Pity Party is the latest EP from pop-punk rock quartet Fightmilk, and the group waste no time before diving into the titular subject matter with the opening title track. ‘Pity Party’ is a bonkers and brutally frank blend of angst-loaded sexual frustration in which the lead singer, Lily Rae, loudly questions her lack of sexual desirability: “Don’t you wanna do me? I would wanna do me” before quickly concluding that it must be a conspiracy. Rae’s tone not only on this song but throughout the EP demands attention and pity, and it comes off as both obnoxious and funny. The upbeat tone contributes to a sonic experience that is reminiscent of Paramore’s early work but with an edgier and more of a look-mum-I’m-an-adult-now feel to it.

The next song, ‘Bank Of Mum And Dad’, enforces this concept and Rae’s honesty once again comes to the forefront. It’s a belter about the relentless difficulty of escaping dependence, bouncing between new homes and old, relying on Mum and Dad despite an unwavering determination to do otherwise. This is the highlight, and will doubtlessly resonate with many that have tried unsuccessfully to fly the nest.

‘Chaperone’ follows, a feisty piece of song writing that sticks to the theme of needing to have true independence. It proudly rejects the ageing idea that a woman needs a companion and cannot make her own way.

Fightmilk are producing punchy, intelligent songs that promote independence, feminism and rejection of patriarchy that young people struggling to find their footing can empathise with. It’s commendable, but there seems to be little variety or deviation from the ways in which these themes are presented by the band once they are introduced. The final track, ‘Nye’, a more reflective piece of music about New Year’s Eve, touches on the frustrating feeling of being stuck in one place, but it returns to the same theme of a lack of independence.

Pity Party is a fun, 11-minute burst of energy for teens that are bored of sitting at home and ready for a change, and there are humorous points and moments on the project that really do resonate, but it suffers slightly from repetition, both sonically and thematically. Nonetheless, Fightmilk are a young band, and Pity Party is hugely promising. It’s excited to see them delve deeper into the kind of themes, because they are important ones, and Lily Rae has an interesting way of saying it. (7/10) (Josh Kirby)

Listen to Pity Party EP here via Spotify, and tell us what you think below!