Puscifer

Maynard James Keenan, founder and frontman of Puscifer, referred to the two covers that appear on this record as "an itch that needed scratching," which also describes his side-project in its entirety. Like many of Puscifer's releases, the poetically titled Donkey Punch The Night is an example of the band doing precisely what they want, whether playful or deadly serious. This seven-song EP contains only two new tracks: "Breathe" and "Dear Brother." It also features a pair of covers from very disparate origin sources: Accept's "Balls to the Wall" and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." The four remaining numbers are remixes of the new numbers (and, in one case, a remix of Puscifer's cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody") by the likes of Drumcell, Big Black Delta and DJ Silent Servant. As with much of Puscifer's output, Donkey Punch The Night blends the heaviness of hardcore, industrial, techno and punk, while the production and execution are beyond critique, being creative at every turn. The entire premise of the album is entirely playful, defined by its because-I-can nature, and while this might not result in a unified feel, it's nonetheless an enjoyable and eclectic experience.