Album review: Denver noise rockers Pink Fuzz deliver on latest record Vitals
Denver noise rockers Pink Fuzz released their latest record, Vitals in November of last year. The five-song EP delivers a sonic punch listeners won’t soon forget. The trio reflects the influence of UK fuzz rock pioneers like My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus and Mary Chain with the aggressive, contemporary approach of Toronto’s Metz.
Led by siblings John and Lulu Demitro who share vocal duties, the hard rocking outfit is augmented by drummer Forrest Raup. The album was recorded, engineered and mixed by Todd Divel at Silo Sound Studios. The high production values and thoughtfully arranged tracks reflect the reputation of one of Denver’s top analog studios.
Opening song, “Missing Pieces” with fast, heavy, distorted guitars and a furious beat makes Jesus and Mary Chain comparisons inevitable. The power trio takes that sentiment a step further with piercing guitar parts. John Dimitro’s vocal delivery gives the track a definitive Pink Fuzz feel.
Second tune, “Vitals” slows the tempo a bit with the similar fuzzy guitars and powerful changes lending more contrast to the arrangement. The resulting recording is reminiscent of 90’s rock acts like Stone Temple Pilots.
Track 3, “Close to Me” is a standout favorite for us. The percussive, driving beat, furious guitars and shredding solos make this clearly the best track on a already solid EP. The song sounds like noise rock, but gives us the feeling we had the first time we heard Slash wreck a solo on Guns N Roses’ Appetite for Destruction. That may sound like hyperbole but tell that to our pleasantly stimulated aural senses.
The next tune in the track listing, “Needles” begins with a repetitive, almost staccato guitar part with a matching beat. That deliberate introduction segues into an all-out assault as Lulu Demitro’s smoky vocals enter into the track the dissolves into a rock out frenzy.
The last song on this Pink Fuzz EP, “Get A Grip” doubles down on the nostalgia with more Slash-inspired guitars and thundering drums. In fact, Raup’s percussive abilities shine on this number that crescendos into another frenetic finish that leaves the listener momentarily sated.
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