Romantic (Joker Marble Coloured Vinyl)

Romantic is the second studio album by Mannequin Pussy, and it captures a band stretching their sound without losing any of its bite. Where their debut felt raw and confrontational, Romantic sharpens that energy into something broader, louder, and more emotionally volatile.

The album thrives on contrast. Caustic hardcore bursts sit beside moments of surprising melody, folding Crass-style aggression into flashes of pop clarity. It is restless music, propelled by a sense of urgency that rarely lets up, yet never feels unfocused. Songs crash forward with wild momentum, but beneath the noise is a growing confidence in structure and dynamics.

Critics largely embraced this expansion. The A.V. Club described the record as an “uptick in Mannequin Pussy’s caustic potential”, praising its balance of hardcore ferocity and pop release. NPR highlighted its emotional range, with the title track singled out for pairing instrumental force with unexpected vulnerability. Pitchfork noted the “wild energy” running through the album, arguing that Romantic works more cohesively as a full-length statement than the band’s earlier material.

Elsewhere, the album’s breathless pace became part of its appeal. Stereogum crowned it Album of the Week, likening its sound to a collision of Blonde Redhead, Helium, Minor Threat, and Sonic Youth, while PunkNews praised its ambition and emotional scale. Even individual tracks broke through, with Rolling Stone naming “Romantic” among the best songs of the year.

Ultimately, Romantic feels like a band refusing to be boxed in. It is loud, volatile, and emotionally charged, oscillating between fury and fragility with little warning. In embracing that tension, Mannequin Pussy delivered an album that is not just cathartic, but defining.