6/10

During the build up to the release of their breakthrough 2018 debut album 'Nihilistic Glamour Shots', emerging punks Cabbage found themselves riding a wave of praise and scandal in equal measure. Frontman Lee Broadbent was embroiled in a sexual assault allegation, which the band adamantly denied and no charges were brought afterwards. However that shadow seemed to follow them around when it came to the release of their highly-praised debut full-length, and the band's reputation has still not quite recovered from it yet. But they have continued nevertheless and return with their heavily-hyped sophomore LP 'Amanita Pantherina', a record that picks up just where they left off.

From the start, 'Amanita Pantherina' looks to act as a solid continuation from 'Nihilistic Glamour Shots'. Filled with fuzzy and thunderous hooks throughout, the band have quickly been shuffled amongst the growing list of emerging punk outfits such as IDLES and Fontaines DC, and it is clear to hear why. While their sound looks to pay many nods to the earliest punk and punk-inspired genres of the 70s and 80s, there is still this strong and determined pursuit of something far more unique and distinct about it, regularly experimenting with spacey psych-rock elements as it plays.

It may not have the same instant appeal that came with the debut LP, but 'Amanita Panterina' makes for a cohesive and enjoyable listen nevertheless. It is clear that the group have looked to create something far less conventional this time around, and while that has served this collection well, it does find itself faltering from time to time too.