Berserk
Self-Released, 2025
9/10
A Los Angeles post-punk outfit spearheaded by Romy Hoffman, this 3rd album from Agender brings us 10 raw and relevant songs with plenty of bite.
The scrappy and synth filled “Life Is Acid” opens with Hoffman’s swift vocals and a hint of ominousness, and “Damaged Girls” follows with Cristy Michel’s dense bass and Christy Greenwood’s thumping drums that carries a hypnotic mood.
Landing at the halfway point is the indeed dance floor ready “Dissonant Disco” that soars with plenty of ‘80s nods, while “Vacuums” is a bouncy and rhythmic album highlight that allows for Hoffman’s synth to complement the punk attitude.
Closer to the end, “Logo” is a thicker moment, where a swirling delivery and buzzing guitar flirts with fuzzed out alt-rock, and “I Need A Break From The U.S.A.” exits with plenty of disco-punk fun that’s as infectious as it is relative to the world today.
A record that examines hyper-information, capitalism, and self-improvement culture, Agender’s brand of schizo-synth-punk makes an indelible impression and is as insightful as it is rebellious.
Travels well with: The Wants- Bastard; Permafrost- The Light Coming Through