Album/EP

Movements - RUCKUS! (Album Review)

Walladmin

Heavy Metal Wordsmith

Aug 11, 2023

7 min read

Movements - RUCKUS!
Released: August 18, 2023

Lineup

Patrick Miranda // Vocals
Ira George // Guitar
Spencer York // Drums
Austin Cressey // Bass

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Since 2017, Movements have been making a rapidly multiplying audience ‘Feel Something’. Their distinct style is not contained by sound or genre, but a more enticing feat of genuine connection and the inescapable build-up of raw emotion that permeates through your earphones and right into your very soul. The release of their third studio album RUCKUS! proves no different, and expands to the many branches of feeling to create a whirlwind of delightful energy, longing, and a revitalized sound. Not bound by any genre parameters and finding confidence in their own stylistic choices, the record is a refreshing take that flutters with inspiration and a whim of creative freedom, delving into an unrestrained look at Movements' very core. And as different as these elements may be, one thing remains true- there will always be something to connect with in a Movements release.

The album begins with ‘You’re One of Us Now’, an all-encompassing tune that takes your hand and gradually immerses you into the world of the album; one filled with tenderness and extensive vulnerability, but also confidence and groove. Beyond the chanting doors of this track follows the signature and dire vocals of Patrick Miranda. Immediately, they entrance, hitting far beyond their direct words but seeping into every pore (there is truly just something so magical about his vocal performance).

The discourse surrounding the release of singles is ever-present as of late, with online opinions soaring! Whether it be the position of the single on the album, or the number of singles released, it is an element that strongly lingers around the release of a body of work. Movements’ direction saw them release half of the tracklist as singles, five of the ten tracks available to fans before the release date. While this was a treat for many adoring listeners, it was also a daunting feat, revealing themes out of context, and exposing opportunities for songs to become tired. The next string of four tracks are all singles, yet still hold its place as one of the strongest parts of the album. More fitting, listening to these tracks back to back emulates that of putting a jigsaw together, tying together the diverse elements of the album into the bigger narrative at play. ‘Killing Time’ remains one of my favourite releases of the year, and holds its mighty head up in the context of the album. Sultry and bass driven, it exposes a groovier and expressive side to the body of work. While still passionate, the track allows for a lighter approach and a full-body submission to the insatiable and irresistible funk that permeates through the entirety of ‘Killing Time’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glYcr99Grkg&list=PLZiVx2PO0SBVRzAdkMeoRTEVMQyqIC19k

What works best in RUCKUS! is the band’s ability to diversify their sound in non-jarring ways, seamlessly transitioning from uplifting anthems to more sombre and touching moments. Carrying ‘Killing Time’s groove, but also trickling into darker and more intense territory, ‘Lead Pipe’ is the perfect bridge into some of the central and moving songs from the album. With the captivating vulnerability of Movement’s signature identity, but technical and hypnotic pop prowess, tracks like ‘Tightrope’ become an instant standout. Consumable and relatable, it hits like a punch to the chest. Personally, the song became my third most listened-to song on Spotify after just two days (so there’s certainly no bias here). Even in the scariest of moments of our human emotion, the heartfelt exposure of yearning, and the rawness of loss, Movements manage to make these feelings approachable. With a soft and tender hand, ‘Tightrope’ is a guide through the tribulations of feeling, kneeling beside you instead of towering above. This warmth is a true testament to the band’s exceptional understanding of audience, but more so, their undying ability to connect that never fails to be shown through their music.

‘I Hope You Choke!’ once again picks up the pace, with a subtle but unforgiving flair within its guitars. This energy manifests into the chorus, sparking a flame of angst in an anthemic and repeated rendition of the title. From the small stylistic choices, to the direction and juxtaposition of verse to chorus, ‘I Hope You Choke!’ is a prime example of the energy that has been poured into this album and just how fun it is creatively. Pushing beyond the genre conventions they have previously been defined into, as well as the expectations of perpetually emo anthems, RUCKUS! allows the band so much breathing room to be unapologetically themselves. Aptly, the album truly is a whirlwind of sound and a commotion of feeling that through their trained artistic lens, just makes sense.

Beyond the instrumental and genre diversity within this album is also that of Miranda’s vocal diversity. From touching and delicate trances to raw and powerful wails, his talents are on full display. Especially within tracks such as ‘Fail You’, we see this dichotomy come to life within the same story, a battle between emotions that prevails through his many narrative voices. With a multitude of influences mingling with his own signature style, these sparring moments are always a joy to witness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf4fvUoxUow

Flashing back to the groove, ‘A.M.P.’ is bouncy and intoxicating with an intense amount of assertiveness. It’s an interesting little track in terms of the feelings it conjures too. Think of a San Cisco-esque instrumental layered with the gut-wrenching vocals of Miranda- someone skipping gleefully over your already beaten body.

‘Dance with Death’ hones into the band’s more punk-like influences, charged with hostility and layered with a sense of urgency. Despite its harsh presentation, lyrically, it once again contains that same warmth and invitingness that makes the band’s tracks so easy to connect to. Moreover, it becomes a reflection of the many fans this band has collected upon their music journey, all of which have become an extension of their hive-mind of feeling. Regardless of the genre Movements seek or choose to foster, there is an inseparableness between them and their audience that allows this boundless exploration to prevail without fear. This eye-openness is perhaps the band’s greatest asset, allowing them to create something so challenging to their preconceived styles time after time. In what seems like a symbiotic relationship, this fostered connection is truly what makes this band so special, so diverse, and so free.

Closing the album is ‘Coeur D’Alene’, a moment of audio that stops you in your tracks. With hopelessness, it forces a moment of contemplation, a time for reflection on the album that was, or a moment to stop and think about the situations surrounding you. Closest to that of their 2017 sound, ‘Coeur D’Alene’ plays like a smooth flashback through what is a turbulent journey for the foursome. Emotionally jarring, the track is a callback to what Movements are inherently about; their essence found in the emotive storytelling and the sometimes uncomfortable and jarring reality of feeling. In an album that is so new, this familiarity is solace and safety, but is as impressive and revitalized as ever. Numb and void, you can't help but head straight back to the start to experience the tumultuous body of work right from the beginning.

Within their third studio album, Movements have explored the defining features of their identity through the admired exploration of their shifting styles. No matter the corner of the musical world they tread in, what remains true is their undying ability to seek out human connection and the universality of feeling. Embedded in even the most upbeat of tracks, there is something more to be found within each of the songs. In itself RUCKUS! lives up to its title, balancing a ‘Tightrope’ of fun and freedom, with emotion and expression. More than anything, the album is a testament to Movements as a band. Laced with a self-assuredness, the project sets a standard for musical creativity and propels the band into a whole new direction; one unashamedly true to themselves.