Primus Tap Maynard James Keenan for “Little Lord Fentanyl,” First Release in Three Years

Photo Credit: Andrew Scott Blackstein

At long last, Primus have returned today with “Little Lord Fentanyl,” the legendary alternative-funk-metal outfit’s first new recording since 2022’s Conspiranoid EP. For the studio treatment of the track that’s been blowing minds on their second Sessanta tour with Puscifer and A Perfect Circle, which began last week, the group welcomed guest vocals from Maynard James Keenan, who fronts those two other prog-metal staples and Tool. The song is also their first cut with new drummer John Hoffman.

“Little Lord Fentanyl” spirals out from a dense, bent slap-bass from Les Claypool, to which Hoffman adds frisky dashes of percussion for a slouching shuffle of a backbeat. Minor bolts and drones from guitarist Larry LaLonde complement the track’s eerie, mischievous, Tim Burton-esque dark fantasy tone, which Keenan hammers home with falsetto vocals at the hook. Altogether, it’s a very classic, very exciting outset to a new, energized era for Primus.

Sessanta V.2.0 continues tonight with a performance at Rogers, Ark.’s Walmart Amp, then keeps on with 20 further dates across the country through June 7. Find tickets and more information at sessantalive.com. They’ll follow this run with their Onward & Upward Tour, featuring support from Ty Segall and MonoNeon on 25 performances from July 5 to August 8. Learn more at primusville.com.

Listen to “Little Lord Fentanyl” below.