ALBUM REVIEW: Take It Or Leave It – Cherym

CHERYM formed in Derry, Northern Ireland with the intention of breaking into the male-dominated punk scene. Whilst they have seen a slow but steady change over the years, there is still a long way to go. The pop-punk trio self-released their debut EP Mouthbreatherz in 2018, which earned them fans all across Ireland, and after supporting YONAKA in February 2020 and releasing a couple of standalone singles in May of that same year, the band signed with Alcopop! Records to release their critically-acclaimed 2021 EP, Hey Tori. Now, with the release of their debut album Take It Or Leave It, they look set to dominate the pop-punk world.

The energy is infectious from the very opening guitar riff of Alpha Beta Sigma, which immediately promises that this album will be something special. The next track is the bass-heavy The Thing About Them, which showcases the talent of Nyree Dawn, who shares vocal duties, and also expresses the joy of queer pride. Whilst some of the songs do fall into a pattern, such as Taking Up Sports which features a paint-by-numbers pop-punk guitar riff that doesn’t make the most of guitarist and vocalist Hannah Richardson, others like Colourblind and If I Was A Man fully utilise the trio’s talents, especially those of drummer Alannagh Doherty.

This is CHERYM‘s debut album, so it is only fair that it is not perfect, and anyway that rough around the edges sound is perfect for a pop-punk record. But it is the lyrics that shine brightest. The band cover a wide variety of topics on Take It Or Leave It, from tender vulnerability on the acoustic love song Binary Star, bringing to light the infantilisation of autistic people on AW TYSM, or learning to walk away from an unfixable situation in the poignant closer It’s Not Me, It’s You.

The fast-paced songs and short runtimes are a staple of pop-punk, and here CHERYM use them to their advantage. They create catchy, upbeat songs that cover serious topics that mean something. Whilst a lot of musicians have become more politically conscious over the years, it can sometimes come across as a gimmick. But this is not the case with CHERYM. They are bringing to light issues that they are passionate about, such as attacking the Catholic Church on the opening song, as well as celebrating sexuality and gender identity. Whilst the album overall is fast-paced, the trio do not waste a single second of it.

Overall, Take It Or Leave It is a euphoric debut album by one of the most exciting new bands in pop-punk. CHERYM are passionate, dedicated and talented, and this album proves it. Whether it is addressing unspoken issues, celebrating being non-binary and queer love, or speaking up about the infantilisation of autistic people, no stone goes unturned on this fast-paced and energetic album. Some of the songs fall into pop-punk clichés, such as similar instrumental beats that don’t utilise the talents of the band, but this is their debut; there is still time to improve and judging by the merits of this record that won’t take long at all.

Rating: 8/10

Take It Or Leave It is set for release on February 16th via Alcopop! Records.

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