Cherym - ‘Take It Or Leave It’ review
Cherym by Sarah Ward
Self-discovery, unconditional love, emotional acceptance, and identity – these are a mere handful of the themes ingrained in Cherym’s songwriting. Now, in possibly their greatest explosion of empowerment, the critically acclaimed punk powerhouse are shattering stigmas with their debut album Take It Or Leave out 16 February via Alcopop! Records.
Take It Or Leave It is a loudly intimate affair. It begins with “Alpha Beta Sigma”; an earwig of a tune embellished with smattering drums and overdriven guitar that runs riot with Hannah Richardson’s raw and unapologetic lyrics “I know that you want it/I know that you wish you were touching me.” An attack on the Catholic Church, this song embodies the trio’s ethos of kicking back against the damaging and outdated messaging that still runs rampant in our modern society, making it their strongest album opener yet.
And the force only grows throughout track two, “The Thing About Them”, which stands as an in-your-face culmination of the incessant non-binary frustration that wishes people could just get it right. During the agitating break, rolling instrumentals drown out inferior male voices uttering absurd statements counter to the trio’s fierce truths, reinforcing the words “your ignorance is stuck in bliss.”
However, justified aggression isn’t the only thing Cherym has nailed, as they expose their light-hearted side in the adolescent crush narratives of “Taking Up Sports” and “Colourblind”. Reminiscent of early 00s pop-punk, these melodically driven tunes feature ripping riffs and chunky basslines from Nyree Dawn, complemented by deep layers of harmony.
Cherym then rile us back up with another queer anthem “If I Was A Man”. This one feels like a modern take on the cliché “if I were a boy” but backed by the complex struggles of the 21st century. Richardson’s vocal peaks and troughs manipulate listener attention, forcing certain phrases to be heard: “women hold the world on their backs/but even then I can still see the cracks”. Relatable to any non-male listening, If I Was A Man is quite heart-breaking beneath the surface – why are we still hearing songs about this? Cherym here act as a mouthpiece for a jaded community.
In contrast, the stripped-back number “Binary Star” offers respite to the album’s immense stamina. It starts with an understated combo of acoustic guitar and vocals. Then, a chill-inducing crescendo sees the song evolve into this completely enchanting love ballad decorated with orchestral flourishes, ending on the sobering line “please don’t go.”
Burnout banger “Do It Another Day” tackles the exasperation of daily life through the eyes of one with ADHD. It homes in on the gnarly details and unfiltered struggles. Not only is this tune sonically powerful, but thematically too; it’s sure to spark a conversation around the timely topic, challenging the unnecessary stigma surrounding neurodivergence.
Before the rollercoaster comes to a halt, the trio round things off with “It’s Not Me, It’s You”, an upbeat but moving closer with the bittersweet message of learning to walk away from a situation beyond repair.
There is far too much to be said about this album. It tastefully deals with a plethora of sensitive subjects to fracture harmful stereotypes of women, non-binary folk, and so many more. And Cherym deliver it in a package of genuinely banging tunes that are a joy to listen to. They continue to breathe new life into the pop-punk scene that’s so notoriously ruled by sad boys making everyone listen to their uninspiring stories. Cherym are inspiring and Take It Or Leave It is revolutionary.
Take It Or Leave from Cherym is out on 16 February via Alcopop! Records and available on all good streaming platforms. Catch the band on their Take It Or Leave It tour.
