MOVEMENTS - ‘RUCKUS!’

Writer’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Over the past few years Movements have established themselves a cult following. I was first introduced to them watching them open for Boston Manor back in 2022, and you could have told me it was a Movements show and I’d have believed you, that’s how loud the crowd were for them. Their debut ‘Feel Something’ has become a must listen for fans of modern emo music and ‘No Good Left To Give’ was a solid follow up.

‘RUCKUS!’ sees them turn the noise up while not sacrificing in quality. Opening track ‘You’re One Of Us’ starts with crowd noise before thick guitars rumble through, I can already see the pits opening when they play this live. Pat’s vocals sound better than ever, maturing alot since the days of ‘Daylily’. Topically there’s not a massive change here: thoughts of self-doubt and a relationship crumbling.

‘Killing Time’ was the first single released for the project. I wasn’t huge on it initially, gravitating more toward the B-Side ‘Lead Pipe’. However it fits well as the second track here, the hook is catchy and the opening guitars give me an almost Queens Of The Stone Age vibe. ‘Lead Pipe’ however is a scorcher of a track, the thumping drums, gritty guitars and explosive vocals on the hook make for one of the band’s best tracks ever.

‘Heaven Sent’ was the final of five singles for the album (side note: on a 10 track album, I personally think that’s too many singles) and instead of touching on the end of a relationship, the lyrics describe Pat’s feelings towards the one he loves. It’s a simple, sweet track and a nice change of pace.

‘Tightrope’ was my favorite single going into ‘RUCKUS!’. It starts slow, with soft synths and keys, before crescendoing in the final leg, with soaring vocals and thick instrumentation.

The second half of the album keeps the momentum going, ‘I Hope You Choke’ features these layered chanting vocals in the chorus that I already know is going to be used well in a live set. ‘.AMP’ is a lot more lighthearted in sound and lyrically, Pat seemingly joking about a girl who thinks too highly of herself.

‘RUCKUS!’ ends on a high note, ‘Dance With Death’ delivers more lyrics to sing out at full volume alongside some of the loudest instrumentation here, before ‘Coeur D'alene’ brings everything to a close with a soft ballad.

The album definitely lives up to its name, ‘RUCKUS!’ being Movements' loudest album to date, there’s a stronger focus on instrumentation as the band moves into the next stage as a group. I can’t wait to hear some of these tracks live when the band tour later this year.