Puscifer have released a new song, “The Algorithm,” and its accompanying music video.
The track was written exclusively for the soundtrack to the American Psycho comic-book series. It made its premiere on Tuesday (May 28th) on SiriuxXM, and now an official music video has been unveiled.
On the metallic side for Puscifer, the song is driven by sharp guitar stabs and a steady mid-tempo groove. And yes, the track title is a reference to “The Algorithm” as we know it in social media terms. Maynard James Keenan is infamously anti-smartphone when it comes to concerts, even banning the audience from using them at shows, and here he and guitarist Mat Mitchell lay down their full thesis on “dopamine addiction through habitual social media use,” per Puscifer’s press release.
“Our approach to writing ‘The Algorithm’ was not to delicately peel back the layers of the onion, but instead, to take an axe to it,” stated Mitchell.
The video uses original artwork from the American Psycho comic illustrators Piotr Kowalski and Brad Simpson — created specifically for this video — as well as additional animation (by Tony Celano) depicting the serial’s lead characters Charlene Carruthers and Patrick Bateman. In the comic, Carruthers’ storyline is heavily social-media centric, making her an ideal protagonist in the video, as well.
Puscifer recently wrapped up their highly anticipated “Sessanta” tour with A Perfect Circle and Primus, which culminated with Maynard smashing a piñata onstage as part of his 60th birthday celebration. The singer is now on a UK/European tour with Tool (tickets available here), after which he’ll focus on writing music for all three of his bands.
Check out the music video for “The Algorithm” below. For more on the American Psycho series, head over to Sumerian Comics.
“The Algorithm” Single Artwork: