First Listen: Ganser's "Black Sand" Sets the Stage for Animal Hospital

Ganser Returns: A History of Artful Anguish

Ganser, the Chicago-based post-punk band, is releasing their third full-length album, Animal Hospital, on August 29, 2025, via Felte Records. Produced by the band with help from Angus Andrew of Liars, the album's first single is "Black Sand." The music video for "Black Sand," directed by bassist Alicia Gaines, explores themes of uncontrolled proliferation, with lyrics inspired by real-world events like wildfires and LGBTQ+ rights debates. Gaines's work on the video and the song's timely themes give "Black Sand" a powerful, immediate tone that sets the stage for the new album.

Comprised of vocalist/bassist Alicia Gaines, drummer Brian Cundiff, and lead vocalist Sophie Sputnik, Ganser has become a compelling voice in modern post-punk and noise-rock. Their 2018 debut, Odd Talk, introduced a sound of propulsive rhythms, piercing guitars, and a lyrical focus on the contradictions of modern life. They followed up in 2020 with the acclaimed Just Look at That Sky, an album whose themes of isolation and existential dread felt particularly timely during the pandemic. The record's darker, more textured sound earned them a reputation for making everyday anxiety into something cathartic and danceable.

Drawing influence from bands like Sleater-Kinney, Liars, and Shellac, Ganser has tirelessly honed their craft and live energy on the road, sharing stages with IDLES, Bikini Kill, and Pile. This relentless touring schedule has sharpened their performances into a formidable, confrontational force, and that same visceral energy is a palpable, driving force behind every track on the new album.

Follow Ganser on Instagram at @ganserband