Released in a year full of stunning records, the debut album, “Feast of Love,” by Pity Sex stands as an indie rock highlight from 2013. A full year has passed since the Michigan band put out the album, but its fuzzball pop-punk still sounds as fresh as it did then. On Friday, June 27, Pity Sex takes the stage at the Che Cafe to play its jubilant songs from the solid debut.
Before the official full-length song, Pity Sex released the “Dark World”EP in 2012. The six songs on the record were refinements from a demo recorded a year prior by three of the four members: guitarist and singer Brennan Greaves, drummer Sean St. Charles and bassist Brandan Pierce. When the other guitarist and vocalist Brittany Drake joined during the writing of “Dark World,” she proved to be the missing piece to the group. While Greaves is featured as more of the lead singer on the EP, Drake’s vocal parts provided a mellow side to balance the band’s overall voice.
The exciting vocal dynamics between Greaves and Drake is shown more on “Feast of Love.” The two continue to share vocal duties, such as the standout opener “Wind-Up,” but Drake also sings lead on about half the record. She especially shines through with her breezy vocals in the sparkling slow jam “Hollow Body.” Devoid of the usual buzz covering the music, Pity Sex peels back a more tender side to its music.
Pity Sex also polishes off some of the blown out feedback that roughed up its tuneful guitar pop on its previous release. Other highlights such as “Honey Pot” and “Drown Me Out” tease out more of the band’s strong ear for melody without compromising its heavy vibration. The production on the record nails a satisfying middle of slick pop-punk and low fidelity post-hardcore, hitting the best aspects of both styles.
The noise-fueled music by Pity Sex sounds more fit for a live setting. The distortion buzzes great on record, and imagine how much better it would sound amplified and delivered on real, booming speakers. But it’s not all a showmanship of how loud the four-piece can get. No matter how slathered in fuzz, Pity Sex includes a sweet, inviting groove underneath the great wall of noise.
