Brent Malkus aka ‘Burnt Mattress’ (guitar, vocals), David Cawley (bass, vocals), and Skizz Cyzyk (drums).
Formed in 1987, Berserk combined pop-punk with grunge before either sound became popular in the nineties, and was one of the few underground bands from the area at the time making a name for themselves outside of Baltimore. In particular, college radio airplay, exposure on public access video shows, and frequent trips up and down the East Coast earned them a stronger following in places like New York than in their hometown. Locally, they frequented the Chambers, Nicky D’s, Dulaney Inn, Hammerjacks, Eight by Ten, Schaefer’s Upstage, Hour Haus, Eudemes, Memory Lane, The Rev, and various DC clubs and all-ages venues.
Their 1991 single “Giant Robots” b/w “When I Think” (Merkin) was named Best 45 by City Paper. Band named Baltimore’s Best Band by City Paper in 1992. Their 1994 self-titled CD launched NY’s GoKart Records, received great press (Option, Flipside, Maximum Rock & Roll, Your Flesh), and sold particularly well in Australia. Their song “Kamen Rider” was included on 1993 Kwality/Reptilian comp “Baltimore, The City That Breeds,” and “5 Strings” was included on the 1995 comp “Walking by A Building” (Hat Factory). They also had tracks on compilations released by Caroline Records, GoKart Records, and 3rd World Underground Records, and had music featured in such films as Troma’s Terror Firma.
In 1997 Malkus relocated to Austin, TX with his other band, Stress Magnets, and went on to play in Mondo Generator, Nathan Hamilton & No Deal, and The Texas Sapphires. Cawley and Cyzyk continued to play together in Garage Sale. Cyzyk also went on to play with numerous other acts (see his bio). The band re-groups every few years to perform at the Ottobar.
Record releases by Berserk:
1989(CS)Beef Platter BP 8902 Gonna Save The World from Danger
1991(45) Merkin MM322 Giant Robots / When I Think
1994(CD) GoKart GK CD002 Berserk
