complex as Puscifer? Carina and Mat pull back the curtain on their studio dynamic, exploring how they build trust to create music that is intensely vulnerable yet sonically aggressive. Balancing Gravity with “Bunghole”: One of the most fascinating aspects of Puscifer is their ability to juxtapose deep, existential angst with pure absurdity. We talk about the literal bucket list challenge of keeping a track serious while inserting words like “bunghole” (look out for the track “Self Evident” on the new record!).
The Anatomy of Comedy: Humor is a permanent pillar of the Puscifer universe—evident in characters like Billy D, Hildy, Major Douche, and the new additions, Bellendia Black and Fanny Grey. Mat and Carina reveal their favorite comedians and break down what they believe makes a truly great comic mind.
Commanding the Stage: When it comes to bringing this wild, theatrical multi-media circus to life on stage, who steers the ship? The duo breaks down the primary leads in production and how they construct their singular, immersive live experience.
A PERFECT CIRCLE & PUSCIFER – AUS/NZ 2026 TOUR DATES:
🎟️ Fri 4 Dec – The Drive, Adelaide 🎟️ Sun 6 Dec – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne 🎟️ Tue 8 Dec – Riverstage, Brisbane 🎟️ Thu 10 Dec – Carriageworks, Sydney (NEW SHOW ADDED) 🎟️ Fri 11 Dec – TikTok Entertainment Centre, Sydney 🎟️ Sun 13 Dec – Spark Arena, Auckland
Get your tickets before they’re gone! See ya in the front row. 🔥
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