Movements Release Emotional New Album “Happier Now”

Dylan McCurdie
6 minutes ago
2 min read

Photo Credit: Adam Alonzo

Movements released their 4th studio album on Friday via Fearless Records. The arrival of the album comes just shy of 3 years after their last, “RUCKUS!”. With a GRAMMY award winning producer, Will Yip, at the helm of this sonic masterpiece, it is a sure thing that “Happier Now” will only add to the band's short but powerful tenure as one of the post-hardcore staples.

The first song that jumps out to me from the album is the self titled track, “Happier Now”. A song that is just quintessentially Movements, from an Ira George standard twinkly guitar riff that kicks off the song, the introduction of Spencer York’s iconic drumming, entwined with bass player Austin Cressey. And of course, Patrick Miranda gracing us with his diamond coated vocals. The whole song just flows in and out of consciousness nearly, an amazing chorus that falls apart into a dissonant headspace that sonically, sounds like you’ve been thrusted underwater with Patrick following you down while still singing in your ear. It's a hard feeling to describe without listening to the song yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukqf5vGd4PU

Explained by Patrick as the band's lead single for “Happier Now”, “Dissolve Me”, is a stark reminder that Movements is a force to be reckoned with. A powerful crunchy opening that swings into a full blow confession it seems, with hopeless lyrics and the same emotion conveyed by Patrick. The rest of the band stays pretty much the same throughout the whole song, but it just works. I’m a firm believer of if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, and it seems like Movements have taken that statement to heart with this album and specifically, “Dissolve Me”.

The last song that pops into mind that was also released ahead of the album, is “Back In My Ways”, a stark difference in writing and musicianship from the aforementioned tracks. A whole 2 minutes and 50 seconds of build-up all for a large outburst of emotion from each member of the band. This expressive part of the song is short lived as it lasts for around a minute before the song cuts abruptly before moving on. Miranda was quoted saying “”Back In My Ways” was a track that I kinda hated… I think there was part of me that was hesitant to want to slip back to the ‘sadder’ side of our music” But they did just that, and now the song is set to be one of the largest tracks from the whole album.

I think “Happier Now” is a stark reminder that post-hardcore has not only remained, but that it is also gaining traction to a more widespread audience. I am just happy that Movements haven’t changed for nobody, and are still putting out bangers like they did over a decade ago.

"HAPPIER NOW " TRACK LISTING:

"Pulse"

"Dissolve Me"

"Everything Is Fine"

"Happier Now"

"Flowerbed"

"Back In My Ways"

"Spellbound"

"Ill at Ease"

"Live by the Sword"

"Everyone I’ve Ever Been"

"Fragile Hands"