Following a 13-year hiatus, Maynard James Keenan and A Perfect Circle make a sensational comeback with dark, damned new single, “The Doomed.”

It’s been 13 years since we last heard from A Perfect Circle.  In 2004, the Maynard James Keenan outfit released their third studio album, eMOTIVe.  We get it.  Keenan is best known for Tool, but Tool hasn’t released a new album in 11 years itself (10,000 Days, 2006).  So, getting a new song from A Perfect Circle is awesome, particularly when it’s a good song. “The Doomed” is just that, in the most damned way possible.

A hard-hitting-groove anchors “The Doomed” down early on.  Both mysterious and dramatic – the expectation of Keenan’s work – “The Doomed” allures early on lyrically, musically, and vocally.  Keenan is charged-up, with assertive, gritty leads.  On the first verse, he sets the tone:

“Behold a new Christ / Behold the same old horde / Gather at the altering / New beginning, new word / And the word was death / And the word was without light / The new beatitude: / ‘Good luck, you’re on your own.’”

Indeed, Keenan and A Perfect Circle established a damned, doomed vibe.  The blasphemy is incredible – at least contextually.  The lyrics continue to yield a dark, poetic nature, while the music is excellent.  There are hellish, souped-up guitars, driving, pummeling drums, and various symphonic cues that add to the drama and theatrical vibes.  Keenan and company close with a bang as he asserts another new ‘beatitude’: “‘F*ck the doomed, your own your own.’”

Final Thoughts

All in all, “The Doomed” is excellent.  The vocals are filled with angst, blasphemy, and unrepentant energy. The music is dark, enigmatic, and high-flying, with superb production.  The lyrics are captivating and poetic, in the most atheistic way possible.  No, there’s no hope to be found on “The Doomed,” but as a comeback for the collective, it rocks without a doubt.

A Perfect Circle • The Doomed – Single • BMG Rights Management • Release: 10.16.17 

Photo Credit: BMG Rights Management