Cancer is the debut release by Berlin (by way of New Zealand) based band Nowhere. The full-length record is a dark but strangely uplifting melodic post-punk album that sounds like a band a few albums into their career rather than a group recording mere months after forming.

Perhaps influenced by bands such as Leatherface, Propagandhi or even Killing Joke it can be hard to pin down specific influences. Nowhere have a sound all of their own driven by the excellent song writing and lyrical prowess of front man Thomas Young who has toured and recorded for years under the pseudonym Freddy Fuddpucker.

Themes of death, the afterlife and oppressive modern cities run throughout the album and create a fierce and doomy atmosphere. With glorious vocal melodies built around lines such “Necromancer, this picnic is cancelled” or “Because I am a human shield, navigating my own mine field” The album demands repeated listens to get the full sense of what is going on lyrically. A hugely promising and effective debut that mixes faster balls to the wall punk with more mid paced introspective jams. Fans of fast and gritty punk will find a lot to like while listening to this record.

You can listen to the album here.