Cabbage's Nihilistic Glamour Shots is a hostile and exhilarating debut

Dominated by anthemic choruses railing against a range of establishments and supposed norms, whether it be social responsibility (‘’Arms of Pleonexia’’), health (‘’Celebration of a Disease’’) or symbolic public events (‘’Reptiles State Funeral’’), Cabbage find their voices (shared between co-vocalists Lee Broadbent and Joe Martin) in questioning convention. This perspective isn’t only visible in their attacks; ‘’Perdurabo’’ delves into the life of Aleister Crowley and the occult, whereas ‘’Obligatory Castration’’ presents a time in the future where everyone from the Pope and doctors are subject to the chop.

This fascination with the damned is enforced with a fevered breadth of styles, from classic punk, such as on the opener ‘’Preach to the Converted’’, to dashes of post-punk, indie-punk and Parquet Courts/Fat White Family-esque garage (‘’Exhibit A’’). The result is a fascinating concoction of menace and intrigue. The odd mishap, such as the extended ending to ‘’Exhibit A’’, leaves a little to be desired, though by and large Cabbage produces a sound that marries the hostility on show beautifully.

Not as mourning as the drunken howls of Iceage and more biting than Shame’s riling observations, Nihilistic Glamour Shots is a disturbing and wholly invigorating release. It's a testament to a fascination with the corrupt and the abnormal.