Cherym: Take It or Leave It – Derry LGBTQ+ trio tackle weighty issues with sparky energy

On paper, it sounds as if the debut album by Cherym might well be a weighty affair, both musically and thematically. Themes abound of railing against the Catholic Church, living with ADHD and autism, and vocalist Hannah Richardson’s experiences as a single black mother in Ireland. This record, however, is an excellent example of channelling personal perspectives into music without being po-faced or overly earnest.

The Derry trio, self-described as queer punk-pop, came of age as “awkward emo kids” in the early 2000s. That era’s influence is generously smeared all over this collection, from the boisterous power-pop clamour of the protest song Alpha Beta Sigma (“They said I was a slut, they said I was a sinner”) to the barbed If I Was a Man and the gritty, jubilant Colourblind.

Taking Up Sports is a tongue-in-cheek number reminiscent of early Blink-182 (“Baby when I see you in those shorts/ You’ve got my head doing all sorts”); the grungy twang of The Thing About Them recalls 1990s acts such as Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney, while there is melody, harmony and a sparky energy around every corner, Richardson’s vibrant vocals leading the charge throughout.

It may not be the most original album you’ll hear this year, and Cherym are perhaps shaped a little too willingly by their influences. Still, sometimes it’s not always about reinventing the wheel. There’s enough pizazz and panache here to make a lasting impression.