Album Review: CHERYM, Take It Or Leave It

Rightly regarded as one of the north’s brightest stars, pop-punks CHERYM have been blazing a trail across the six counties and beyond since the release of their first EP, Mouthbreatherz, in 2018. After weathering a few storms both professionally and personally (including last month’s shock announcement that bassist Nyree Dawn has left the group), the Derry band finally unveil their debut album.

Featuring ten tracks that unashamedly worship at the altar of Scuzz TV (R.I.P.), Take It Or Leave It is loaded with potential chart-denting anthems (‘Colourblind’ ‘The Thing About Them’). They’ve also added a more politicised edge to their music, and fortified their sharp choruses with cutting lyrics that tackle gender disparity, the Catholic church and more. The pick of the bunch is the welcome curveball ‘Binary Star’ – eschewing Marshall amps in favour of acoustic guitars and strings, the beautiful ballad really shows off Hannah Richardson’s voice.

Fun and infectious from start to finish, CHERYM’s debut is cracker.

8/10

Out February 16